This study suggested that four soft TQM practices, top management leadership, training, workforce management,
and customer focus were positively and significantly related to TPM implementation level. These practices
represent the human-related infrastructure required for successful TPM implementation.
The results showed that three hard TQM practices, continuous improvement, information feedback, and process
management were positively and significantly related to TPM implementation level. The findings shed more
light on the importance of hard TQM practices in today's competitive environment to assist manufacturing
companies to reach superior levels of TPM implementation.
The limitation of this study could be the sample size. Although the sample size was suitable for regression
models, it was not sufficient to conduct path analysis in order to highlight the direct and indirect effects among
variables. A second limitation was the use of single informants to collect the required information. Although
most published studies use single informants, the use of multiple informants would improve the validity of the
results (Jiménez-Jiménez & Martínez-Costa, 2009).
Similar research studies should be undertaken to investigate the influence of other improvement programs such
as just-in-time production and six sigma on TPM implementation level. Case studies are also needed to highlight
potential problems and success factors associated with TPM implementation in developing countries.