Laura Bravi

Food habits and attitudes towards food quality among young students

Purpose The food consumption has always received a lot of attention in the marketing literature, as it tends to reflect and determine the overall consumer behaviour, expression of the individual lifestyle. Nevertheless, less attention has been devoted to the young. This paper aims at analysing how university students, a segment of young people, perceive and evaluate the quality of food and which attributes most influence their food choice and consumption. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire was carried out from March to December 2015 among Italian university students. A sample of 1,138 people took part in the survey. Data were elaborated through SPSS 21.0 statistical software package. Findings Findings suggest a number of interesting points. First, a high attention of university students towards price and sales promotion was observed. Nevertheless, they are well informed in food products they buy and pay high attention to ingredients, origin and healthiness of food products. Finally, performing a principal component analysis three different components on food store selection were found, namely, “Price saving”, “Convenience” and “Food assortment and quality”. Practical implications A more comprehensive understanding of the food behaviour of the young could be useful for marketing researchers and practitioners to define marketing programs aimed at satisfying the food demand of a growing segment of the market. Originality/value The food behaviour of young people as a whole has been little addressed in the marketing literature. Existing studies have explored specific topics such as the consumption of organic food, fast-food buying habits or alcohol abuse.

Exploring customers’ perceptions about Quality Management Systems: an empirical study in Italy

Quality Management Systems (QMS) include the organisational structure, activities, programmes and actions designed to ensure that a product, process or service conforms to the objectives and the purposes for which it is to be used. Therefore, it is clear that quality systems involve all stages, starting from the initial identification of the needs and expectations of customers to their satisfaction. The aim of this research is to explore the knowledge and perceptions of customers about companies’ QMS related to business process management, environment, health and safety at work, social responsibilities/ethics. These themes are connected to International and European standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, SA 8000, which certify the presence in the company of attention given to these issues. The survey wants to investigate if Italian customers pay attention to these aspects, if they know these standards and if their presence increases customer satisfaction about the quality of the organisation and the product or service that it produces or supplies. The research was carried out through a questionnaire proposed to a heterogeneous sample of Italian consumers; data have been collected from 15 September to 15 December 2015, and they have been analysed using SPSS 23.0.

Seven Keys for Implementing the Self-Evaluation, Periodic Evaluation and Accreditation (AVA) Method, to Improve Quality and Student Satisfaction in the Italian Higher Education System.

Abstract This paper develops a theoretical framework that could facilitate the application of the Autovalutazione, Valutazione periodica, Accreditamento (AVA) method in Italian universities, trying to simplify the use of this approach, and to cover the existing gap between Italy and others European academic institutions. The new competitive environment in the academic system has created a reality where customers compare the ‘knowledge value’ that they are likely to receive in each academic institution. Quality in education is nowadays fundamental and student satisfaction is one of its main dimensions. There is an emphasis on service that meets the students’ needs and expectations, problem-solving processes based on facts, feedback systems and statistical methods and improvement of processes and systems by collaboration and involvement. Starting from 2013, all Italian universities are obliged by law to adopt the AVA method [Self-Evaluation, Periodic Evaluation and Accreditation], a system of activities carried out by the National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR).

Consumer attitude and behaviour towards food quality among the young ones: empirical evidences from a survey

This study investigates how university students perceive food quality and attempts to demonstrate how the individual lifestyle is a useful variable for segmentation purposes. Using data from an online questionnaire on a sample of 1138 Italian university students, the study reveals that there are two dominant factors influencing the food choice behaviour of young students, that is, food convenience and food certifications, and two main factors affecting the food store selection, that is, food disposability and store convenience. These variables make considerable contributions in characterising four clusters of young consumers, namely healthy and certified food consumers, comfortable consumers, saver consumers and innovative consumers. The findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of why young consumers buy foods, what they believe food quality is and how their perception of food quality affects their buying behaviour. This is critical for marketing researchers and practitioners to define marketing programmes fitting the food demand of a growing fast segment of the market.

Empirical evidence about ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 in Italian companies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the experience of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 certified companies, examining their motivations to introduce the standard and their perceived benefits and barriers. In parallel, the research investigated the knowledge and perception of ISO 9004 guideline, analyzing if it could give an added value to certified companies. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was proposed by e-mail to 2,581 Italian ISO 9001 certified companies from January 18 to March 31, 2016; 522 companies participated to the survey. Findings Companies of different size have been driven by different motivations to certification, reaching different types of benefits, while both large and small ones perceived the greater bureaucratization as an obstacle. The ISO 9004 standard is little known and applied among Italian companies, but the ones which adopted it benefited from it. Research limitations/implications A limitation may be derived from the fact that the sample was composed only of Italian companies, although this effect was to understand perceptions and trends of these international standards in the Italian reality. Practical implications Analyzing perceived advantages and disadvantages of ISO 9001 and 9004 could be crucial for managers to understand if their joint use is the right strategy to gain competitiveness in the reference markets. Originality/value Compared to previous studies in which ISO 9001 was evaluated as a stand-alone standard, the research made a comparative evaluation with ISO 9004, as ISO considers them to be “consistent pair of standards,” covering the literature gap about the effectiveness of the joint use of them.

Fabrication laboratories: The development of new business models with new digital technologies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state of fabrication laboratories (Fab Lab), an international network of digital laboratories, which provides new technological tools for digital manufacturing that can be used from individual users, to small businesses and schools. The aim is to understand similarities and differences of skills, technologies used and customers served among the main European laboratories (Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain) and the American ones. Design/methodology/approach Data from European and American Fab Labs were collected using a questionnaire survey performed on a total sample of n=493 Fab Labs. The administration of the survey took place through e-mail; 73 Fab Labs participated to the survey, reaching a total response rate of 14.81 percent. Findings The results show that Italian laboratories are characterized by ample space available, but limited capacity for investment in machinery and technology. European Fab Labs are similar to the Italian Fab Labs, while the American ones are more heterogeneous in size. However, a fact that emerges clearly from the results is how American Fab Labs are more important realities than European ones in terms of turnover and investments. They are more similar to businesses with an independent financial support. Originality/value The novelty of the study resides in the issue considered and the experimental techniques used. Some qualitative case studies have been developed in the field, but no previous quantitative analyses have been developed on a large sample of Fab Labs, developing comparisons between European and American realities of these digital laboratories.

Additive manufacturing in the wood-furniture sector: Sustainability of the technology, benefits and limitations of adoption

Purpose In the world economy there is the emergence of advanced manufacturing technologies that are enabling more cost and resource-efficient small-scale production. Among them, additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is leading companies to rethink where and how they conduct their manufacturing activities. The purpose of this paper is to focus in the Italian wood-furniture industry to understand if the companies in this sector are investing in additive manufacturing techniques, to remain competitive in their reference markets. The research also attempts to investigate the potential sustainable benefits and limitations to the implementation of 3D printing in this specific sector, considering the companies that have already implemented this technology. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using a structured questionnaire survey performed on a sample of 234 Italian companies in this sector; 76 companies claimed to use 3D printing in their production system. The questionnaire was distributed via computer-assisted web interviewing and it consisted of four sections. Findings The research has highlighted how Italian 3D companies have a specific profile; they are companies aimed at innovating through the search for new products and product features, putting design and Made in Italy in the first place. They pay high attention to the image they communicate to the market and are highly oriented to the final customer, and to the satisfaction of its needs. Originality/value The study is attempting to expand a recent and unexplored research line on the possible advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of emerging production technologies such as 3D printing.

Free-Pass Model to Manage Quality Relationships With Suppliers: An Italian Case Study

In order to be competitive in today’s challenging business environment, manufacturing companies must have the ability to effectively integrate internal functions within a company and effectively link them to the external operations of suppliers and supply chain members. This could be done thanks to the implementation of an effective Supply Chain Management System. The aim of the research is to contribute to the literature panorama on Lean Supply Chain Management through the analysis of a case study of Alpha, Italian company in the arm industry, which has developed a new model called “Free-Pass”, and to give a useful, realistic tool, expendable by companies that want to open up to Lean Supply Chain. A qualitative approach has been chosen, based on a longitudinal, single case study; a semi-structured interview has been carried out per year, with the company’s Quality Manager from 2009, the year in which the “Free-Pass” model has been implemented, until 2016. Relevant secondary data were also used such as company reports, web site, and performance quantitative data. The implementation of the Free-Pass model across the company leads to a great change, both in terms of the transformation of the production process in a process flow “pulled”, both at the organizational level, with the reduction of hierarchical levels, the process orientation, cross-functional teams, the streamlining of functions, and above all, the involvement of suppliers. This implied a radical change in thinking from management and from all the staff and a true “cultural revolution” for the company itself and for its suppliers, but it bought to both financial and organizational benefits. In conclusion the research has shown the importance of implementing quality relationships with suppliers based on trust and cooperation in order to achieve mutual benefits. The value of the research is given by the definition of a new model of Lean Supply Chain as an important tool of operation management which is expendable by companies.