Total Quality Management Enablers for SMEs: A Study of Malaysian Companies

Abstract

This study was designed to identify the enablers
of successful TQM implementation by Malaysian SME
businesses. The study is importance due to the facts that
SMEs are left behind in TQM implementation as compare
to large organizations. The survey questionnaire
distributed to 500 Malaysian small businesses and 153
responded which contribute to 30.6% response rate. The
aim of this survey was to gain a general understanding of
TQM implementation and to identify the enablers from
the respective respondents. The study investigated and
identified the enablers of TQM implementation that are
contributing to the SMEs performance.