1 Chapter 2 An Introduction to Cost Terms and Purposes

2 Basic Cost Terminology Cost – sacrificed resource to achieve a specific objective Actual Cost – a cost that has occurred Budgeted Cost – a predicted cost Cost Object – anything of interest for which a cost is desired. –Examples: product, service, or process.

3 Basic Cost Terminology A costing system typically accounts for costs in two basic stages: 1.Cost Accumulation – a collection of cost data in an organized manner 2.Cost Assignment – a general term that includes gathering accumulated costs to a cost object. This includes: –Tracing accumulated costs with a direct relationship to the cost object and –Allocating accumulated costs with an indirect relationship to a cost object

4 Direct and Indirect Costs Direct Costs – can be conveniently and economically traced (tracked) to a cost object Direct Costs Examples: –Parts (Ex. The cost of the cans is a direct cost of Pepsi- Colas) –Assembly line wages Indirect Costs – cannot be conveniently or economically traced (tracked) to a cost object. Instead of being traced, these costs are allocated to a cost object in a rational and systematic manner Indirect Costs Examples: –Electricity, Rent, Property taxes, salary of supervisors.

5 Direct and Indirect Costs

6 Factors Affecting Direct/Indirect Cost Classification Cost Materiality: –The smaller the amount of a cost (that is the more immaterial the cost is) the less likely that it is economically feasible to trace that cost to a particular cost object. (example: a mail-order catalog- the cost of invoice paper included in the package would be classified as indirect cost) Availability of Information-gathering Technology: –Example: Bar codes allow manufacturing plants to treat certain low-cost materials such as clips and screws, which were previously classified as indirect cost, as direct cost Operational Design: –Classifying a cost as direct is easier if a company’s facility is used exclusively for a specific cost object.

7 Cost Behavior: Variable Costs and Fixed Costs Variable Costs – changes in total in proportion to changes in the related level of activity or volume –Example: If BMW buys a steering wheel at $60 for each of its BMW X5 vehicles, then the total cost of steering wheels should be $60 times the number of vehicles produced. Fixed Costs – remain unchanged in total regardless of changes in the related level of activity or volume –Example: Rent Costs are fixed or variable only with respect to a specific activity or a given time period. Cost item is not inherently variable or fixed. Example: labor cost

8 Cost Behavior (contd.) Variable costs – are constant on a per-unit basis. If a product takes 5 pounds of materials each, it stays the same per unit regardless of whether one, ten, or a thousand units are produced Fixed costs – change inversely with the level of production. As more units are produced, the same fixed cost is spread over more and more units, reducing the cost per unit

9 Cost Behavior Summarized Total DollarsCost Per Unit Variable CostsChange in proportion with output (more output=more cost) Unchanged in relation to output Fixed CostsUnchanged in relation to output Change inversely with output (more output=lower cost per unit)

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11 Other Cost Concepts Cost Driver – a variable that causally affects costs over a given time span (variable costs) –Example: the number of vehicles produced is a cost driver of the cost of steering wheels. Relevant Range – the band of normal activity level (or volume) in which there is a specific relationship between the level of activity (or volume) and a given cost –For example, fixed costs are fixed only within the relevant range. Unit costs should be used cautiously. Since unit costs change with a different level of output or volume, it may be more prudent to base decisions on a total dollar basis

12 Different Types of Firms Manufacturing-sector companies –Create and sell their own products Merchandising-sector companies –product resellers Service-sector companies (intangible products)

13 Types of Inventories Manufacturing-sector companies typically have one or more of the following three types of inventory: –Direct Materials: resources in stock and available for use –Work-in-Process (or progress): products started but not yet completed. Often abbreviated as WIP –Finished Goods: products completed and ready for sale Merchandising-sector companies hold only one type of inventory: Merchandise inventory

14 Types of Product Costs Direct Material costs: –The acquisition cost of all materials that eventually become part of the cost object and that can be traced to the cost object in an economically feasible way. Examples: the aluminum used to make Pepsi cans. Direct Labor costs: –The compensation of all manufacturing labor that can be traced to the cost object. Example: wages. Indirect Manufacturing costs: –Factory costs that are not traceable to the product. Also known as Manufacturing Overhead costs or Factory Overhead costs. Examples: supplies, indirect material (lubricants), indirect labor, plant rent, plant insurance, plant and equipments depreciation, compensation of managers.

15 Distinctions Between Costs Inventoriable Costs (product manufacturing costs): –These costs are capitalized as assets (inventory) until they are sold and transferred to Cost of Goods Sold (expenses) in the income statement. –Example: BMW (X5 SUV), direct martial costs, direct manufacturing labor costs, and manufacturing overhead costs create new assets starting as work in process inventory and becoming finished goods. Period Costs: –All costs other than cost of goods sold (all non- manufacturing costs) –Examples: design costs, distribution costs, marketing costs, and customer service.

16 Cost Flowchart

17 The Flow of Inventoriable Costs and Period Costs The Cost of Goods Manufactured and the Cost of Goods Sold section of the income statement are accounting representations of the actual flow of costs through a production system.

18 Income Statement Figure carries forward from the Schedule of Cost of Goods Manufactured Period Costs are expensed as incurred

19 Cost of Goods Manufactured Calculates the cost of Direct Materials Used Accumulates the three product costs for the current period Adjusts the current period manufacturing costs to account for units actually completed

20 Cost Flowchart

21 Other Cost Considerations Prime cost is a term referring to all direct manufacturing costs (labor and materials) Conversion cost is a term referring to direct labor and factory overhead costs, collectively Overtime labor costs are considered part of overhead

22 Different Definitions of Cost for Different Applications Pricing and product-mix decisions – may use a “super” cost approach (comprehensive) Contracting with government agencies – very specific definitions of cost for “cost plus profit” contracts Preparing external-use financial statements – GAAP-driven product costs only

23 Different Definitions of Cost for Different Applications

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25 Example:

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