For our second day with Italian appliance designer and manufacturer Smeg, we focused on the behind-the-scenes with tours of the company’s cooking and dishwasher factories. The company also has a third factory for sink production but it is located further south and not easily accessible.
After arriving at the first factory, the group was shown the special design room which houses many of the prototypes the company is currently working on. We were then shown the testing room for all the cooking appliances as well as the electronics department – an amazing room that showcases the technology that sits behind the gorgeous design of the appliances.
With 60 trucks leaving the factory every day, it’s essential the processes and procedures are able to handle the volume without compromising quality. Here’s where the certification process is integral. In a factory that produces 600 cookers per day, everything is tested individually and 2 per cent of output is randomly tested every day to ensure the high quality for which Smeg has become known.
After another many-coursed lunch, we visited Smeg’s dishwasher and washing machine factory which is located in Bonferraro. This factory produces a range of products which are used across the domestic, commercial and medical fields. Again, quality control is paramount to ensure the products meet Smeg’s high standards.
What was an eye-opener for all members of our tour group was the amount of engineering and technology that sits behind the exquisite design of all Smeg’s products. We were blown away by how clean, well organised and laid out the factories are with a focus on natural lighting and inclusion of greenery.
In particular, we noticed how well the production is managed and co-ordinated with Smeg showing a high degree of responsibility to staff by rotating between job roles on a regular basis to prevent repetitive injuries and keep alertness to the maximum. It was great to see the testing facilities and learn about the high percentage of products that are tested before anything leaves the premises.
We finished our last day with Smeg with another delicious meal at our hotel where we had the opportunity to thank our Smeg hosts personally for looking after us so well. Smeg is the epitome of Italian hospitality and it was our pleasure to be their guests.
For more information visit smeg.com.au
