Here are some pictures we took from the top of the Campenile. My family has finally arrived, so the last two pictures are of me with my favorite person (not one of you guys, sorry), but the other pictures show most of the main highlights of Florence.
Have a safe trip home, and relax a little back in the states. See you in the fall.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
End of the session
The class is almost over. I will check the wiki on Thursday and Friday and assign grades after that. If you have any questions, please send me an email and I will get back to you.
Thanks for all your cooperation during the trips and in the classroom. I hope you had a great time and please feel free to stop by and say hi when we're all back in Storrs.
Thanks for all your cooperation during the trips and in the classroom. I hope you had a great time and please feel free to stop by and say hi when we're all back in Storrs.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Last class
We will wrap things up starting at 10:00 on Wednesday in the classrooms for each group (Santa Maria Novella for UConn, Classroom #3 for PSU). See you then.
The longest day
It was long and it was hot, but it was worth it because we saw the production lines for Ducati, Pagani and Lamborghini. There are no pictures allowed in the factories, but here are pictures from the showrooms there. Some happy students with big Italian supercars.
Friday, June 20, 2008
More details for Monday
Caterina gave me the itinerary for the trip on Monday:
You might plan to bring water and maybe some snacks for the day. We can also probably stop at one of the highway rest stops on the way back to Florence for people to grab something to eat or drink.
It will be a long day, but I think everyone will enjoy it. See you Monday morning.
- Depart 7:30 from Firenze SMN at the regular bus stop
- Meet the tour guides at Ducati factory at 9:15
- Factory, museum and gift shop at Ducati
- Lamborghini factory tour, Excellence centre (museum) and gift shop
- Pagani showroom, factory and gift shop
- Leave from Bologna at 18:00.
- That should put us back in Florence at 19:30 (depends on traffic).
You might plan to bring water and maybe some snacks for the day. We can also probably stop at one of the highway rest stops on the way back to Florence for people to grab something to eat or drink.
It will be a long day, but I think everyone will enjoy it. See you Monday morning.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Grade Reports and Monday
I am going through the site, and I will post more comments on your journals and the company visits, but I've read through everything enough to have a "rough" grade estimate for everyone. Those emails will be going out shortly, and if you have any questions you can reply to my email. In addition, I will be around Palazzo Rucellai this afternoon, so you can catch me after your art history class if you want.
Please note that the estimate assumes that you are on the bus and engaged in the tour on Monday. Remember, this is a long day (but I hope it will be worth it), and the bus leaves SMN train station at the usual place at 7:30. Set an extra alarm if you are worried, or arrange for someone in another apartment to call you in the morning. Missing the day will change the grade estimate, and not in a positive direction...
Also note that I have put some videos up on the company visit page for the OPIM students, and on the Family Business page that will show you the kinds of products we will see assembled on Monday.
Please note that the estimate assumes that you are on the bus and engaged in the tour on Monday. Remember, this is a long day (but I hope it will be worth it), and the bus leaves SMN train station at the usual place at 7:30. Set an extra alarm if you are worried, or arrange for someone in another apartment to call you in the morning. Missing the day will change the grade estimate, and not in a positive direction...
Also note that I have put some videos up on the company visit page for the OPIM students, and on the Family Business page that will show you the kinds of products we will see assembled on Monday.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
There really is class on Wednesday
Sorry. :-)
9:00-12:00, in our room back in the corner (Santa Maria Novella) for the UConn students, and in Classroom #3 in the "Library" side of the building for Penn State students.
9:00-12:00, in our room back in the corner (Santa Maria Novella) for the UConn students, and in Classroom #3 in the "Library" side of the building for Penn State students.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Not an Italian car
I put some videos about the cars we will see next week (on the wiki). This is not one of them.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
News for the weekend and next week
First, have a good (safe) time on your travels this weekend. I'll most likely be here in Florence, having a gelato (or two) at Grom (pistacchio, stracciatella, fragola, mmm).
For next week, the schedule will be as follows. On Monday, it will be an optional class meeting day, starting in the classroom you are assigned to, UConn in Santa Maria Novella (back in the corner) and PSU in room #3 in the Library side of the building. We will be around from 10-12 to talk to you about how the class is going and to provide help with your wiki entries. For those of you that have not done any work on your journal, this might be a good time to get some help to get that started.
On Wednesday, we'll have regular class time at Palazzo Rucellai, 9am until noon. We will talk about some of the company visits and do some work to set up our last trip to Bologna/Modena. There are some videos on the wiki (look at the vehicle production page under company visits) to introduce you to the products we will see assembled on Monday. In addition, we are very likely to visit showrooms at each company where you'll be able to purchase gifts from the company (I have a nice Lamborghini tie, for example).
I am working with GE to see about setting up a visit for Wednesday afternoon for those that were not able to go this past week. Sorry about the mixup. When I have the details, I will let you know, but it will be a quick train ride out, the tour and a ride back. Both of us will be on the tour, and may be able to help in explaining some of the things you'll see.
For next week, the schedule will be as follows. On Monday, it will be an optional class meeting day, starting in the classroom you are assigned to, UConn in Santa Maria Novella (back in the corner) and PSU in room #3 in the Library side of the building. We will be around from 10-12 to talk to you about how the class is going and to provide help with your wiki entries. For those of you that have not done any work on your journal, this might be a good time to get some help to get that started.
On Wednesday, we'll have regular class time at Palazzo Rucellai, 9am until noon. We will talk about some of the company visits and do some work to set up our last trip to Bologna/Modena. There are some videos on the wiki (look at the vehicle production page under company visits) to introduce you to the products we will see assembled on Monday. In addition, we are very likely to visit showrooms at each company where you'll be able to purchase gifts from the company (I have a nice Lamborghini tie, for example).
I am working with GE to see about setting up a visit for Wednesday afternoon for those that were not able to go this past week. Sorry about the mixup. When I have the details, I will let you know, but it will be a quick train ride out, the tour and a ride back. Both of us will be on the tour, and may be able to help in explaining some of the things you'll see.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Reminder for GE trip on Wednesday
We will meet at the usual place on Wednesday at 1:00pm (13:00 Italian time). Instead of a bus, we will take a train from Firenze SMN to the next stop, Firenze Rifredi. From there it is about a 15-20 minute walk to the Florence Learning Center that is adjacent to the Nuovo Pignone plant.
The training center is business casual, and the plant will require closed shoes (you will be asked to stand outside and wait if your shoes are not "safe"). This visit is a courtesy extended to us by GE, and this is probably the visit to look your most "professional" -- no shorts or ball caps. There will not be a bus where you could leave alternate clothes. The plant is huge, so comfortable walking shoes are okay (sneakers).
We will have a lecture about the MIS systems for managing the production of these complex products (I have some material on the website that you can look at before we go) and then a tour of the plant. Each will be about ninety minutes, so we should be able to get a train back to Firenze SMN by 6pm. Let me know if you have any questions.
The training center is business casual, and the plant will require closed shoes (you will be asked to stand outside and wait if your shoes are not "safe"). This visit is a courtesy extended to us by GE, and this is probably the visit to look your most "professional" -- no shorts or ball caps. There will not be a bus where you could leave alternate clothes. The plant is huge, so comfortable walking shoes are okay (sneakers).
We will have a lecture about the MIS systems for managing the production of these complex products (I have some material on the website that you can look at before we go) and then a tour of the plant. Each will be about ninety minutes, so we should be able to get a train back to Firenze SMN by 6pm. Let me know if you have any questions.
Making wine in Fonterutoli
We had one of our best weather days so far, and had a great trip into Chianti to visit a winery in a little village called Fonterutoli. The winery has been owned by the Mazzei family since 1435 (the current managers are part of the 24th generation). Here are pictures from the day.
I heard there were some camera problems, so if anyone wants copies of pictures, please let me know. The pictures can also be downloaded by saving images, and the resolution on those pictures should be good enough to print.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Monday trip reminder
Monday we will visit a winery in Chianti, owned by the Mazzei family. We will meet at SMN Stazione, in the usual place at 8:30. The roads in Chianti are not straight for more than a few meters, so if you think you might need some motion sickness medicine, plan ahead. There will be a bit of walking, so comfortable shoes (not flip-flops, sorry) would be a good idea as well.
I have added some links to the wiki for this visit, for the GE trip, and for the vehicle production day. You can find them on the company visit page, and I also put links on the syllabus page.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Website posts
I have appended a long comment to each of the first three company visits for each class (PSU and UConn). Take a look some time and think about adding some more analysis or comments to each page.
I have also started looking at all the Journals. If you haven't done much on them yet, remember that six weeks disappears very quickly. What I will (officially) do is have an open class time on Monday June 16 to be in our classroom to talk one-on-one with anyone who wants help with their journal. We will have class at Palazzo Rucellai on June 18. For the Penn State students, Prof. Chelko will be here that week and may want to meet with you on both Monday and Wednesday. He will post something on the class wiki to confirm.
Remember that the Winery Tour on Monday will start at the train station at 8:30. We will have a meeting with the head of the winery in the afternoon, and so we will be back in Florence probably by 6:00.
On Wednesday we will go to Nuovo Pignone in the afternoon and meet at the train station around 1pm. We have a presentation from GE at 2pm, and then a tour of the plant starting around 3:45. The plant is in Florence, and the tour should finish around 5:30, so you'll be 'free' around 6:00.
Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great weekend.
I have also started looking at all the Journals. If you haven't done much on them yet, remember that six weeks disappears very quickly. What I will (officially) do is have an open class time on Monday June 16 to be in our classroom to talk one-on-one with anyone who wants help with their journal. We will have class at Palazzo Rucellai on June 18. For the Penn State students, Prof. Chelko will be here that week and may want to meet with you on both Monday and Wednesday. He will post something on the class wiki to confirm.
Remember that the Winery Tour on Monday will start at the train station at 8:30. We will have a meeting with the head of the winery in the afternoon, and so we will be back in Florence probably by 6:00.
On Wednesday we will go to Nuovo Pignone in the afternoon and meet at the train station around 1pm. We have a presentation from GE at 2pm, and then a tour of the plant starting around 3:45. The plant is in Florence, and the tour should finish around 5:30, so you'll be 'free' around 6:00.
Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great weekend.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Wednesday Trip Reminder
On Wednesday, June 4th, we will meet at the usual place at SMN Train Station at 9:00 (you get to sleep an extra hour and a half!). We will make a short trip to Prato, which we passed when we drove to Pietrasanta and Carrara.
There are two companies there that we will visit, and so half of the UConn students will go to one, the other half to the other (similar for PSU students). Alan will accompany one group, I will go with the other. On the website, there will be comments from each half of the class and some discussion of the differences between the two companies.
The tours should finish by noon, so we will be back in Florence in time for (Italian) lunch.
Next week: Wine and industrial machines.
There are two companies there that we will visit, and so half of the UConn students will go to one, the other half to the other (similar for PSU students). Alan will accompany one group, I will go with the other. On the website, there will be comments from each half of the class and some discussion of the differences between the two companies.
The tours should finish by noon, so we will be back in Florence in time for (Italian) lunch.
Next week: Wine and industrial machines.
Pictures in and around Fiesole
Fiesole is a small town up a high hill looking out over Florence. The student orientation was held there on our first Saturday, and students got to see the wonderful views of Florence and the Arno River valley. I went up for a quiet day of reading, eating and picture taking. Here are some of the pictures.
Italian trains and strikes
On Sunday, many of the students were off to other parts of Italy and Europe (Venice, Rome, Prague among others), but those still in Florence who were trying to visit cities in the area discovered that Italian trains have a habit of going on strike. The strikes are often announced, and last a specified period and I'm not sure what exactly they accomplish. Usually a few trains run so that people are delayed but not completely stranded.
Here are some pictures of the train station in Florence, called Santa Maria Novella, and the many travellers trying to find a way to get to their destinations.
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