REDUCING DEFECT RATES IN COFFEE SUPPLY CHAINS THROUGH UPSTREAM QUALITY MANAGEMENT: EVIDENCE AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FROM SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

Abstrak

Rantai pasok kopi yang bergantung pada petani kecil sering menghadapi permasalahan kualitas yang berulang, terutama akibat terbentuknya cacat pada tahap hulu. Penelitian ini menganalisis pembentukan cacat dari perspektif manajemen kualitas hulu serta menentukan prioritas strategis untuk menurunkan tingkat cacat pada rantai pasok kopi berbasis petani kecil. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus dengan mengombinasikan analisis kualitatif terhadap praktik panen dan pascapanen dengan data kuantitatif tingkat cacat dari proses penilaian mutu green bean. Perbedaan praktik di tingkat petani dan koperasi dianalisis, kemudian alternatif intervensi perbaikan diprioritaskan menggunakan metode pengambilan keputusan multikriteria yang terstruktur. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tingkat cacat bervariasi secara signifikan antar petani dan berkaitan erat dengan praktik penanganan di hulu. Panen selektif, pemrosesan tepat waktu, dan pengeringan dasar yang terkendali berhubungan dengan tingkat cacat yang lebih rendah. Hasil prioritisasi menegaskan bahwa intervensi preventif berbasis peningkatan kapabilitas perlu didahulukan dibandingkan solusi yang membutuhkan investasi infrastruktur besar.

Coffee supply chains that depend on smallholder farmers often face persistent quality problems due to defects originating at the upstream level. This study examines defect formation from an upstream quality management perspective and identifies strategic priorities for defect reduction in a smallholder-based coffee supply chain. Using a case study approach, the research combines qualitative analysis of harvesting and post-harvest practices with quantitative defect rate data from green bean quality inspections. Differences in farmer- and cooperative-level practices are analyzed, and improvement interventions are prioritized using a structured multi-criteria decision-making method. The results show that defect rates vary significantly across farmers and are closely linked to upstream practices. Selective harvesting, timely processing, and basic drying control are associated with lower defect rates, while inconsistent handling leads to higher defects. The prioritization results indicate that preventive, low-cost, and capability-based interventions should be implemented before infrastructure-intensive solutions. This study contributes to supply chain quality management literature by operationalizing “quality at the source” through defect rate analysis and by providing practical guidance for prioritizing upstream quality interventions in smallholder coffee supply chains.