Standard costing involves setting standards for materials, labor, and overhead and comparing actual costs to the standards to calculate variances. It has several advantages as a management tool including cost control, finding inefficiencies, and measuring efficiency. Some limitations include difficulty setting standards for non-standard products and not considering all circumstances when setting standards. The document provides examples of calculating variances for materials, labor, and overhead costs based on standard and actual amounts. It also discusses classification of standards, revising standards, and advantages and limitations of standard costing.

1. Standard CostingPresented By: AshutoshMishra, Ashok Gupta, AtharJawaid, AvinashTiwari, Chandan Kumar

2. Flow of PresentationMeaning

3. Types of Standard & Revision

4. Procedure of setting standard cost :

5. Material

6. Labour

7. Overhead

8. Advantages

9. Limitations

10. ReferencesWhat is Costing ?Costing (or cost-benefit analysis) is the process of analyzing the costs and benefits of different options to determinewhat approach should be taken to a particular conflict.

11. what solution or resolution should be chosen once various options are being considered.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.

12. No standards or goals so cost reduction isn’t an option.

13. Not reliable for management tasks.Historical Cost & it’s Limitations

14. A Standard may be a norm or a measure of comparison in terms of specific items such asPounds or kilos for material.

15. Labour hours required.

16. 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.What is Standard ?

17. 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.”Standard Costing

18. Classification of StandardsThe two principal considerations for classification of standards are :Attainability of standards.

19. Frequency with which the standards are revised.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.

20. 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.BasicBasic 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.

21. 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.NormalNormal 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.

22. 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.CurrentA 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.

23. 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.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.Revision of Standards

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

25. 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.

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Ordering cost

30. Carrying costMaterial cost variance is the difference between actual cost of direct materials used & standard cost of direct materials specified for the output achieved.FormulaMCV=(AQ*AP)-(SQ*SP)AQ=actual quantity

31. AP=actual price

32. SQ=standard quantity for actual output

33. SP=standard priceMaterials Cost VarianceUsage VariancePrice VarianceMix VarianceYield Variance

34. From the following data given calculate,Materials cost varianceMaterials price varianceMaterials usage varianceNumerical

35. 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

36. AR=actual rate

37. SH=standard hours

38. SR=standard rateLabour Cost VarianceEfficiency VarianceIdle Time VarianceRate VarianceMix VarianceYield Variance

39. From the following data given calculate,Labour cost varianceLabour rate varianceLabour efficiency varianceLabour mix varianceLabour yield varianceLabour efficiency sub-varianceNumerical

40. There are various other branches of these two variances as listed below :Fixed overhead expenditure variance.

41. Fixed overhead volume variance.

42. Variable overhead expenditure variance.

43. Variable overhead efficiency variance.Overhead Cost VarianceFixed Overhead VarianceVariable Overhead VarianceNumerical:Budgeted hrs. for month of march’99 = 180 hrs.Std. rate of article produced per hr. = 50 unitsBudgeted fixed overheads = Rs.2700Actual production = 9200 unitsActual hrs. of production = 175 hrs.Actual fixed overhead costs = Rs.2800Calculate overhead cost variances.

44. AdvantagesFinding of variance

45. Cost control

46. Right decisions

47. Eliminating inefficiencies

48. Efficiency measurementLimitationsIt cannot be used in those organizations where non-standard products are produced.

49. The process of setting standard is a difficult task, as it requires technical skills.

50. There are no inset circumstances to be considered for fixing standards.

51. The fixing of responsibility is not an easy task.ReferencesThe Internet.Management Accounting – James MartinManagement Accounting – D Westra, M Kane & SrikanthAccounting for management – Dr.JawaharLal