OPTIMIZING THE UTILIZATION OF ONION CHIP CUTTING MACHINES AND STRENGTHENING LEGALITY AND MARKETING ASPECTS AT DAPUR MOM4G MSMES

Abstract

Small and medium industries play an important role in driving economic growth and creating job opportunities for the community. One micro-enterprise that contributes to the community's economic activities is the "Dapur Mom4G" onion chip production household business located in Medan City, North Sumatra. This business has been managed by Mrs. Annisa Febriani and her husband since 2015 and is engaged in the production of onion chips as a processed food product that has the potential to be developed as a typical Medan souvenir product. Along with the increasing demand, Dapur Mom4G began to need to increase production capacity and strengthen business management. Based on the results of problem identification with partners, the onion chip production process is still carried out manually, especially at the dough cutting stage. This condition causes a relatively long production time, requires a considerable workforce, and results in uneven size and thickness of slices. The partner's current production capacity is around 80 kg per day. In addition to the production aspect, partners also face obstacles in the legal aspect in the form of processing PIRT distribution permits and trademark registration, as well as marketing aspects that are still dominated by conventional marketing and have not optimally utilized digital media. The objective of this Community-Based Empowerment Program is to increase the capacity and empowerment of partners through the application of technology, strengthening legality, and developing marketing. The implementation method of community service is to provide socialization, training, and mentoring to Dapur Mom4G partners. The solutions provided include: 1) design and implementation of an onion chip cutting machine to speed up the production process and produce more uniform slice sizes; 2) assistance in processing PIRT distribution permits and trademark registration to strengthen product legality and identity; and 3) training and mentoring in the use of digital media to improve promotion and expand marketing reach. Through these activities, partners are expected to be able to increase production efficiency and capacity, strengthen business legality, expand marketing, and develop onion chips as a typical Medan souvenir product. With the training and mentoring, Dapur Mom4G partners are expected to be able to operate the onion chip cutting machine independently according to procedures, perform basic machine maintenance, and implement a more effective and efficient production process. Partners are also able to produce onion chip pieces with more uniform size and thickness and increase production capacity compared to the manual cutting process. Furthermore, through digital marketing training, partners are able to create and manage promotional content, utilize social media as a marketing tool, and expand their product reach. Legal assistance also enhances partners' understanding of the importance of PIRT and trademarks in strengthening the identity, consumer trust, and competitiveness of Dapur Mom4G Onion Chips.