A gestão estratégica de inovação para o mercado de produtos de vestuário brasileiro tem encontrado determinadas barreiras, principalmente em relação ao desenvolvimento de produtos nas Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs). Como estratégia para superar essa dificuldade, as PMEs têm-se organizado em Arranjos Produtivos Locais (APLs). Esta pesquisa apresenta um estudo multicaso de cinco APLs de confecção do estado do Paraná com organização igual ou maior a quatro anos de existência. A amostra total constituiu-se em 20 empresários agentes de governança, presidentes de sindicato e associações responsáveis pelos projetos de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (P&D). A pesquisa analisou ações de P&D apresentadas no planejamento estratégico dos arranjos a partir das estratégias de consolidação e roadmapping do Projeto Rotas Estratégicas para o Futuro da Indústria Paranaense. Encontrou-se dificuldades quanto às ações de P&D especialmente na criação da cultura de gestão de desenvolvimento de produto em conjunto com os empresários e fornecedores e as políticas públicas de incentivo a P&D nas PMEs.

The strategic management of innovation in the Brazilian clothing market has found certain barriers, especially regarding product development in micro and small enterprises. Local Productive Arrangements (LPAs) have been used by organizations as a strategy to overcome this difficulty. This research presents a multi-case study on five LPAs in the State of Parana with four or more years of existence. The total sample consisted of 20 business agents of governance, including presidents of unions and organized associations responsible for Research and Development (R &D) projects. The study examined R&D actions presented in the strategic planning arrangements from the consolidation strategies and the Routes of Strategic Project roadmapping for the future of this sector in the State of Parana. Several difficulties were found in the innovation chain process, especially related to the management of joint product development by contractors and cooperation of suppliers and public policies to encourage R&D in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The purpose of this research is to relate competitiveness through productivity on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the level of quality that these companies are and the market segment they serve. The methodology used was a multiple case study using questionnaires and systematic observations in SMEs. Results showed that the quality of the companies surveyed is determined by the market segment in which they operate. Quality management is based on the end customer and the view of entrepreneurs look beyond the premises of their companies. The importance of this research is to relate the market segment with the quality level used in SMEs, a strategy required for the current competitiveness.