Smart Innovation 2022-2023: the capstone project
SMART INNOVATION is a proposal of the course “Progettazione e sviluppo di prodotti e servizi smart e analisi strategica data-driven” (“Design and development of smart products and services and strategic analysis – 12 CFU), II year of Master Degree in Management Engineering (curriculum Digital Product Innovation).
value added of the project
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- industrial ecosystem: SMART INNOVATION involves Italian companies (Sfera Agricola, Scapigliato, Serrall), and Competences Centers (Centro di Competenza Regionale per l’Economia Circolare e Distretto Tecnologico Advanced Manufacturing).
- dual function: SMART INNOVATION bridges business world and academic context, indeed capstone projects are powered by real projects, promoted by companies and focused on real business needs, and during the year students have the possibility to visit the companies.
- international perspective: SMART INNOVATION involves international experts of Strategy Tools in the workshop Transform”, hybrid project, planned in presence and online for the insights by European experts.
- additional skills: the 2 cycles of webinars (for a total of 20 hours) provide students with additional content complementary to the course.
- final certificate: at the end of plenary session, in presence of teachers and stakeholders, the teams will gain a certificate of attendance
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In addition, thanks to the involvement of multiple actors (Competence Centres, local companies, partners of the digital skill alliance ASSETs, sector experts, lecturers from other universities), the conditions are created for developing research projects and proposing theses on emerging issues.
The Capstone Project Activity involves teams of students in the design of a new product/service/process in a real business context. The activities include strategic foresight analysis (with reference to the identification of weak signals and the development of future scenarios), and the analysis of the explore-exploit portfolio of the company where the new product/service/process will be implemented.
The teams will interact with companies and universities and will be supported by tutors, i.e., researchers from university and professionals from the involved companies. Moreover, each team during the two semesters of the Academic year will visit the involved companies.
In the Academic year 2022-2023 the capstone projects regards the Italian textile industry. The “made in Italy” textiles are renowned for their high quality and attention to detail. Italian fabric manufacturers uphold centuries-old traditions of craftsmanship and meticulous material selection and production processes. This results in high-quality fabrics that are often used in luxury clothing and more.
The three proposed companies are all part of the same group. The Group consists of four companies: Pointex, Alma, LTA, and Logo Firenze.
The Group was formed by combining and integrating various entities operating in the textile district of Prato. As a whole, the Group is one of the most important players in the international textile industry. When their different locations are combined, they have a production area of approximately 50,000 square meters and employ around 400 workers. Despite coming from different experiences, both historically and industrially, these four companies share a common denominator, which is the textile “system.” To face the challenges of markets and globalization with renewed momentum, these entities have come together with a group vision that converges significant synergies in terms of product development, research, commercial presence in strategic areas, distribution, and communication.
The capstone project activity is aligned with the educational and training content, divided in 7 modules. In particular, the plan of the modules define the timeline for the deliverables of the projects. The deliverables are intended as a draft. In fact, each deliverable will be revised by the professors of the course. The revision is both a learning activity and an opportunity for discussion. Indeed, it is part of the assessment process and allows a direct exchange among students and teachers to monitor, measure and improve the learning process. The interim deliverables set the pace of the process and let the students include feedback in the following version of the deliverables. Then the final assessment will focus on the final version of the project, delivered by each team at the end of the second semester.
| DELIVERABLES | DEADLINES | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| Future Scenarios and New Opportunities (Strategic Foresight) | The output of this phase is the identification of new business opportunities. Those will be deployed in possible future scenarios and weak signals. | |
| Feasibility Study | The output of this step is the analysis of the technical, economic, financial, and managerial feasibility of the opportunity previously identified, with the purpose to decide which scenario to follow. | |
| Concept Design: Technical Requirements | 9 Januuary 2023 | This phase focuses on the identification of technical requirements of the product/service/process to satisfy the stakeholders’ needs. |
| Concept Design: Concepts and Models | The output of this phase is the comparison among different models and concepts of the product/service/process to identify which best fits with the stakeholders’ needs. | |
| Failures Analysis | This phase focuses on possible failures of the product/service/process. The output describes the failures identification and analysis, and the actions to mitigate or avoid the risks associated with the failures. | |
| Explore-Exploit analysis of the business portfolio | 31 May 2023 | This phase is dedicated to strategic analysis. The output of this phase regards the analysis of the strategic implications derived by adding the product/service/process in the business portfolio. |
| Final plenary presentation | June 2023 | The output includes the slides, the final report and the oral exposition in plenary session with companies and stakeholders. |
The teams will present their projects in a plenary session with companies and stakeholders. Then, there will be a discussion session with teachers and professionals. At the end of each presentation, both teachers and professionals will assess the teams. At the end of the activity students will receive a certificate of attendance. Several seminars with experts and one workshop are planned to support students with additional content. Those activities are included in the plan of the course.
The workshop is designed in collaboration among the teachers and the experts of Strategy Tools (Norway). It encompasses the following activities: a simulation, realized in presence, where students will be in an immersive real context and will play different roles; debriefing moments to compare simulation and theoretical lessons; in-depth studies and analysis with the experts.
Pointex specializes in textile solutions and customization of fabrics and carpets. Since 1991, Pointex has been producing textile solutions in Italy for companies from all over the world. The company is located within the largest textile district in Europe. Technological innovation, high expertise, creativity in the design offices, and continuous work in the Research and Development department have enabled Pointex to be sought after for fabric solutions, applications, and products in various fields and market sectors. The Made in Italy products manufactured by Pointex are based on sustainable production processes for both humans and the environment.
Pointex specializes in textile solutions and customization of fabrics and carpets. Since 1991, Pointex has been producing textile solutions in Italy for companies from all over the world. The company is located within the largest textile district in Europe. Technological innovation, high expertise, creativity in the design offices, and continuous work in the Research and Development department have enabled Pointex to be sought after for fabric solutions, applications, and products in various fields and market sectors. The Made in Italy products manufactured by Pointex are based on sustainable production processes for both humans and the environment.
Since 1976, Alma has been producing 100% Made in Italy tufted carpets with a fully integrated cycle, from fiber production to the finished product. The main product line of Alma consists of tufted carpets for trade shows, conferences, and events, which are used in major international exhibitions.
Alma has been producing 100% Made In Italy needle-punched carpets since 1976, with a fully integrated cycle: from the production of the fiber to the finished product. Alma’s main product lines are needle-punched carpeting for fairs, congresses and events, used in the most important international exhibitions.
LTA produces non-woven fabrics and latex foams for the technical components of the shoe, offering a significantly better experience for those wearing the shoe and reducing the overall environmental impact of the production chain. In LTA there is a range of FSC and GRS certified eco-sustainable materials. LTA produces technical textile items designed to meet all industrial needs with particular reference to the plotter cutting, insulation and fire resistance sectors.
LTA produces non-woven fabrics and latex foams for the technical components of the shoe, offering a significantly better experience for those wearing the shoe and reducing the overall environmental impact of the production chain. In LTA there is a range of FSC and GRS certified eco-sustainable materials. LTA produces technical textile items designed to meet all industrial needs with particular reference to the plotter cutting, insulation and fire resistance sectors.