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Abstract
This study is exclusively carried out with the primary focus on the exploration of the factors that are considered to be the key for the implementation of TQM by the manufacturers in South India. This study also throws a light on the driving forces and resisting forces towards the TQM implementation. A structured questionnaire was administered in 132 manufacturing firms sampled from South India on the basis of area-cum-judgemental sampling. The outcome of this study clearly revealed that continuous improvements, effective training & education, leadership skills, customer focus, employee involvement, and customer relations were found to be critical success factors for the effective implementation of TQM. This study also confirmed that the driving forces that boost manufacturers to embrace TQM were improvement in product quality, increased customer satisfaction, improved employee involvement, improved company image, and increase in profitability. It is clear from the study that inadequate strategic planning, lack of senior management commitment, lack of recognition & reward, inadequate allocation of resources, lack of effective communication and lack of sufficient training & education were the stumbling obstacles that might impede manufacturers from embracing TQM.