Combination of product quality management and exports: The case of Colombian fruits companies

Quality management provides to companies a framework to improve quality in overall systems, reduction of costs, reallocation of resources efficiently, correct planning of strategies, prevent or correct errors in the right time and increase the performance of companies. In this text, we discuss the different theories in this field, their obligatory or non-obligatory compliance, the importance of quality management for exporting companies and a case study of a Colombian firm that its main objective is to manage quality. In conclusion, we find out that there is different types of quality management systems such as Juran’s trilogy, Deming 14 points, Six sigma, HACCP, and so on; also that companies have to manage suppliers and that quality has a positive influence on exports volume; in the case of Colombian small and medium enterprises, it can be mentioned that the majority has implemented tools regarding quality management but is not enough.

Estado y mercado en los clásicos: Smith - Ricardo

El objetivo de este documento es presentar una descripción de la relación de Estado y Mercado en los autores clásicos. En general, hay un acuerdo en la importancia que tiene el mercado para el funcionamiento de la economía. Sin embargo, la metáfora de la mano invisible o del laissez-faire ha llevado a minimizar la importancia que autores como Adam Smith y David Ricardo le otorgaron al Estado en sus escritos. Frente a esto, es importante resaltar la relación entre Estado y Mercado en los autores que estuvieron en el inicio de la Economía Política.