Management practices and competitive success in small and medium enterprises - A study in the manufacturing companies

Raffaella Cagliano – Gianluca Spina, 2000

Globalization, technological change and the restructuring of sectors and supply chains pose to SME’s new challenges that cannot be dealt solely with conventional weapons of the operational flexibility of micro-niches.

ABC Applied Benchmarking for Competitiveness

Richard Keegan – Eddie O’Kelly, 2007

World-class multinationals have worked in the areas of benchmarking and of best practices and have developed responses, under the names of Just In Time, Total Quality Management, Lean Production, Value Analysis and Value Engineering, Quality Function Deployment, Six Sigma and many others. In Ireland, we have known these best practice techniques as "World Class" methodology.

An Introduction to World Class Manufacturing

Richard Keegan, 2003

This book results from the application of the World Class Manufacturing principles in Irish small-sized companies.

Benchmarking of the territorial systems. Territorial and managerial best practices in Ligurian areas of small and medium-sized company

Raffaella Cagliano, Roberta Capello, Alessia Spairani, 2001

The general globalization process of the economies poses new and serious challenges to the territorial systems: space barriers are no longer enough to safeguard the local markets, which are exposed to growing competitiveness. Some territorial systems find the way to strengthen their peculiarities and to use them as strategic assets in the worldwide market.

Benchmarking in SMEs. Applications of Benchmarking methodology in industrial districts, territorial systems and networks of Italian small and medium-sized companies

Roberto Centazzo, 2001

This book reports the outcomes of the applications of benchmarking methodology in various contexts and systems of SMEs, the result of many research projects realized between 1995 and 2000.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The Food Packaging Industry of Parma

Nicoletta Corbelli, 2007

This publication features the results of the research carried out on the application of benchmarking methodology on the local system of packaging (area of Parma – Collecchio, Colorno, Felino, Langhirano, Lesignano de Bagni, Mezzani, Montechiarugolo, Neviano degli Arduini, Sala Baganza, Sorvolo, Torrile, Traversetolo).

The local production systems – Empirical evidences and development policies

Roberto Centazzo, Federica Pasini, 2008

This book includes the contributions of many authors who start from the idea that the systems of small-sized companies (districts, but also supply chains, meta-districts or, more in general, the local production systems that are not characterized by a specific sectoral trade) still play a role in the Italian economy and in its relaunching.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The naval supply chain

Federica Pasini, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the naval supply chain in the area of Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna and Rimini.

This way, a complex and structured project was developed. In two years, it involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The footwear district of Fusignano

Federica Pasini, 2005

The book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the local production system of the footwear district in the area of Fusignano, in the province of Ravenna. It was a complex and structured project that, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved. As a matter of fact, it is very important to notice that such kind of projects can only result from a considerable collective effort.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The Automotive Supply Chain of Ducati Motor Holding

Chiara Albanello, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the Automotive Supply Chain of Ducati Motor Holding. It was a complex and structured project that, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved. As a matter of fact, it is very important to notice that such kind of projects can only result from a considerable collective effort.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The plastics industry

Simone Palazzi Rossi, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the local production system of plastics (area of Reggio nell’Emilia – Correggio, San Martino in Rio). This way, a complex and structured project was developed, which, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The footwear district of the Rubicone area

Lalla Golfarelli, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the production system of the footwear district of the Rubicone area (area of Gatteo, San Mauro Pascoli, Savignano sul Rubicone).

It was a complex and structured project that, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved. As a matter of fact, it is very important to notice that such kind of projects can only result from a considerable collective effort.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The biomedical sector

Elena Burzacchi, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the production system of the biomedical sector (area of Modena – Mirandola, Concordia sulla Secchia, Medolla).

It was a complex and structured project that, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – Textiles-Clothing

Chiara Albanello, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the production system of the textiles and clothing industry (area of Modena - Carpi, Cavezzo, Concordia sulla Secchia, Novi di Modena).

It was a complex and structured project that, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved. As a matter of fact, it is very important to notice that such kind of projects can only result from a considerable collective effort.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – Ceramics

Roberto Centazzo, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the local production system of ceramics (area of Modena – Sassuolo, Fiorano Modenese, Formigine, Maranello). It was a complex and structured project that, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved. As a matter of fact, it is very important to notice that such kind of projects can only result from a considerable collective effort.

The local production systems in the knowledge economy – The Packaging Industry of the Val d’Enza

Carlo Pignatari, 2005

This book reports the outcomes of the research carried out into the local production system of the packaging industry in the area of the Val d’Enza, in the Province of Reggio Emilia.

In order to achieve these results, a complex and structured project was developed, which, in two years, involved a considerable number of people without whom the results that this book tries to present would not have been achieved. As a matter of fact, it is very important to notice that such kind of projects can only result from a considerable collective effort.

Continuous training and skills of SMEs – Models, tools and standards at the time of the learning economy

Marco Ruffino, 2001

The transition to the so-called "post-Fordism" or, anyhow, the new influence that learning and knowledge management exercise on competition, have important consequences for the production systems as well as for the overall education system.

The management of innovation in small and medium-sized companies

Stefano Galli, Stefano Torreggiani, 2006

The increase in international competitive pressure, the rapid growth of technologies, the strong processes of production decentralization of large-sized companies and the continuous development of customers’ needs, put all the companies, even the smallest and localized ones, in contact with a more extensive and more aggressive competitive system.

Acceleratore premuto su R&S - Published in the review "Il Mondo"

Innovation, Innovation, Innovation. According to Gabriele Morelli, the Secretary of CNA Emilia-Romagna, they are mainly the tools to increase productivity and competitiveness of the 70 thousand associated companies for which a research project on the issues of management has been organized.

Social Responsibility and Business - Towards a single ethic code for SMEs

Stefano Galli, Sara dell’Elce, 2008

To understand the importance of the project "Towards a single code of ethics for SMEs" it is necessary to reflect on the economic structure and services present in Emilia-Romagna as well as the ways through which the SME’s usually applies the concepts of Social Responsibility.