Student guide Faculty of Engineering A.Y. 2010/11

Industrial Applications (Textiles)
Lesson timetable, Notice board, Additional material
Aim of the course
The course provides an overview of the economic, technological and commercial characteristics of the textile-apparel sector, highlighting its complexity and significance within Italy's current economic, developmental and cultural setting. 
The various stages in the supply chain (spinning, production and finishing of textiles, and garment manufacture) are examined with an eye to trends in innovation (products, processes) and the dynamics of industrialisation and market leadership (internationalisation and globalisation, relations with distributors, fashion and technical textiles). The various materials used in production (natural and man-made fibres, yarns, conventional and innovative surfaces, dyeing, printing, finishing and functional enhancement of materials for specific fashion and hi-tech applications) are analysed within the context of the sector's current strategies for relaunching "made in Italy" products (optimisation of resources, creative design and ReS, relations with the market, introduction of textile materials into other sectors, ecology/environment, certifications and brand strategies). This will give students the integral knowledge of the textile cycle and its peculiarities necessary for approaching companies in this sector with the requisite degree of technical and managerial competence.
There are no prerequisites for entry. The course consists of two modules, worth a total of 10 credits: the first is taken in the 1st semester and focuses on the technologies, while the second module, taken in the 2nd semester, is devoted to the managerial aspects. The lessons on the theory will be combined with visits to textile companies and trade shows, as well as meetings with opinion leaders.
Syllabus
1. Materials and technologies (5 credits)
 
Textile materials and technology cycle (fibres, yarns, woven fabrics and non-wovens: technical and performance characteristics, overview of the cycle and production machines).
Knitwear and garment manufacture, standards and quality control of fibres and textiles.
Technology and problems of textile enhancement, water cycle. Quality standards and inspections. Innovation and research: engineering of materials, nanotechnologies, plasma treatments.
Lecturers: D.N. Sharma, E. Molinari, A. Tessaro
 
2. Sector strategies and management, thesis lab (5 credits)
 
Socio-economic characteristics of the textile/fashion system, clusters and systemic relations. Development scenarios. Organisational models of the textile system (organisation chart, functions, value chain).
Marketing of textile products and firms (btob – btoc), flow of fashion and creativity. Research and innovation trends in the sector. Markets for fashion and technical textiles. Certification, marking and branding strategies. Relations with the market and the distribution.
Examinations
There will be an oral exam, including presentation of a short paper (on a business case study) previously agreed upon with the lecturer.
Reading list
Materials supplied by the lecturers,
A.V il Valore della moda - Industria e servizi in un settore guidato dall'innovazione Bruno Mondadori 2006 (è in biblioteca)
M.Fortis, A.Quadrio Curzio Industria e distretti Il Mulino 2006
Tecnologia dell'abbilgiamento , dalla fibra all'abito – Ascontex