Starting from the evidences of an updated literature about Local Production Systems, the paper tries to identify some indicators that can be used to analyze those agglomerations. The indicators were based on data collected from a questionnaire applied on a sample of 83 firms, with different sizes, inserted in the electrical and metal-mechanical agglomeration located in the region of Joinville-SC. The 24 indicators selected were divided in four groups, related with aspects of technological efforts, technological learning, technological cooperation and technological performance. The indicators were manipulated through the use of multivariate techniques, in order to identify the main factors that could be used to differentiate firms' capabilities and to generate different clusters comprising groups of enterprises in the agglomeration which similar characteristics regarding those factors. Moreover, the analysis performed also permits the identification of a core of dynamic firms that can stimulate the strengthening of technological capabilities in the agglomeration.
indicators for local production arrangements; core of dynamic firms; electrical and metal-mechanical arrangement
