Collaboration with industry lies at the core of the group’s activities and represents the primary channel for knowledge transfer.
To date, the group has established more than 500 collaborations with over 300 companies and organizations in Italy and abroad, operating across the manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors.
These collaborations are developed in alignment with the center’s research lines and include applied research projects, industrial experimentation, and organizational transformation initiatives.
Through these partnerships, we support companies in designing more efficient, digital, and sustainable processes, generating concrete and long-lasting value.
Project examples
Sustainability, AI, and Operational Excellence in the Oil & Gas sector
A research project developed with ENI examined the evolution of Continuous Improvement by integrating environmental sustainability and Artificial Intelligence into Operational Excellence models within the oil and gas sector. The project combined an analysis of Lean practices aimed at reducing environmental impact with a mapping of AI applications supporting operations. In parallel, the portfolio of improvement projects was digitized and reorganized into an interactive knowledge management platform. The results strengthened decision support, accelerated continuous improvement, and enhanced the company’s knowledge assets through a sustainable and data-driven approach.
Lean transformation of production processes through on-the-job training
The collaboration with Castel, an Italian company specializing in the design and production of valves, supported a multi-year Lean transformation pathway within a manufacturing plant. Through hands-on support and on-the-job training activities, the group guided employees in introducing Operational Excellence tools to improve process efficiency and competitiveness. The collaboration focused on waste reduction, operational performance improvement, and the standardization of working methods, contributing over time to strengthening the effectiveness and stability of production processes.
Redesign of service processes to support ERP implementation
The collaboration with Easytech, an Italian SME specializing in IT systems development, supported the redesign of service processes in preparation for the implementation of a new ERP system. The AS-IS process analysis revealed several ineffective and redundant activities that would have limited the benefits of digitalization. A TO-BE process was therefore defined, based on new standards and operating procedures, applying the principle “Lean and then Digital.” This collaboration enabled a more effective, coherent, and sustainable ERP implementation, improving operational efficiency and service quality.
Chatbots and automation for the evolution of internal Operations
The collaboration with Crédit Agricole Italia supported the evolution of internal support processes by applying Operational Excellence principles to improve efficiency, service quality, and the level of automation. Through the analysis of ticket management processes and root causes, operational inefficiencies and opportunities for standardization were identified. The redesign of the TO-BE model introduced new processes, organizational roles, and digital solutions based on chatbots and knowledge management systems. The collaboration contributed to increasing automation, reducing the workload on the Help Desk, and improving the internal user experience.