Lecturer Team from MAB, Vocational School of IPB University, Identifies Four Main Issues in Mulyaharja’s MSMEs
The Agribusiness Management Study Program (MAB) of the Vocational School of IPB University held a focused discussion with micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSMEs) players in the shoe and sandal sector in Mulyaharja Village, Bogor City, on Friday (24/5). The discussion was attended by representatives from the Agribusiness Management Study Program, including Dr Doni Sahat Tua Manalu, Dr Wien Kuntari, and Liisa Firhani Rahmasari, SP, MSi.
In this activity, which is part of the Community Service Program (PPM), the MAB team from IPB University successfully identified four main issues faced by MSMEs.
These four main issues include production continuity which is still hampered due to a lack of capital, marketing that is not yet optimal despite the existence of digital platforms, financial systems that are still manual, and human resources (HR) that are still managed with a familial approach.
“The main problem on the production side is the continuity of production, which is often hampered due to a lack of capital. This affects marketing, which also cannot run well,” said Dr Doni.
Furthermore, Dr Doni, who also serves as the head of the PPM at the Vocational School of IPB University, also highlighted the issue of human resources. So far, the majority of the workforce is not well managed because it still prioritizes a familial system over professionalism.
“The need for skilled labor is very high, considering that the majority of MSMEs here are family businesses that rely on the production skills of family members,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dr Wien Kuntari added that the financial system, which is still manual, is one of the reasons why MSMEs operations are not optimal. “With minimal capital, MSMEs find it difficult to carry out continuous production. The manual financial system also adds its own challenges,” she said.
As a solution to the various problems faced by MSME players in Mulyaharja, the MAB Study Program of IPB University has innovated by designing an application for production control and an integrated marketing system.
“We will develop an application that is expected to help MSMEs overcome production and marketing obstacles. This application will provide better control over the production process and facilitate integration with digital marketing platforms,” explained Liisa Firhani.
This application is expected to have a positive impact on the sustainability and development of the shoe and sandal MSMEs in Mulyaharja Village, enabling them to compete and grow in a wider market.
“With this innovation, we hope MSMEs can be more independent and productive, and able to improve the welfare of business actors in the area,” concluded Liisa. (ASW/Rz) (IAAS/STD)
