Over the last few years, biotechnology in Italy has become an established industrial reality in all fields of application, including human health, agro-food, and industry. The path has been difficult, but even so the biotech sector has progressed enormously, resulting in well-earned respect on an international level - an unimaginable achievement just a few years ago.

The 2011 edition of the "Italian Biotechnology Report" by Assobiotec and Ernst & Young, in cooperation with Farmindustria and the Italian Trade Commission, shows that the Italian biotech industry has responded positively to the difficult international economic situation by confirming the growth and consolidation trend which has characterized this field over the last decade. This is of major importance for Assobiotec, the national association for the development of biotechnology - which in 2011, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Assobiotec represents companies and technological and scientific parks operating in Italy in the various sectors of Life Sciences.

Italian biotech companies continually show that they are remarkably capable of maximizing investments in terms of value creation, that they can count on absolutely competitive scientific excellence and on the presence of an important link with academic research and, most of all, that they are still driven by the spirit of initiative that characterizes so many successful stories of Italian entrepreneurs. These are the reasons that explain the significant growth rate of biotech within the country.

For more information on this dynamic sector go to Assobiotec's website at http://assobiotec.federchimica.it/ and for a current directory of Italian companies involved in the sector go to http://assobiotec.federchimica.it/default/italian-biotech-database.aspx

The State of Global Manufacturing report is a comparison study primarily between North American and European manufacturers regarding their purchasing preferences as well as future acquisition plans. The methods, practices and sources for the report were developed and executed by the Italian Trade Commission in collaboration with HSM – organizers of the annual World Business Forum. This report as its base were interviews conducted both online and telephonically during the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2010. In total, 579 manufacturers participated, of which 418 were located in North America while 161 were in Europe.

This report was first presented at the 2010 World Business Forum held in New York City and was discussed in various publications such as Bloomberg BusinessWeek and IndustryWeek magazines. The main purpose of the report is to provide the reader with both a better understanding and insight into the challenges and issues manufacturers located in two different parts of the world are addressing during these recent turbulent times. As well, it illustrates how they are and/or plan to respond to said issues and challenges over the next few years.

There is a widespread optimism for the future of the Canadian manufacturing industry, at least according to a group of 384 senior executives surveyed for the Business Outlook 2011 – Innovation Advantage report. 

In fact, over 60% of the respondents anticipated that both sales and orders would grow throughout 2011.  Profits are also expected to grow significantly for at least 31% of the sample.

The report, sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission and its Machines Italia project, are meant to make Canadian executives aware of the significant contribution, in terms of innovation, flexibility and increased competitiveness, offered by Italian machinery to the Canadian manufacturing sector.

A sneak preview of the Machines Italia article featured in the May/June 2011 issue of 20/20 Magazine.  The magazine is published by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters and the May/June 2011 issue will be distributed at the CME's Global Forum in Ottawa next June.

The Machines Italia presentation provided at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs' event "Italy and the Midwest" is now available for downloading.

At the International Fluid Power Summit held in Las Vegas in April 2011, Assofluid presented its analysis of the fluid power industry in Italy comparing 2009 and 2010 statistical data.

The latest issue of Machines Italia examines how North American companies are using Italian Machinery to overcome 21st Century challenges by using great design and creative problem solving. Areas covered in this issue are addressing assembly challenges with advanced technologies; improving asset-management features and supplying equipment for asset-management technology; handling operational challenges on the production floor, and much more!

An executive primer to performance measures that drive improvement

Every organization has its favorite metrics - measurements that gauge control, progress, and success.  At a world-class organization, these measures serve as a common "performance language" that links corporate strategy, divisional goals, plant targets, departmental budgets, and individual incentives into a unified, results-oriented system.  But at a mediocre or failing organization, these measures usually turn into management babble and confusion - reams of records and disjointed findings tracked simply because "that's what we've always done."  Metrics at these organizations become straitjackets - restraints that actually waste resources, aggravate employees, and block improvement.

Lower risk, reduce costs, improve performance and gain agility.

Regardless of where a manufacturer competes in today's global economy, two factors underlie its strategy: A relentless push to reduce costs and an equally relentless focus on customers' current and future needs. Savvy manufacturing leaders are increasingly turning to optimized machine performance to manage both pressures - and to boost profits. The bottom line? Strategic management of machinery assets is now a must for manufacturers in a highly competitive, often-unpredictable global economy.