Process costing

Process costing is a method of cost accounting that is primarily used in industries that produce a large number of identical products in batches. This method of costing tracks the cost of producing a product through the different stages of production, and is used to determine the cost of a product at each stage. Process costing is useful in tracking and controlling the cost of production, as well as providing an accurate picture of the cost of producing the final product.

Process costing involves tracking all costs associated with a manufacturing process, including direct labor, materials, and overhead. For example, if a company produces a product in batches, they would track the cost of materials, labor, and overhead for each batch. The total cost of each batch is then divided by the number of units produced to get the cost of each unit. This information can then be used to determine the cost of the final product.

Process costing has several advantages. It helps companies to identify areas of waste and improve efficiency, as well as providing an accurate picture of the cost of production. It also helps to control the cost of production, as well as providing an accurate picture of the cost of the product. Additionally, process costing is useful in determining the profitability of a product, as it provides an accurate picture of the cost of producing the product.

Example of Process costing

The following is an example of process costing for a manufacturing process:

• Direct materials cost: Direct materials are the materials used in the production process, such as raw materials, components, and supplies. The cost of these materials is tracked and included in the process costing.
• Direct labor costs: Direct labor costs are the wages paid to the workers involved in the production process. These costs are tracked and included in the process costing.
• Overhead costs: Overhead costs are the costs associated with running the business, such as rent, utilities, and insurance. These costs are tracked and included in the process costing.

By tracking the costs associated with each stage of the production process, the cost of the final product can be accurately determined. This information can then be used to determine the profitability of the product.

Formula of Process costing

Process costing uses the following formula to calculate the cost of a product:

Total Cost = Direct Labor + Materials + Overhead

Unit Cost = Total Cost/Number of Units Produced

When to use Process costing

Process costing is most appropriate when a company produces a large number of identical products in batches. This method is used when the cost of production is spread over multiple stages, such as when a product passes through several departments or processes before it is completed. It is also used when the cost of production is spread out over multiple units, such as when the cost of producing one unit includes the cost of producing multiple units. Additionally, process costing is useful when a company needs to accurately track and control the cost of production.

Types of Process costing

Process costing can be divided into two main types: job order costing and process order costing.

• Job Order Costing: This type of process costing is used when the production process is broken down into individual jobs. Each job is assigned a cost, which is then divided by the number of units produced to get the cost of each unit. This type of process costing is useful in tracking and controlling the cost of each job, and can be used to determine the profitability of each job.
• Process Order Costing: This type of process costing is used when the production process is continuous, with no individual jobs or processes. In this type of process costing, the cost of production is tracked for each process, and the total cost is divided by the number of units produced to get the cost of each unit. This type of process costing is useful in tracking and controlling the cost of production, as well as providing an accurate picture of the cost of production.

Steps of Process costing

Process costing involves several steps:

• The first step is to calculate the number of units produced in a period. This is done by dividing the total cost of production by the cost per unit. This gives the total number of units produced in a period.
• The second step is to calculate the cost of direct materials used in production. This is done by multiplying the number of units produced by the cost per unit.
• The third step is to calculate the cost of direct labor used in production. This is done by multiplying the number of labor hours worked by the labor rate.
• The fourth step is to calculate the cost of overhead used in production. This is done by multiplying the overhead rate by the total number of units produced.
• The fifth step is to calculate the total cost of production. This is done by adding up the cost of direct materials, direct labor, and overhead.

Advantages of Process costing

Process costing has several advantages that make it beneficial for companies. These include:

• Improved visibility into cost of production: Process costing provides a detailed, accurate picture of the cost of producing a product, which can be used to identify areas of waste and improve efficiency.
• Improved control of cost of production: Process costing allows companies to track and control the cost of production more effectively, leading to increased profitability.
• Improved profitability: Process costing helps to determine the profitability of a product, as it provides an accurate picture of the cost of producing the product.

Limitations of Process costing

Process costing has some limitations. Firstly, process costing does not account for variations in the cost of production, so it is not suitable for companies that produce a variety of different products. Additionally, process costing does not take into account the quality of the product, so it is not suitable for companies that produce high quality products. Finally, process costing does not account for the cost of selling and marketing the product, so it is not suitable for companies that need to track these costs.

Other approaches related to Process costing

Process costing is not the only cost accounting method used in the manufacturing industry. There are several other approaches that are used in various industries, such as:

• Activity-based costing (ABC): This is a cost accounting method that assigns costs to activities that are associated with producing a product or service. This method is useful in determining the cost of a product or service, as it takes into consideration all of the activities associated with producing the product or service.
• Job costing: This is a cost accounting method that assigns costs to a specific job or order. This method is useful in tracking the cost of producing a specific product or service, as it takes into consideration the direct and indirect costs associated with producing the product or service.
• Target costing: This is a cost accounting method that involves setting a target cost for a product or service and then working to reduce the cost of producing the product or service. This method is useful in controlling costs and ensuring that the cost of producing a product or service is within a certain target.

Process costing — recommended articles

Manufacturing cost — Real cost — Manufacturing overhead (MOH) — Distributed cost — Lot size — Direct labor — Cost of processing — Takt time — Batch cost

References

• Akyol, D. E., Tuncel, G., & Bayhan, G. M. (2005). A comparative analysis of activity-based costing and traditional costing. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 3(12), 44-47.