Abstract
The adoption of quality management programs in numerous sectors is currently the subject of interest and emphasis on a global scale to increase effectiveness and efficiency. Therefore, it is undeniable that TQM has drawn much interest from scholars and researchers in developed and developing nations during the past few decades. South Africa, a developing country, is still trailing behind in the TQM process.
The purpose of this research was to develop a framework that will make it easier to apply TQM in South Africa's oil sector. An investigation into the oil industry's present TQM awareness is necessary. Four objectives were developed: (1) To determine the most important features of Total Quality Management;(2) To determine the extent to which the South African oil sector is aware of TQM; (3) To identify and assess the essential enablers that will make TQM implementation in the South African oil sector easier; (4)To determine the potential benefits of applying TQM in the South African petroleum sector. To accomplish this aim, the study employed a mixed research methodology and performed a single comprehensive case study strategy by triangulating the data collected through various methods (literature review, questionnaire survey, and semi-structured interviews).
Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire survey, and a literature review. 10 respondents were interviewed to gather qualitative data, and 305 respondents completed a questionnaire to participate in the study's quantitative portion.
Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were used to analyze data using measures of central tendency such as the mean and standard deviations, to portray the results more accurately.
The study identified seven TQM key factors that can help with TQM implementation. Furthermore, four TQM advantages may be obtained because of the effective implementation of TQM key factors. Moreover, the investigation highlighted important associations that contributed to the overall analysis. Through rigorous analysis and investigation, the study has produced a structured conceptual framework that addresses the unique challenges faced by the South African oil sector in TQM.