Soft and Hard Total Quality Management Practices Promote Industry 4.0 Readiness: A SEM-Neural Network Approach

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is a technological development in the manufacturing industry that has revolutionized Total Quality Management (TQM) practices. There been scant empirical research on multidimensional perspective of TQM. Thus, this study aims to empirically examine effect view TQM (soft and hard) I4.0 readiness small medium-sized (SMEs) firms. Based sociotechnical systems (STS) theory, framework developed validated through an online survey 209 Malaysian SMEs Unlike existing studies used structural equation modeling (SEM), two-stage analysis was performed study. First, SEM approach determine which variable significantly affects readiness. Second, artificial neural network (ANN) technique adopted rank relative influence significant predictors obtained from SEM. The results show soft hard practices have supported Moreover, highlight mediating role between ANN affirmed customer focus considered important factor for managerial readiness, advanced technology operational top management commitment In nutshell, SEM-ANN uniquely contributes literature. Finally, findings can help managers prioritize firms’ quality promote implementation, especially emerging economies.