Consumer demands and global competition continuously increase, compelling South African food manufacturers to constantly improve resource efficiency and quality. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a program aimed at equipment effectiveness. While TPM can improve maintenance aspects of equipment, food manufacturers are also mandated to implement a Total Quality Management system (TQM), often requiring the same resources and skill set as TPM. This paper aimed to investigate the impact of TPM on the organizational performance of a food manufacturing company while identifying TQM synergies and common barriers to success. The researchers aimed to work towards a practical model for successful TPM implementation for companies facing similar challenges. A large multi-national company was used as the population and 12 of its factories were used as a sample. The 12 factories represented a diverse yet representative mix of food-producing plants. Quantitative data collection and analysis were used to understand the impact of TPM and its core construct, i.e., Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), on performance. Subsequently, a qualitative case study analysis was done to deliver an understanding beyond the data, identifying barriers to success and opportunities. The results indicated that TPM implementation in a food manufacturing environment does not necessarily lead to an increase in OEE. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that OEE can be used as a predictor of performance in productivity.