Standard Costing

Standard Costs
Our Focus

Distinguish between a standard and a budget. Identify the advantages of standard costs. Describe how standards are set. State the formulas for determining direct materials and direct labor variances. State the formulas for determining manufacturing overhead variances. Discuss the reporting of variances.

The Need for Standards

Standards
Are common in business Are often imposed by government agencies (and called regulations)

Standard costs
Are predetermined unit costs Used as measures of performance

Distinguishing Between Standards and Budgets

Standards and budgets are both

Pre-determined costs Part of management planning and control

A standard is a unit amount whereas a budget is a total amount

Standard costs may be incorporated into a cost accounting system

Advantages of Standard Costs

Setting Standard Costs

Setting standard costs

Requires input from all persons who have responsibility for costs and quantities Standards costs need to be current and should be under continuous review

There are two levels of standard costs

Ideal standards represent optimum levels of performance under perfect operating conditions Normal standards represent efficient levels of performance attainable under expected operating conditions (rigorous but attainable)

Direct Materials Price Standard

Direct materials price standard

Cost per unit which should be incurred Based on the purchasing departments best estimate of the cost of raw materials Includes related costs such as receiving, storing, and handling

Direct Materials Quantity Standard

Direct materials quantity standard

Quantity of direct materials used per unit of finished goods Based on physical measure such as pounds, barrels, etc.

Considers both the quantity and quality of materials required

Includes allowances for unavoidable waste and normal storage

Total Direct Materials Cost/Unit

The standard direct materials cost per unit is calculated as follows

STANDARD DIRECT MATERIAL S PRICE

STANDARD DIRECT MATERIAL S QUANTITY

STANDARD DIRECT MATERIALS COST PER UNIT

Direct Labor Price Standard

Direct labor price standard

Rate per hour incurred for direct labor Based on current wage rates adjusted for anticipated changes, such as cost of living adjustments Includes employer payroll taxes,and fringe benefits

Direct Labor Quantity Standard

Direct labor quantity standard

Time required to make one unit of the product Critical in labor-intensive companies Allowances should be made for rest periods, cleanup, machine setup and machine downtime

Direct Labor

The standard direct labor cost per unit is calculated as follows

STANDARD DIRECT LABOR RATE

STANDARD DIRECT LABOR HOURS

STANDARD DIRECT LABOR COST PER UNIT

Manufacturing Overhead Standard

For manufacturing overhead, a standard predetermined overhead rate is used

The predetermined rate is computed by dividing budgeted overhead costs by an expected standard activity index The standard manufacturing overhead rate per unit is the predetermined overhead rate times the activity index quantity standard (for example, direct labor hours)

Standard Cost Per Unit

Standard cost per unit

Sum of the standard costs for direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead Is determined for each product and often recorded on a standard cost card which provides the basis for determining variances from standards

materials

labour

Manufacturing Overheads

Variances from Standards

Variances from standards

Differences between total actual costs and total standard costs Unfavorable variances occur when too much is paid for materials and labor or when there are inefficiencies in using materials and labor Favorable variances occur when there are efficiencies in incurring costs and in using materials and labor

A variance is not favorable if quality control standards are sacrificed

Analyzing variances

Variances must be analyzed to determine their significance

First, determine the cost elements that comprise the variance For each manufacturing cost element, a total dollar variance is computed. Then this variance is analyzed into a price variance and a quantity variance

Variance Relationships

Formula for Total Materials Variance

The total materials variance is computed from the following formula:

Actual Quantity x Actual Price (AQ) x (AP)

Standard Quantity x Standard Price (SQ) x (SP)

Total Materials Variance (TMV)

Formula for Materials Price Variance

The materials price variance is computed from the following formula:

Actual Quantity x Actual Price (AQ) x (AP)

Actual Quantity x Standard Price (SQ) x (SP)

Materials Price Variance (MPV)

Formula for Materials Quantity Variance

The materials quantity variance is determined from the following formula:

Actual Quantity x Standard Price (AQ) x (SP)

Standard Quantity x Standard Price (SQ) x (SP)

Materials Quantity Variance (MQV)

Matrix for Direct Materials Variance

2
AQ XSP 4200 X 3.00 =12,600

3
SQ XSP 4000 X3= 12,000

AQ X AP 4200 X 3.10=13020

- 2 Price Variance 13,020-12,600 =Rs 420 UF

1

- 3 Quantity Discount 12,600- 12,000 =Rs 600 uf

2

1-3 Total Variance 13,020-12,000 =Rs 1020 UF

Causes of Materials Variances

Materials variances may be caused by a variety of factors, including both internal and external factors
Investigating materials price variances begins in the purchasing department, but the variance may be beyond the control of purchasing (for ex., prices rise faster than expected) Investigating materials quantity variance begins in the production department, but the variance may be beyond the control of production (for ex., faulty machinery)

Formula for Total Labor Variance

The total labor variance is obtained from the following formula:

Actual Hours x Actual Rate (AH) x (AR)

Standard Hours x Standard Rate (SH) x (SR)

Total Labor Variance (TLV)

Formula for Labor Price Variance

The formula for the labor price variance is as follows:

Actual Hours x Actual Rate (AH) x (AR)

Actual Hours X Standard Rate (AH) x (SR)

Labor Price Variance (LPV)

Formula for Labor Quantity Variance

The labor quantity variance is derived from the following formula:

Actual Hours x Standard Rate (AH) x (SR)

Standard Hours x Standard Rate (SH) x (SR)

Labor Quantity Variance (LQV)

Matrix for Direct Materials Variance

2
AH XSR 2100 X 10 =21,000

3
SH XSR 2000 X10= 20,000

AH X AR 2100 X 9.80=20580

- 2 Price Variance 20,580-21,000 =Rs 420 F

1

- 3 Quantity Variance 21,000- 20,000 =Rs 1000 uf

2

1-3 Total Variance 20,580-20,000 =Rs 580UF

Causes of Labor Variances

Labor variances may be caused by a variety of factors

Labor price variances usually result from either paying workers higher wages than expected or misallocating workers (for ex., using skilled workers in place of unskilled workers) Labor quantity variances relate to the efficiency of workers and are usually related to the production department

Actual Overhead Costs

The total overhead variance is the difference between actual overhead costs and overhead costs applied to work done.

Formula for Total Overhead Variance

With standard costs, manufacturing overhead costs are applied to work in process on the basis of the standard hours allowed for the work done. Standard hours allowed are the hours that should have been worked for the units produced. The formula for the total overhead variance is:

Actual Overhead

Overhead Applied based on Standard Hours Allowed

Total Overhead Variance

Formula for Overhead Controllable Variance

The formula for the Overhead Controllable Variance is shown below:

Actual Overhead

Overhead Budgeted based on Standard Hours Allowed

Overhead Controllable Variance

Formula for Overhead Volume Variance

The Overhead Volume Variance indicates whether fixed costs were efficiently used during the period. The formula for computing the volume variance is as follows:

Fixed Overhead Rate

Normal Capacity Hours - Standard Hours Allowed

Overhead Volume Variance

Alternative Formula for Overhead Volume Variance

An alternative formula for computing the volume variance is shown below:

Overhead Budgeted based on Standard Hours Allowed

Overhead Applied based on Standard Hours Allowed

Overhead Volume Variance

Causes of Manufacturing Overhead Variances

Manufacturing overhead variances may be caused by a variety of factors

The controllable variance relates to variable manufacturing costs and usually is the responsibility of the production department

May result from either higher than expected use of indirect materials, indirect labor or supplies or increases in indirect manufacturing costs such as fuel

The volume variance may be the responsibility of the production department (inefficient use of direct labor hours) or may come from outside the production department (lack of sales orders)

Reporting Variances

Reporting variances
All variances should be reported to appropriate levels of management as soon as possible so that corrective action can be taken The form, content, and frequency of variance reports vary considerably among companies Variance reports facilitate the principle of management by exception In using variance reports, top management normally looks for significant variances

Lets Review
The setting of standards is: a. A managerial accounting decision. b. A management decision c. A worker decision.

d. Preferably set at the ideal level of performance.

Lets Review
The setting of standards is: a. A managerial accounting decision. b. A management decision c. A worker decision.

d. Preferably set at the ideal level of performance.