Standard Costing

Presented By: AshutoshMishra, Ashok Gupta, Athar Jawaid, Avinash Tiwari, Chandan Kumar

Flow of Presentation
Meaning Types of Standard & Revision Procedure of setting standard cost : Material Labour Overhead Advantages Limitations References

What is Costing ?

Costing (or cost-benefit analysis) is the

process of analyzing the costs and benefits of different options to determine what approach should be taken to a particular conflict. what solution or resolution should be chosen once various options are being considered.

Historical Cost & its Limitations

Historical cost systems

are associated with recording of historical or actual cost. Historical costing is the ascertainment of costs after they have been incurred.
Ineffective in cost control. No standards or goals so cost reduction isnt an option. Not reliable for management tasks.

What is Standard ?
A Standard may be a norm or a measure of comparison in terms of specific items such as Pounds or kilos for material. Labour hours required. Plant capacity used in hours.

Real Life Examples :

ISO International Standards

for Business, Government & Society.

CMMI Process improvement

approach from Carnegie Mellon University, USA.

NBA an AICTE program for

institution evaluation.

Standard Costing
A Standard Cost is a planned cost for a unit of product or service rendered. In the words of Backer and Jacobsen, Standard cost is the amount the firm thinks a product or the operation of the process for a period of time should cost, based upon certain assumed conditions of efficiency, economic conditions and other factors.

The two principal considerations for classification of standards are :

Classification of Standards

Attainability of
standards.

Theoretic

Normal

Frequency with
which the standards are revised.

Basic

Currently Attainable

Ideal standard is fixed

on the assumption of those conditions which may rarely exist. This standard is not practicable and may not be achieved.

This is the standard which represents a high level of efficiency. Ideal standard is fixed on the assumption that favourable conditions will prevail and management will be at its best. The price paid for materials will be lowest and wastes etc. will be minimum possible. The labour time for making the production will be minimum and rates of wages will also be low. The overhead expenses are also set with maximum efficiency in mind. All the conditions, both internal and external, should be favourable and only then ideal standard will be achieved.

Basic
The changes in manufacturing costs can be measured by taking basic standard, as a base standard cannot serve as a tool for cost control purpose because the standard is not revised for a long time.

Basic standard is established for a long

period and is not adjusted to the preset conations. The same standard remains in force for a long period. These standards are revised only on the changes in specification of material and technology productions. It is indeed just like a number against which subsequent process changes can be measured. Basic standard enables the measurement of changes in costs.

Normal
The normal standard concept is theoretical and cannot be used for cost control purpose. Normal standard can be properly applied for absorption of overhead cost over a long period of time.

Normal standard has been defined as a

standard which, it is anticipated, can be attained over a future period of time, preferably long enough to cover one trade cycle. The standard attempts to cover variance in the production from one time to another time. An average is taken from the periods of recession and depression.

It is presumed that conditions of production will remain unchanged. In case there is any change in price or manufacturing condition, the standards are also revised. Current standard may be ideal standard and expected standard.

Current

A current standard is a standard which is established for use over a short period of time and is related to current condition. It reflects the performance that should be attained during the current period. The period for current standard is normally one year.

We need to revise the standards which follow for better control. Even standards are also subjected to change like the production method, environment, raw material, and technology.
Revision of Standards

Standards may need to be changed to accommodate changes in the organization or its environment. When there is a sudden change in economic circumstances, technology or production methods, the standard cost will no longer be accurate.

If actual costs are greater than standard costs the variance is unfavourable. If actual costs are less than standard costs the variance is favourable.

The difference between the actual costs and the standard costs are known as variances. Standard costing and the related variances is a valuable management tool. If a variance arises, management becomes aware that manufacturing costs have differed from the standard (planned, expected) costs.

Variance analysis involves two phases :

Computation of individual variances. Determination of the cause of each variance.

Setting up standards is based on the past

experience. The total standard cost includes direct materials, direct labour and overheads. Normally, all these are fixed to some extent. The standards should be set up in a systematic way so that they are used as a tool for cost control.

Developing or Setting Standards

Overhead

Labour

Materials

When we want to purchase some material what are the factors we consider. If material is used for a product, it is known as direct material. On the other hand, if the material cost cannot be assigned to the manufacturing of the product, it will be called indirect material. Therefore, it involves two things: Quality of material Price of the material

The procedure for purchase of materials, minimum and maximum levels for various materials, discount policy and means of transport are the other factors which have bearing on the materials cost price. It includes: Cost of materials Ordering cost Carrying cost

Materials Cost Variance

Material cost variance is the difference between actual cost of direct materials used & standard cost of direct materials specified for the output achieved.

Usage Variance

Price Variance

Formula MCV=(AQ*AP)-(SQ*SP) AQ=actual quantity AP=actual price SQ=standard quantity for actual output SP=standard price

Mix Variance

Yield Variance

Quantity of materials purchased

3000 units

Numerical
Value of materials purchased Rs.9000

From the following data given calculate,

a. b. c. Materials cost variance Materials price variance Materials usage variance

Std. quantity of materials required per ton of output

30 units

Std. rate of material Opening stock of materials Closing stock of materials Output during the period

Rs.2.50 per unit Nil 500 units 80 tons

Labour Cost Variance

Efficiency Variance

Idle Time Variance Rate Variance

Labour cost variance is the difference between the actual direct wages paid & standard direct wages specified for output achieved.

Formula : LCV=(AH*AR)-(SH*SR) AH=actual hours AR=actual rate SH=standard hours SR=standard rate

Mix Variance

Yield Variance

Per unit(hr)

Rate per hr(Rs.) 1.50 0.50 0.75

Total(Rs.) 7.50 4.00 3.00

Numerical
From the following data given calculate,
a. b. c. d. e. f. Labour cost variance Labour rate variance Labour efficiency variance Labour mix variance Labour yield variance Labour efficiency subvariance

Skilled worker

5 8 4

Unskilled worker Semiskilled worker

Rate per hr(Rs.) Articles produced 1000 units Skilled worker 4500hrs. Unskilled worker 10000hrs. Semi-skilled worker 4200hrs 2.00 0.45

Total(Rs.)

9000 4500

0.75

3150

Overhead Cost Variance

There are various other

branches of these two variances as listed below : Fixed overhead expenditure variance. Fixed overhead volume variance. Variable overhead expenditure variance. Variable overhead efficiency variance.

Fixed Overhead Variance

Variable Overhead Variance

Numerical: Budgeted hrs. for month of march99 = 180 hrs. Std. rate of article produced per hr. = 50 units Budgeted fixed overheads = Rs.2700 Actual production = 9200 units Actual hrs. of production = 175 hrs. Actual fixed overhead costs = Rs.2800 Calculate overhead cost variances.

Advantages
Finding of variance Cost control Right decisions Eliminating inefficiencies Efficiency measurement

Limitations
It cannot be used in those organizations where non-standard products are produced. The process of setting standard is a difficult task, as it requires technical skills. There are no inset circumstances to be considered for fixing standards. The fixing of responsibility is not an easy task.

References
The Internet.

Management Accounting James Martin Management Accounting D Westra, M Kane & Srikanth Accounting for management Dr.Jawahar Lal