Sistema de filtro de tabela dinamica PHP

Prezados boa tarde,

Preciso de construir um sistema de filtro para a tabela gerada automaticamente através de uma pesquisa select e while para uma tabela comum html.

Penso em fazer da seguinte maneira:

* Colocar a linha onde entram os parâmetros do filtro dentro de um formulário onde quando acionado passam as informações via $_POST para dentro da mesma página (pois o action do formulário aponta para mesma página).
* Assim será possível utilizar o $_POST para realizar os filtros dentro do recordset nos select. Que por sua vez estarão dentro de um if(isset()) para verificar sua existência e selecionar qual select mostrará na tela(com todos os registros ou com filtro).

O problema é que ao acionar o botão FILTRO, não está submetendo o formulário. Abaixo segue código com o formulário e tabela:

< table id="tabela" width="100%" border="0">

<thead>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="#304B73">Cliente</th>
<th bgcolor="#304B73">Componente / Modelo / Fabricante</th>
<th bgcolor="#304B73">TMPF / TMPR / TMEF</th>
<th colspan="2" bgcolor="#304B73">Ação</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<form action="system.php" method="post">
<th bgcolor="#304B73">
<select name="clients" id="clients">
<option value="">Todos</option>
<?php

?>
<option value="<?php echo $row_clients_list['client']?>"><?php echo $row_clients_list['client']?></option>
<?php
} while ($row_clients_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($clients_list));
$rows = mysql_num_rows($clients_list);
if($rows > 0) {
mysql_data_seek($clients_list, 0);
$row_clients_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($clients_list);
}
?>
</select>
</th>
<th bgcolor="#304B73">
<select name="component" id="component">
<option value="">Todos</option>
<?php

?>
<option value="<?php echo $row_components_list['name']?>"><?php echo $row_components_list['name']?></option>
<?php
} while ($row_components_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($components_list));
$rows = mysql_num_rows($components_list);
if($rows > 0) {
mysql_data_seek($components_list, 0);
$row_components_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($components_list);
}
?>
</select>

<select name="model" id="model">
<option value="">Todos</option>
<?php

?>
<option value="<?php echo $row_components_list['model']?>"><?php echo $row_components_list['model']?></option>
<?php
} while ($row_components_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($components_list));
$rows = mysql_num_rows($components_list);
if($rows > 0) {
mysql_data_seek($components_list, 0);
$row_components_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($components_list);
}
?>
</select>

<select name="manufacturer" id="manufacturer">
<option value="">Todos</option>
<?php

?>
<option value="<?php echo $row_components_list['manufacturer']?>"><?php echo $row_components_list['manufacturer']?></option>
<?php
} while ($row_components_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($components_list));
$rows = mysql_num_rows($components_list);
if($rows > 0) {
mysql_data_seek($components_list, 0);
$row_components_list = mysql_fetch_assoc($components_list);
}
?>
</select>
</th>
<th bgcolor="#304B73">
<select>
<option value="" selected>-</option>
<option value="=">igual a</option>
<option value=">">maior que</option>
<option value="<">menor que</option>
</select>
<input id='mtxx' name='mtxx' type='number' />
</th>
<th colspan="2" bgcolor="#304B73"><input type="submit" value="Filtrar" /> | <input type="button" onclick="javascript: location.href='#rec_openModal'" value="Adicionar componente" /></th>
</form>
</tr>
</thead>
<?php $c = 0; ?>
<?php do { ?>
<tbody>
<tr class="<?=($c++%2==1) ? 'odd' : 'even' ?>">
<td><?php echo $row_components['client']; ?></td>
<td><?php echo $row_components['name']?> / <?php echo $row_components['model']?> / <?php echo $row_components['manufacturer']?></td>
<td><?php echo $row_components['mttf']?> / <?php echo $row_components['mttr']?> / <?php echo $row_components['mtbf']; ?></td>
<td><form id="edit" action="mysql/update_ppcm_maintenance_preventive.php" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="update_idppcm_maintenance" value="<?php echo $row_components['idppcm_maintenance']?>">
<input type="image" name="buttom" src="imagens/edit.png" width="24" height="24">
</form></td>
<td><form id='delete' action="mysql/del_ppcm_maintenance_preventive.php" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="del_name" value="<?php echo $row_components['name']?>">
<input type="hidden" name="del_model" value="<?php echo $row_components['model']?>">
<input type="hidden" name="del_client" value="<?php echo $row_components['client']?>">
<input type="hidden" name="del_idppcm_maintenance" value="<?php echo $row_components['idppcm_maintenance']?>">
<input type="image" name="buttom" src="imagens/delete.png" width="24" height="24">
</td></form>
</tr>
<?php } while ($row_components = mysql_fetch_assoc($components)); ?>
</tbody>
</table>