Halal Certification and Production Support as Drivers of Competitiveness for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises

Abstract

This Community Service Program (PKM) aimed to assist MSMEs in Lembengan Village, Jember, in obtaining halal certification while improving production management to enhance competitiveness. The research employed an Asset Based Community-driven Development (ABCD) approach through discovery, dream, design, define, and destiny stages, involving local communities, village officials, students, and academics. Data were collected through interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and documentation, and analyzed descriptively. The results show that halal certification expands market access, strengthens consumer trust, promotes transparency, enhances competitiveness, and improves product quality and production processes. Village government support was crucial in addressing certification costs and administrative barriers. Theoretically, this study contributes to the discourse on halalan thayyiban, emphasizing both sharia compliance and producers’ moral responsibility. Practically, this integrated mentoring model can be replicated for other MSMEs. Future studies should employ comparative and longitudinal approaches to assess the long-term impact of halal certification on MSME sustainability.