Case Study
Innovation lights the way to future success
iGuzzini
A leading European designer of light fixtures uses NX and Teamcenter to ensure a continuous stream of creative new products
Lighting leader takes holistic approach
iGuzzini, established in 1958, produces indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures. It is the Italian leader in technical and architectural lighting and ranks among the leading companies in Europe as well. iGuzzini belongs to Fimag, a holding company that includes the companies of the Guzzini Group (Fratelli Guzzini, iGuzzini and Teuco). In addition to its main office and factory in Recanati, Italy, iGuzzini has 12 branch offices around the world.
The success of the company comes from a holistic approach to lighting. For iGuzzini, designing lighting fixtures is not just about illuminating spaces. It also means being aware of all the aspects related to the quality of the light, both indoors and outdoors. Its objective is to make the best use of light, which it does by combining different lighting sources and making sure they are well integrated into the environment.
Technological and artistic innovation
iGuzzini supports this approach through investments aimed at technological innovation. In 1995 the company founded the Study and Research Center to deepen its understanding of the many aspects of light, such as its physical nature, how it is perceived by humans and how it effects their environment. In addition to the focus on technological innovation, the company incorporates artistic creativity through collaborations with high-profile designers and architects. Personalities such as Renzo Piano, Gae Aulenti and Giò Ponti have worked with iGuzzini to create products and lighting projects for museums, cities and hotels.
The combination of technological innovation and creativity is how iGuzzini maintains its market leadership in the face of strong competition. According to Emidio Alfei, the company’s information technology director, “In a time like this, when the competition in our industry is increasingly merciless, it is clear that constant development of new products is one of the key factors for keeping our market leadership.We must innovate continuously and bring new products to market quickly.”
Searching for functionality and flexibility
For iGuzzini, design is where innovation must be executed because high quality products that are fresh and original are key to its success. “The vast majority of our products, fully 95 percent, are custom-designed,” Alfei continues. “On one hand, our technicians must be flexible in developing these products. On the other, they must be supported by software solutions that allow them flexibility in how they work.”
The need for flexible yet advanced CAD/CAM and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions led the company to evaluate two leading systems on the market in Italy. The company conducted a benchmark test that included an actual design problem. “We thought it was important to test the software with the sort of concrete problem that we face every day,” Alfei adds.
The solution, which included Siemens’ NX™ digital product development software and the Siemens’ Teamcenter® digital lifecycle management system, was chosen for its superior performance on iGuzzini’s real-world benchmark. “For us, design software isn’t simply a tool but the axle on which new product development turns,” says Alfei. “NX demonstrated a great deal of flexibility that allows us to adapt it to our needs.”
Communicating along the value chain
iGuzzini’s transition to the new design automation software did not impede production. “A delay in our production schedule would have meant an economic loss for the company but that did not occur thanks to the solution’s fast implementation,” Alfei adds.
Improving the ability to innovate did not just mean changing to better design software, however. It also included an upgrade to the company’s information sharing process. This was made possible by Teamcenter, which iGuzzini uses to connect all the people and processes involved in product development. This enables faster and more effective communication with suppliers, and the entire value chain, thus ensuring a progressive improvement in the company’s products.
This improvement in information sharing is especially important to iGuzzini as it prepares to open a new factory in China. “This expansion makes clear how critical reliable information sharing was to our selection of the Siemens applications,” Alfei concludes. “Our objective is to arrive at a complete sharing of company knowledge so that it is accessible to all who work in the design, innovation and production process of our new products.”
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Challenges:
- Maintain market leadership by delivering innovative, high-quality products
- Reduce design times to increase competitiveness
- Capture a share of the larger market made possible by globalization
Keys To Success:
- Continuous innovation using advanced technologies
- Flexible design software with advanced functionality
- Incorporation of entire value chain into a tightly linked product development community
Results:
- Greater competitiveness
- Faster time to market
- Accurate knowledge transfer locally and globally
Industry:
- Consumer Products
Client's Primary Business:
iGuzzini designs and produces indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures.
Business Initiatives:
- New Product Development
- Value Chain Synchronization
Solutions/Services:
- NX
- Teamcenter
Client Location:
Recanati
Italy
"Our latest collection of products was developed with Siemens solutions...Without the knowledge sharing made possible by Teamcenter, we can’t speak about product innovation."
Emidio Alfei
Information Technology Director
iGuzzini