by Simone Ricci17   Febbraio   2014

Skilled technicians as future experts of logistics

Planning, organizing, deciding, implementing: these are the key words to logistics. The Don Magnani Institute of Sassuolo launches an innovative curriculum for future experts of logistics.

Ceramics, fashion, cosmetics, engineering, food industry, car sector: logistics is key to every one of them. To improve logistics means to make a company more efficient and to make its products get fast to destination. Logistics plays an important role in Sassuolo ceramics district where tile production is getting more and more diversified making its distribution and handling an ever more complex process. Not to mention the 150 worldwide countries where tiles currently get exported.

That’s why the comprehensive school of Sassuolo IPSIA Don Magnani has launched the first training curriculum in Emilia Romagna dedicated to future experts of logistics: a 5 year course based on class work, practical workshops and business internships.

The curriculum was introduced at the end of January during freshers’week. Alessandra Borghi, head teacher of the school, organized with other members of staff a guided tour to the four laboratories where the practical workshops will take place: among the visitors, the captain of Sassuolo soccer team Francesco Magnanelli and player Lino Marzorati. Later on the head teacher Ms Borghi together with President of Confindustria Ceramica Vittorio Borelli and President of System Franco Stefani spoke at the Aula Magna of the school about the important role played by logistics in the Italian ceramic tiles industry.

“The ceramic tile district is an important logistic pole as well as a productive one – said President of Confindustria Ceramica Vittorio Borelli – as about 23 million tonnes of ceramic goods get through Sassuolo every year. Of these, 8.5 million tonnes are inwards raw material, 8.5 are outwards raw material, and 5.5 million tonnes make up for local transportation of semifinished and finished products between factories and factories and suppliers. To have a rough idea of what we’re talking about, it’s sufficient to think that these goods are carried every day on 4580 lorries on the basis of an average of 20 tonnes over a 250 day time period. The costs of logistics weigh on our companies’ turnover for 14.9% (if considering just the production process) and up to 24% if considering the whole product chain.”.

According to President of System Franco Stefani “Sassuolo is today an important logistic pole as much as it is a productive one. Goods transportation system should be going towards digitization, so that orders get coordinated in the best possible way. While in 1960 it would take six months to go from goods inwards to finished products, today it only takes 60 days. It is therefore key to be able to count on experts in logistics, ready to employ new technologies. Infrustructure is also fundamental – concluded Stefani – in particular the soon-to-be-made Campogalliano – Sassuolo motorway link road, which links our district to the motorway and therefore to the main tile markets”.

The curriculum’s first two years are shared by all technical schools while the last three years include specific training, business internships and lectures given by local experts on logistics, computing, mechanics, English, economic geography, law, economics, and transportation. Due to the great importance of this activity, a high percentage of students are expected to find an employment soon after school. Those wishing to continue education will be able to get a degree in industrial engineering at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

Confindustria Ceramica and System support the new logistics curriculum through the development of internships. Since all the subjects studied are strongly connected with ceramic tiles, this new course can be considered the most advanced professional training program for teenagers, enabling them to have easy access to the job market.

For any information please visit: www.ipsiadonmagnani.it