CERTIFICATION PROCESS IN QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN SME'S BORDER REGION OF CD. JUAREZ, CHIH. MEXICO AS A COMPETITIVE STRATEGY

Good performance of quality management systems in enterprises is a key factor in the international and domestic market competitiveness. This paper analyzes small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the local supply industry. We perform a search of competitiveness strategies present within the branch of SME's in the literature together with the application of a questionnaire that examines factors that manufacturing companies consider critical to the competitiveness of suppliers. The research shows that local manufacturing companies consider it important for their suppliers to have certification of quality management systems. It is viewed as a competitive advantage and increases the degree to which they are eligible to become a part of their supply chain. We propose a business strategy that generates higher performance for SME's to fulfill critical requirements of quality required by manufacturing companies.