The plant, which has almost eliminated (-82%) the time between the receipt of the order and the putting into production, has also seen an improvement in labor productivity by 33%, and achieved new qualitative goals. As evidenced by the improvement in product quality by 33% and the achievement of ISO 22000 certification of the food and beverage industry, a case of significant application of ever-increasing standards in the manufacturing industry.
«We are very proud to become part of this network, says the Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Nicola Serafin – alongside many other manufacturing companies recognized at the global level. This recognition crowns a path undertaken by the Group for several years now, investing in innovation both at the process and product level, and the results of which are visible in the continuous improvement of the performance of our plants, in Italy as in other countries. Obtaining this further recognition today from a company of international importance such as the World Economic Forum confirms the strategic path we have taken and motivates us to continue to operate with a view to Industry 4.0 ».
In 2017, the De ‘Longhi Group decided to invest in Industry 4.0 by adopting digital solutions capable of increasing competitiveness and achieving higher quality standards. By working closely with the main players in the IT sector, it has been able to transform its main production site in Italy into an innovative plant, with a rapid return on investment and a significant impact both in terms of quality and agility. Technologies that marry with sustainability. The company, for example, has stopped using coffee beans to test the machines during the assembly phase, instead using artificial intelligence and laser technology to verify their correct functioning: the savings are worth 100 tons of product per year.
The De ‘Longhi Group, one of the major global players in the small household appliance sector dedicated to the world of coffee, cooking, air conditioning and home care, has over 9,000 employees and last year generated revenues of 2.3 billion EUR. An increase of 12%, also due to the renewed push to domestic consumption (coffee machines grew by double digits) induced by lockdown and the spread of smart working.