A indústria de calçados de Nova Serrana (MG) [The Nova Serrana Shoe Manufacturing Industry (MG, Brazil)]

On the basis of previous statistical work with data and information from RAIS - Relação Anual de Informações Sociais, characterizing the Nova Serrana shoe industry as a local production system, and the results of a field research work with visits and interviews in local firms and institutions, this paper studies the Nova Serrana local production system as a whole as well as its firms and supporting institutions. The objective is to bring empirical evidence to guide public policy and private actions with a view to upgrade the local system in two spheres: (1) productive and technological, and (2) institutional and organizational. With this purpose in mind, this paper first characterizes and describes the local system in terms of location, adjoining influenced areas, logistics, population and number of jobs, history and evolution, production structure, supporting institutions, and social, cultural and political contexts. Next, the paper characterizes local firms in terms of size, product development, trading system, cooperation between rival firms, interactions with suppliers, sources of information for product development and on market trends and production technologies, practices and policies with regard to quality, financing, and other aspects. Finally, the paper summarizes the most relevant issues for policy measures and private actions by local firms and institutions.