Cost Classification
Cost Classification
Main Objectives for Management Information:
Management will usually require information for following purposes:
• Pricing
• Inventory Valuation
• Cost controlling
• Budgeting
• Product continuation or discontinuation decisions
For all above we need to calculate the cost per unit i.e. we have to do
costing.
Cost Classification
Before doing Costing we must know about the type of costs.
In a typical Manufacturing business cost can be classified on the basis
Functions as follows:
• Production/Manufacturing/factory costs
• E.g. Material Labor etc
• Administration costs
• Office rent, office staff salaries etc
• Selling and distribution costs
• Marketing costs, delivery costs etc
• Research & Development costs
• Finance costs
Cost Classification
For Inventory Valuation only production costs should be charged to product i.e production
costs should be treated as “product costs” all other costs spent should be treated as “period
costs” and shown as expense in the period they are incurred.
Cost Classification
Classification of Production costs:
Material = Direct + Indirect
Labor = Direct + Indirect
Expenses = Direct + Indirect
Production costs Prime cost Overheads
Cost Classification
Direct Material:
A material will be classified as Direct Material where:
• It becomes part of product
• It is directly traceable to one unit of the product
• It has a significant value
For example:
• Fabric in shirt
• Wood in a table/chair
Any other material will be classified as indirect material:
For example: thread in a shirt, nails in the chair/table
Cost Classification
Direct Labor
Worker who are directly involved in the production of product/services.
E.g. Brik layers, assembly workers etc
Indirect Labor
Supervisors, Store’s in charge, managers etc
Cost Classification
Direct Expenses:
An expense will be classified as an expense when it has a significant
value and can be traced to one unit of a product/service.
E.g. Royalty
Indirect Expenses:
Expenses are usually indirect in nature i.e. they can be directly traced to
a unit of product/service. E.g. factory building rent, maintenance costs,
depreciation etc.