Role of Palestine Standards Institution in improving the competitiveness advantage of local product (A survey study on the food industry)

Abstract

The study aimed at recognizing the extent of commitment, on the part of local companies and factories, in implementing the criteria of Palestine Standards Institution as pertains to quality of food production, also knowing the role of Palestine Standards Institution in improving competitiveness in food industry The study adopted the quantitative methodology to decipher and analyze data. The population of the study consisted of all employees in the Palestine Standards Institution, as AL-Jebrinin Dairy Industry in Hebron and Ramallah, siniora company in AL-Ezareyeh, and Albinar company in Ramallah. Population totaled to 996 employees, an available sample of 370 employees were chosen whereas 368 questionaries were actually returned, Cronbach Alpha was used to approbate reliability and Pearson correlation coefficient for internal consistency as to measure correlation among variables of study as stated in study hypothesis means and standard deviations, were also used to answer study questions. Results of study showed that Palestine Standards Institution applies the related criteria at a high level of performance, the matter that leads to improving the competitiveness quality, the Standards Institution applies the procedural knowledge and related criteria related to specifications, certificate, inspections also as ahigh level. There was ahigh correlation between commitment of companies and local factories in implementing criteria of Standards Institution and improving competitiveness of industrial product. The study recommended to conduct an annual assessment for criteria and specifications of food industry for the scale of improving them to be congenial with the developmental and competitive labor markets, it is important to animate enterprises companies to obtain quality certificates to increase their level of capacity to locally competitive in local markets, and also recommended raising awareness among customers towards supporting national products.