This paper analyzes strategic dimensions of the competitiveness in small and medium manufacturing companies, involving information, quality, technology, and environmental management. Based an a simple but not linear and dynamic conceptual model, some basic aspects of the dimensions were unfolded and investigated in field research involving 90 companies. The analysis of the data indicates that the medium apprenticeship of those companies presents limitations in the four dimensions, when compared with a "company of excellence "as a reference in those fourfields. The limitation in knowledge management induces to difficulties in the implantation of information, quality, technology, and environment systems. Less than 20% of the companies present some configuration in those dimensions, but with a large limitations in information management and technology management of products processes, environmental management depending on that last one. This, there is a need of movements of consciousness of the companies through efforts from the governmental organs, class associations and universities, seeking to collaborate for the generation of knowledge in those organizations, at least in the four analyzed dimensions, because they are competitiveness factors in a global economy.
information; organization; industry; quality; technology