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Standard Costing

Standard costing means assigning the expected, budgeted costs to the goods manufactured, the goods in inventory, and the goods sold. In other words, the amounts assigned are the costs that should occur when manufacturing products.

The actual costs are then compared to the standard costs and any differences are reported as variances. Since the standard costs are often tied to the company's annual profit plan, a variance is also an indicator that the actual profit will be different from the planned amount.

To illustrate standard costs, let's assume that a company's profit plan includes a standard of 15 pounds of material at $4 per pound for each unit produced. The standard for the direct labor is 30 minutes at $12 per hour for each unit manufactured. Manufacturing overhead is budgeted to be $36 per direct labor hour. Based on this information, the standard cost for one unit of output is $84 consisting of $60 (15 lbs. x $4 per pound) for direct material + $6 (0.5 hr. x $12 per hour) for direct labor + $18 (0.5 hr. x $36 per direct labor hour) for manufacturing overhead.

If the company manufactures 100 units and uses 1,550 pounds of material, there will be an unfavorable direct material usage variance of $200. This is determined by multiplying the output of 100 units x 15 lbs. (the standard lbs. allowed for each unit) = 1,500 lbs. The 1,500 standard lbs. versus the actual 1,550 lbs. meant that too much material was used to make the actual output. The additional 50 lbs. X $4 standard cost per lb. results in an unfavorable direct material usage variance of $200.

There will be a direct materials price variance when the actual cost of the materials is an amount other than $4 per pound. If the company pays more than $4 per pound, the materials price or purchase price variance will be unfavorable. If the company pays less than $4 per pound, the price variance will be favorable.

There are similar calculations for the direct labor. However, the usage or quantity variance for direct labor is referred to as the direct labor efficiency variance. If the actual labor hours are more than the standard hours allowed for the good output, an unfavorable efficiency variance is reported. The price variance for direct labor is referred to as the direct labor rate variance. If the actual pay rate is greater than the standard hourly pay rate, the variance is unfavorable.

Manufacturing overhead variances include a volume variance and a budget variance associated with the fixed manufacturing overhead. An efficiency variance and a spending (or flexible budget) variance pertain to the variable manufacturing overhead. When actual overhead costs are greater than the standard overhead allowed for the output, the variance is unfavorable.

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Sample Standard Costing Questions

1) For inventory valuation in a standard cost system, standard costs are applied to the good _____________.

2) Standard costs are more helpful in determining whether a company operated ___________________ (effectively or efficiently) in producing its output during the accounting period.

3) This direct labor variance occurs when the direct labor is paid an hourly wage that is different from the standard hourly wage.

4) Because of seasonal fluctuations, manufacturing overhead standards are likely predetermined for the entire __________.

5) The total manufacturing overhead variance is the difference between the actual overhead costs incurred and the standard overhead costs __________ to the good output.

6) A variance that occurs when the actual direct labor hours are different from the standard number of direct labor hours.

7) When the actual cost of an input is less than the standard cost of an input, it is a _________________ variance.

8) If a company has variances that are very significant and its inventory balances have increased significantly, some of the variance balances should be allocated (or prorated) to ________________.

9) The fixed overhead volume variance is also referred to as the _________________ volume variance.

10) The variable manufacturing overhead variance occurring when the actual variable overhead costs are different from the costs expected for the actual inputs.

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