“The idea that is formed in a period of life is a stereotype: one must continuously train and experience. In a world that is constantly changing from a technological point of view, a base of skills is also needed, not necessarily to develop but even first to understand. The pandemic did not help because it took away those moments of confrontation in the company with young people, but we must return to welcoming boys and girls to show them that industries are not what they imagine, but are connected, digital places. and future proof “.
To summarize one of the great strategic pillars for the future of the Next Generation and beyond Sonia Bonfiglioli, president of Bonfiglioli. The last 2-3 years have been particularly challenging for the Emilian group specializing in gearmotors, drive devices, planetary gearboxes and inverters for the industrial automation, mobile machinery and renewable energy sectors. The situation, however, observes the president, is in such constant evolution that the next few years will be no different between supply chains, innovation, sustainability and skills. First the Covid 19 pandemic, then the war in Ukraine and now also the specter of recession.
What are we learning from this conjunction of events, phenomena and trends?
The last two years have shown the raw nerves of globalization, and in particular of long supply chains. In fact, we have gone from the enthusiastic push towards globalization with long supply chains and rapid transport to a world with production blocked in the spot and with long supply times all over the world. The recent geopolitical dynamic has further overturned the paradigm. If before we tended to make production processes continental, also to have backup suppliers useful to compensate for the shortcomings, today we are in fact in a block economy. The ongoing polarization is impacting not only investment and internationalization policies, but also the general dynamics of exports.
How much has the West’s lack of foresight weighed on the supply chain?
“The large countries, starting with the United States, have abjured production competence while keeping the focus on the military sector and on a few other strategic sectors. Today we have production sites in America but there is no longer the supply chain capacity, because so many have chose the location in Asia, looking for an easy flow and low costs. All this has impacted on manufacturing, but also and above all on skills: if you cancel a manufacturing, you lose expertise. Especially on future technologies, such as artificial intelligence or biotechnology, we need to rediscover production and competence. A lot of investments are needed for such an ambitious double goal … We need to converge energies and create synergy without duplicating investments. The relationship between universities, research centers and businesses is changing but the the role of governments is fundamental, because a strategic direction is needed. ne Esg and the future. In the daily narrative, the G of governance always remains the last letter, when in reality it is the most important because the arm always needs the mind. After all, investment choices are choices of innovation, regardless of the company, territorial and national level. And the banking world is also starting to define new ESG performance indicators, opening up to a credit system that will be increasingly linked to sustainability performance “.
However, our country suffers from a significant deficit precisely on the skills you mentioned earlier, especially on the digital front. How does it come out?
“We started well before the pandemic with the Bonfiglioli Digital Re-Training, when digital skills were not yet a topic. We carried out about 200 average hours of training per person and we did it because without digital skills we risked not making money. investments. We have recently transformed Digital Re-Training into a real academy for all employees around the world, opening ourselves to external contributions and to contact with many realities, starting from schools “.
Stem skills, foreign languages, long-life learning. What does it really take to be competitive on the job market?
“The idea that is formed in a period of life is a stereotype: you have to continuously train and experience. With respect to the gender issue, we find it difficult to hire and train girls because they study Stem subjects very little, while abroad we have many women in managerial roles. Today Stem skills are in fact like English. In a world that is constantly changing from a technological point of view, a base of skills is needed, not necessarily to develop but even first to understand. Then it is always very important the relationship with families in education and training choices “.
In recent days, Elisabetta Franchi’s statements on female managerial skills and in general at work have made a sensation. What idea did you get?
“There is no Serie A and Serie B work, and the theme is not working 24 hours a day, but making a constructive and positive contribution. I for one need my moments to disconnect, create and rest. I believe that the most important aspect is the happiness of people in the workplace. We have also brought art into our factories: we have created a mural in collaboration with a street artist from Bologna and we will do one in the factory, always with the same artist “.