Patterns of Diffusion of New Technologies in Small Metal-Working Firms: The Case of an Italian Region

Programmable automation in the form of numerically controlledand computerized numerically controlled machine tools and flexiblemanufacturing systems has been commonly hailed as signallinga fundamental economic-technical paradigm shift similar to theshifts due to the introduction of the steam engine and the electricmotor. This paper discusses the patterns of diffusion of microelectronics-basedtechnical change in machine tools employed in metal-workingor ‘engineering’ firms in Italy. It is directedtoward the segment of the production process involving the employmentof metal-cutting milling machines. The paper builds a taxonomylinking innovative technological patterns to the competenciesand strategies of firms.