Pontos de transição: a escalada rumo à maturidade de Sistemas de Gestão da Qualidade

The demand for measurement and evolution methods of Quality Management System (QMS) Maturity has grown due to the great number of companies certified at ISO 9001. This paper aimed to identify the constructs and key transition points in the Maturity of QMSs through an empirical research using factorial and cluster analyses. Data was collected from a sample composed of 179 Brazilian companies of several sizes, segments and geographical positions. In addition to the constructs found in the literature, the empirical results identified a new construct - “Agility and Integration by Information Technology”. Although QMSs are widespread in industry, the identification of constructs and their transition points by cluster analysis can be useful to managers and researchers interested in the maturity management process. This study can be especially useful to guide the efforts of experts, consultants and managers in increasing company operational performance.