FORMULA Ep.01: The flowing enterprise

In the first episode of FORMULA, we share what we learned from our visit to Loccioni, a company that combines measurement and control systems

by Valentina Paruzzi

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A view of the San Clemente Valley and the agricultural fields of the Loccioni company. Photos by Alessandro Zangirolami for MAIZE.

Loccioni is a company that combines measurement and control systems, integrating various technologies, including robotics and data analysis. Founded in 1968 by the entrepreneurial couple Enrico Loccioni and Graziella Rebichini, Loccioni’s cultural roots go back to the Benedictine and agricultural traditions of the inland Marche region.

In the first episode of FORMULA, we share what we learned from our visit to Loccioni.

Loccioni is an interesting organization in many respects. First of all, it’s a tangible demonstration that a flexible, horizontal, and distributed organizational model is possible even in an organization with a turnover of 120 million, 485 employees (including 68 in the 9 foreign branches) and 6 laboratories in the Marche region. This is also reflected in the words used: Loccioni defines itself as an “enterprise”. The term “factory”, often associated with manual and repetitive tasks, is replaced in order to underline the application of creativity and dedication while understanding the complexity of the project.

In fact, Loccioni embraces an entrepreneurial culture where each member uses their talents to drive internal business growth, within a horizontal organizational structure that prioritizes trust-based relationships over traditional hierarchies. Even the word “employee”, typically associated with someone who works for a company and follows orders from a superior, is replaced by the term “collaborator”.

At Loccioni, indeed, every project is a learning opportunity that brings collaborators closer to their innovation goals: thanks to their adaptive organizational structure, each team member takes on the role of project leader, essentially treating their projects like their own small businesses. In this a company committed to meeting client needs, collaborators are asked to be individuals with the right skills and entrepreneurial spirit to achieve the goals set. They focus on sharing knowledge and making the most of what they learn to benefit the entire team.

Over time, Loccioni has also built a solid international leadership position with nine offices worldwide, and its expertise attracts clients from many European and non-European countries. A stroll through its offices reveals teams made up of individuals from diverse geographical backgrounds. This global outlook, however, is balanced by the firm’s unwavering commitment to its local roots, forging a deep connection with the community in which it is located.

In fact, Loccioni’s organizational structure is not the only peculiar element. Since the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, Enrico Loccioni has initiated various collaborative projects with schools, institutions, customers, partners and local suppliers. The founder believes that the health of a company is inextricably linked to the well-being of the local community: in this vision, companies should cultivate an innovative corporate culture that emphasizes reinvesting the value they create in projects that enrich the well-being of their local area — something Loccioni proves in many ways.

For example, attracting talent from local educational institutions in the Marche region: young people are naturally interested in Loccioni because it’s a place where real innovation happens. Loccioni is able to blur the lines between education and work, transforming itself into a hub for skills development: a combination of passion, technology and entrepreneurial freedom, where generations come together to shape the future.

What does this exploration of Loccioni leave us with?

  • Flexibility is possible, even in an environment dominated by technology and engineering;
  • In the workplace, people make a difference because of who they are, how they behave, and what they can do;
  • Turning your collaborators into entrepreneurs is an act of courage, but also of foresight if you want to achieve exponential growth.

 
Curious to know more? Listen to the first episode of FORMULA.
 
This first edition of Formula is produced in Italian. New episodes in English will also be coming.