Résumé
Quality assurance is a means of quality management which is essential in interfirm relations, whatever the branch of activity. Small and medium-sized firms are increasingly becoming involved in the process of industry certification. However, little research has been carried out concerning the possible impacts of models for quality assurance on the small and medium-sized firms' management systems in general and on their organizational structure in particular. Based on a survey carried out among managers, the following paper shows that quality assurance calls into question the distinctive features of small and medium-sized firms.