Lecturenote - 875129059cost and Managerial Accounting I

WOLLO UNIVERSITY
COLLAGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
DISTANCE MODULE FOR DEGREE PROGRAM
COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING

PART I (ACFN2091)
Prepared By: Naod Mekonnen (MSc.)

Selamawit Lemech (MSc.)
Editor: Kedir Seid (MSc.)
Distance Education Program

2019
2016
Wollo University
Collage of Business and Economics
Department of Accounting and Finance
Cost and Management Accounting

Part I (ACFN2091)
Prepared By: Naod Mekonnen (MSc.)

Selamawit Lemech (MSc.)
Editor: Kedir Seid (MSc.)
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About the Course
Course Code AcFn2091

Course Title Cost and Management Accounting I
Degree Program BA Degree in Accounting and Finance
Module Cost and Management Accounting
ETCTS Credits 5
Credit Hour 3
After successfully completing this course, the students should be able
to:
 Describe and make use of the basic principles and practices of cost
accounting.
 Differentiate cost accounting, management accounting and
financial accounting
 Apply appropriate costing system to determine the cost of various
Course Objectives & cost objects.
Competences to be  Apply for spoilage, reworked units, and scrap in job and process
Acquired costing system.
 Determine cost of the product or service using job order costing,
process costing and Activity Based Costing
 Distinguish variable and absorption costing as used in product
costing.
 Properly account for by products and joint product costs.
Modern businesses need frequent information about business
activities to plan accurately for the future, control business results, and
make a proper appraisal of the performance of persons working in an
organization. The fulfillment of their goals requires details about the
costs incurred and benefits (revenues) obtained which are provided by
what is known as “Cost Accounting”. In Comparison, financial
Course Description accounting does not provide management with detailed cost and
revenue, information relevant to its needs. The course deals with
detailed concepts about cost accounting practices, the theory and
techniques of cost accounting. Cost behavior, cost identification and
analysis, system for establishing costs, absorption and variable
costing, cost allocation, managerial use of cost data, modern costing
system nature and objective of management accounting.
Evaluation Type Weight
Assignment 35%
Tutorial Attendance 5%
Final exam 60%
Total 100%
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Table of Contents
About the Course ................................................................................................................ ii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1
1.1. Purpose of an Accounting System ....................................................................... 1
1.2. Comparisons Among Accounting Systems .......................................................... 2
1.3. Management Accounting Guidelines ................................................................... 6
1.4. Management Philosophies of Continuous Improvement ..................................... 7
1.5. Ethical Considerations in Management................................................................ 8
1.6. Chapter Summary............................................................................................... 10
1.7. Self-Test Questions ............................................................................................ 10
CHAPTER TWO: INTRODUCTION TO COST TERMS AND COST
CLASSIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................ 13
2.3. Cost Terminologies and Concepts...................................................................... 13
2.4. Costs in a Manufacturing Firm........................................................................... 15
2.5. Cost Classifications ............................................................................................ 17
2.6. Financial Statements of a Manufacturing firm ................................................... 25
2.6.1. Balance Sheet of a Manufacturing Firm ..................................................... 26
2.6.2. Income Statement of a Manufacturing Firm ............................................... 27
2.7. Chapter Summary............................................................................................... 34
CHAPTER THREE: JOB, PROCESS AND OPERATION COSTING .......................... 40
3.1. Concepts: Costing System, Cost Pool and Cost Allocation Bases ..................... 40
3.2. Job Order Costing System .................................................................................. 43
3.2.1. Cost Accounting System ............................................................................. 44
3.2.2. Actual Costing versus Normal Costing....................................................... 65
3.2.3. Disposition of Over and Under Applied Overhead..................................... 66
3.3. Process Costing System ..................................................................................... 70
3.3.1. Cost Accumulation Methods in Process Costing System ........................... 70
3.3.2. Standard costing method of process costing ............................................... 87
3.3.3. Transferred in costs ..................................................................................... 91
3.4. Chapter Summary............................................................................................... 97
CHAPTER FOUR: SPOILAGE, REWORKED UNITS AND SCRAP ........................ 104
4.1. Types of Spoilage ............................................................................................. 105
4.1.1. Normal Spoilage ....................................................................................... 105
4.1.2. Abnormal Spoilage ................................................................................... 106
4.2. Process Costing and Spoilage .......................................................................... 107
4.3. Job Costing and Spoilage ................................................................................. 113
4.4. Rework ............................................................................................................. 116
4.5. Accounting for Scrap ....................................................................................... 118
4.5.1. Recognizing Scrap at the Time of Its Sale ................................................ 119
4.5.2. Recognizing Scrap at the Time of its Production ..................................... 119
4.6. Chapter Summary............................................................................................. 121
4.7. Self test Questions ............................................................................................ 122
CHAPTER FIVE: INCOME EFFECT OF ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT COSTING
METHODS ..................................................................................................................... 124
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5.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 124
5.2. Absorption and Variable Costing ..................................................................... 125
5.2.1. Absorption Costing ................................................................................... 125
5.2.2. Variable Costing ....................................................................................... 126
5.2.3. Comparison Between Absorption and Variable Costing .......................... 127
5.3. Chapter Summary............................................................................................. 131
5.4. Self-Test Questions .......................................................................................... 132
CHAPTER SIX: COST ALLOCATION ........................................................................ 134
6.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 134
6.2. Purpose Overhead Rates................................................................................... 134
6.3. Determining the Overhead Rates ..................................................................... 134
6.4. Types of Overhead Rate Bases......................................................................... 135
6.4.1. Unit of Production Method ....................................................................... 136
6.4.2. Material Cost Basis ................................................................................... 136
6.4.3. Machine Hours Basis ................................................................................ 137
6.4.4. Direct Labor Hours Basis.......................................................................... 138
6.4.5. Direct Labor Cost Basis ............................................................................ 138
6.5. Selecting Overhead Basis ................................................................................. 139
Question 2: list at least the three types of overhead rate bases .................................. 139
6.6. Chapter Summary............................................................................................. 140
CHAPTER SEVEN: COST ALLOCATION-JOINT PRODUCTS AND BY PRODUCTS
......................................................................................................................................... 141
7.1. Objectives of allocating Joint Costs ................................................................. 143
7.2. Joint Cost allocations Approaches ................................................................... 144
7.3. Accounting for Byproducts, Scrap and Waste ................................................. 156
7.4. Chapter Summary............................................................................................. 163
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 167
APPENDIX I: ANSWER KEY FOR SELF TEST QUESTIONS ................................. 168
APPENDIX II: INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT ............................................................ 171
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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Learning objectives:
Dear students, after completing this chapter you should be able to:
 Define and differentiate between cost accounting, management accounting
and financial accounting.
 Explain the importance of cost accounting, management accounting and
financial accounting.
 Explain the cost-benefit philosophy and behavioral considerations in
management accounting systems and the ethical considerations in
management accounting.
1.1. Purpose of an Accounting System
Dear students, as you have learnt in principles of accounting course, accounting as a

language of business, is defined as the process of identifying, analyzing, recording,
measuring, summarizing, interpreting and communicating economic information to
permit informed judgments and decisions by users of the information. It is also viewed as
an information system that provides essential information about economic activities of an
entity to various individuals and groups.
The subject of accounting includes three main fields. That are cost accounting, financial
accounting, and management (managerial) accounting. Cost accounting is concerned
with the measurement reports of financial and non-financial information related to the
cost of acquisition and consumption of recourses. On the other hand, financial accounting
is primarily concerned with the presentation of financial reports and communicates them
to external parties for making decisions. The third field of accounting, managerial
accounting deals with the provision of financial and non-financial information reports to
internal parties who are responsible in discharging the management functions and
decisions makings to achieve the goal of the organization.
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Financial accounting is that basic process with management, investors, creditors, and
other external parties as the users of the accounting information. Management accounting
involves accumulating, classifying, interpreting, and presenting financial data primarily
for management and other insiders. Financial accounting is governed by generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP), customs that have been adopted over time, and
procedures and rules put forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
GAAP applies only to those cost accounting procedures that affect cost data, such as cost
of goods sold and inventory used in financial statements. Generally, cost accounting is
not subject to GAAP. Management uses cost accounting, a subset of management
accounting, for planning and controlling operations and for decision making. The guiding
light for cost accountants is usefulness. The cost data must be accumulated, classified,
interpreted, and presented in ways that are useful to managers for decision making. A
budget, the key to planning and controlling, involves cost accounting data. Where to set
an optimal price for a product or service cannot be decided without knowing the cost of
what is to be sold.
Although many of the examples in this course are product-related (cost accounting being
traditionally viewed as a manufacturing support system), cost accounting is prevalent in
and very useful to service-oriented firms. In fact, many financial service firms, like banks
and insurance companies, make successful use of cost accounting to control, plan, and
price their services. What is being; tracked in a cost accounting system is some type of
cost object. A cost object is the cost of anything that management believes is important.
For example, a cost object could be the cost of a product, the annual cost of running a
department, the cost of maintaining a machine, or the cost of a checking account.
1.2. Comparisons Among Accounting Systems
The accounting system is the principal, and the most credible, quantitative information
system in almost every organization. This system should provide information for four
broad purposes:
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 Purpose 1: Internal routine reporting to managers for (a) cost planning and control
of operations and (b) performance evaluation of people and activities.
 Purpose 2: Internal routine reporting to managers on the profitability of products,
brand categories, customer, and distribution channels, and so on. This information is
used in marking decision on resource allocation and in some cases decisions on
pricing.
 Purpose 3: Internal nonroutine reporting to managers for strategic and tactical
decisions on matters such as formulating overall policies and long-range plans, new
product development, investing in equipment, and special orders or special
situations.
 Purpose 4: External reporting through financial statements to investors, government
authorities, and other outside parties. To satisfy external purposes, businesses must
report income and inventory costs in accordance with the generally accepted
accounting principles that guide financial accounting.
Activity
Question 1: What are the purposes of accounting system?
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
To better understand the essence and importance of cost accounting, it is good to have
some insight about the two major sub elements of the accounting information systems:
Financial Accounting and Management Accounting. Financial Accounting focuses on
reporting to external parties. It measures and records business transactions in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The ultimate purpose of
Financial Accounting is to prepare general-purpose financial statements for use by
external parties. These statements report the results of past financial activities.
Management accounting, on the other hand, measures and reports financial and non
financial information that managers use to make decisions so as to achieve organizational
goals. It includes both historical and estimated data that management uses to manage day-
to-day operations and plan the future. Management accounting is wider in scope and
overlaps with financial accounting to the extent that management uses the financial
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statements in directing current operations and planning the future. Management
accounting focuses on internal reporting, and the reports of management accounting are
not strictly governed by GAAP as they are meant for internal purposes only. The ruling
criterion in management accounting is cost benefit analysis instead of generally accepted
accounting principles. The end products of management accounting are tools of
managerial planning and control.
Cost accounting provides information for both Financial and Management Accounting.
Cost accounting is required all where cost information need to be collected and/or
analyzed. Both require cost information; cost information is required for financial
accounting to determine the cost of goods manufactured, or sold, and operational costs
while preparing the Income Statement and to determine the value of inventories on the
Balance sheet. Management accounting requires cost information to set product price, to
identify potential areas that could be taken care of, or areas of possible cost reductions,
and the like. Hence, cost accounting is important for both financial accounting and
management accounting.
Both management and external parties share an interest in accounting information but the
emphasis differ. Internal reporting focuses on management planning and controlling.
This area is known as management accounting, focusing on internal customers, measures
and reports financial and other information that assists managers in fulfilling goals of the
organization. It is concerned with the first three purposes of an accounting system listed
above. Financial accounting focuses on external reporting. It is concerned with the fourth
purpose of an accounting system listed here above.
Cost accounting is indistinguishable from management accounting. The major purpose of

cost accounting is to record, classify, accumulate and allocate the costs of company's
products and services. This product costing is useful to managers for instance in setting
prices. And it is also useful for inventory valuation and income determination (external
purposes). Viewed from this angle, cost accounting is a part of management accounting
plus a part of financial accounting.
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Financial accounting is constrained by generally accepted accounting principles. These
principles restrict the set of revenue and cost measurement rules and the types of items
that are classified as assets, liabilities, and owners’ equity in balance sheet. In contrast,
management accounting is not restricted to those accounting principles acceptable for
financial reporting. For example, a consumer products company may present a particular
estimated “value” of a brand name (such as the Coca-Cola brand name) in its internal
financial reports for marketing, although doing so is not in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
Financial accounting takes a historical perspective. The reports it generates focuses on

what has happened in the past. In contrast, management accounting emphasizes the
future, providing budgets and other future projections in addition to historical reports.
Main points of distinction between cost accounting and management accounting are
enumerated here under. (Refer the table below)
Areas of comparison Management Accounting Financial Accounting
 Report format Flexible format, driven by user’s Based on generally accepted

accounting principles
 Purposes of reports Provide information for planning, Report on past performance
control, performance measurement
and decision making
 Primary users As a whole business or aggregate Division, product wise owners,

employees, Managers suppliers lenders, customers, government
agencies
 Units of measurement Historical or future dollars, physical Historical dollars
measure in time or names of objects,
or non monitory events technical
innovation
 Nature of information Future oriented, objective for Historical objective (oriented)
decision making, more subjective
for planning relies on estimates
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 Frequency of reports Prepared as needed, may or may not Prepared on a regular basis
be a regular basis or a regular basis (minimum of once) a year
minimum of once
 Legal compulsion As the discretion of management Compulsory
1.3. Management Accounting Guidelines
Dear students, as it has been indicated previously, the field of cost and management
accounting do not have their own guidelines. However, in every managerial process,
certain guidelines (directives) are necessary for the purpose of allocating scarce
resources, achieving targets and making sound decisions. For this reason, there are three
important guidelines that help management accountants in providing the most value
information in performing their functions. They are:
(a) Cost-benefit approach
(b) Behavioral and technical considerations and
(c) Different costs for different purposes.
(a) Cost benefit approach Management accountants continually face resource allocation
decisions. A cost benefit approach should be used in these decisions. Resources
should be spent if they promote decision making that better attains organizational
goals in relation to the costs of those resources. The expected benefits from spending
those resources should exceed their expected costs.
(b) Behavioral and Technical considerations: A management accounting system

should have two simultaneous missions for providing information:
i) to help managers make wise economic decisions, and
ii) to motivate managers and other employees to aim and strive for goals of the
organization.
Management is primarily a human activity that focus on how to help individuals do their
jobs better. For example, it is often better for managers to personally discuss how to
improve performance with underperforming workers rather than just sending these
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workers a report highlighting their underperformance to others for further evaluation or
punishment.
(c) Different costs for different purposes. The different costs for different purposes
theme is the management accountant’s version of the “one shoe does not fit all size”
notion. A cost concept used for the external reporting purpose may not be an
appropriate concept for internal routine reporting to managers. Consider the
advertising costs associated with launching a major new product. For external
reporting to shareholders, television-advertising costs are fully expensed in the
income statement in the year they are incurred. In contrast, for evaluating
management performance (internal reporting purpose), the television advertisement
costs could be capitalized and then written off as expenses one several years,
1.4. Management Philosophies of Continuous Improvement
Dear students, what do you think about management philosophy mean?

Management philosophies refers to the approaches, viewpoint, attitude, beliefs or
attitudes of managers or other authorized and responsible individual in the managerial
process to achieve their pre-planned objectives. Several significant management
philosophies evolved to deal with expanding global competition:
These include:
i). Just in time operating Technique (JIT)
ii). Total quality management (TQM)
iii). Activity Based Management (ABM) and
iv). Theory of Constraints (TOC)
i). Just in time operating Technique (JIT)

The JIT requires that all resources including materials, personnel and facilities be
acquired and used only as needed. Its objectives are to improve productivity and
eliminate wastage. All employers are encouraged to continuously look for ways to
improve processes and save time.
ii). Total Quality Management (TQM)

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Total Quality management (TQM) is a philosophy that required all functions work
together to build quality into the organization product or service. TQM focuses on
improving product quality by identifying and reducing or eliminating the waste of
resources caused by poor product or service quality. Emphasis is placed on using
resources efficiently and effectively to prevent poor quality and on examining current
operations to spot possible causes of poor quality. Improved quality of both work
environment and the product or service is the goal of TQM.
iii). Activity Based Management (ABM)

ABM is an approach to managing an organization that identifies all major operating
activities, determines what resources are consumed by each activity, identifies what
causes resource, usage way of each activity, and categorizes the activities as either adding
value to a product or service or not adding value (non-adding value).
iv). Theory of Constraints:

According to the theory of constraints (TOC), limiting factors or bottlenecks, occur
during the production of any product or service. Once managers identify such a limitation
or constraint, they can focus attention and resources on it and thus achieve significant
improvements. TOC helps managers set priorities for how they spend their time and other
resource.
Activity
Question 2: What are the major differences and similarities between financial and
management accounting?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________
1.5. Ethical
managerial Considerations in Management
accounting.
Professional accounting organizations promote high ethical standards. Professional

accounting organizations such as the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), the
largest association of management accountants in the United States, play an important
role in promoting high ethical standards. For example, the IMA has identified four
standards of ethical conduct for management accountants: competence, confidentiality,
integrity, and objectivity.
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COMPETENCE
Each practitioner has a responsibility to:
1. Maintain an appropriate level of professional expertise by continually developing
knowledge and
skills.
2. Perform professional duties in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and
technical standards.
3. Provide decision support information and recommendations that are accurate, clear,
concise, and
timely.
4. Recognize and communicate professional limitations or other constraints that would
preclude
responsible judgment or successful performance of an activity.
CONFIDENTIALITY
1. Keep information confidential except when disclosure is authorized or legally required.
2. Inform all relevant parties regarding appropriate use of confidential information.
Monitor subordinates’
activities to ensure compliance.
3. Refrain from using confidential information for unethical or illegal advantage.
INTEGRITY
1. Mitigate actual conflicts of interest. Regularly communicate with business associates
to avoid
apparent conflicts of interest. Advise all parties of any potential conflicts.
2. Refrain from engaging in any conduct that would prejudice carrying out duties
ethically.
3. Abstain from engaging in or supporting any activity that might discredit the profession.
CREDIBILITY
1. Communicate information fairly and objectively.
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2. Disclose all relevant information that could reasonably be expected to influence an
intended user’s
understanding of the reports, analyses, or recommendations.
3. Disclose delays or deficiencies in information, timeliness, processing, or internal
controls in conformance with organization policy and/or applicable law.
Activity
Question 3: List the four standards of ethical conduct for management
accountants?__________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
1.6. Chapter Summary
Cost accounting is an accounting that provides cost information not only for
determination of cost of something but also for controlling of costs of activities (products,
services, projects, departments, processes, etc) and for decision-making. Cost accounting
concerned with recording, classifying and summarizing costs for determination of costs
of products or services, planning, controlling and reducing costs and furnishing of
information to management for decision making.
The term management accounting refers to an accounting for the management, i.e.
accounting that provides necessary information to the management for discharging its
functions. The functions of the management are planning, organizing, directing and
controlling. Thus, Management accounting provides information to management so that
planning, organizing, directing and controlling of business operations can be done in an
orderly manner.
Financial accounting- is defined as the art of recording, classifying, measuring and

summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events,
which are in part at least, of a financial character and interpreting the results thereof.
1.7. Self-Test Questions
Now, this unit is completed you must have to test your progress by doing the following
self-test and compare your answer with the answer key given at the end.
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Now, this unit is completed you must have to test your progress by doing the following
self-test and compare your answer with the answer key given at the end.
True or false items
1. Managerial accounting is a branch of financial accounting and serves essentially the
same purposes as financial accounting.
2. Although financial and managerial accounting differ in many ways, they are similar in
that both rely on the same underlying financial data.
Multiple choice
3. The function of management that compares planned results to actual results is known
as:
A. planning.
B. implementing
C. Evaluating
D. communicating
E. none
4. financial accounting differs from management accounting in one of the following area:
A. It provides financial and non- financial information.
B. The report format is based on the users need.
C. The users of the financial information are internal.
D. The time spans of the report usually covers one year or less.
E. None
5. Which of the following statement is incorrect about the ethical conduct for
management accountants?
A. Refrain from using confidential information for unethical or illegal
advantage.
B. Perform professional duties in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and
technical standards.
C. Refrain from engaging in any supporting activity discredit the profession.
D. All
E. None
Fill in the blank
6. ______________ is an accounting which primarily concerned with the
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summarizations and presentations of revenues and expenses of a specified period
and shows the financial position of a particular entity at a specific date for external
parties.
7. _____________is guideline (method) are necessary for the purpose of allocating
scarce resources, achieving targets and making sound decisions.
8. One of a Standard of Ethical Conduct for Management Accountant which Maintain
an appropriate level of professional expertise by continually developing knowledge
and skills is called________________.
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CHAPTER TWO: INTRODUCTION TO COST TERMS AND COST
CLASSIFICATIONS
 Differentiate between Cost and Expense.
 Explain what a cost object is and distinguish between direct and indirect costs.
 Describe cost behavior; variable and fixed.
 Describe the three manufacturing costs.
 Differentiate between product and period costs.
 Explain the difference between the financial statements of Service,
Merchandising, and Manufacturing Companies.
2.3. Cost Terminologies and Concepts
Dear students, in the previous chapter you have learnt the concepts of cost accounting,
management accounting and financial accounting. This course (part I) mainly deals with
cost accounting and the next part of this course will focus on management accounting. In
this chapter you will learn about different cost concepts and classification that will be
used for these two consecutive courses (Part I and II).
Many accounting reports contain several cost terminologies. A good understanding of the
different cost terminologies is essential at least for the following two reasons: number
one, it enables accounting information users to best use the provided information.
Number two; use of common cost terminologies avoids confusion and misunderstanding.
One of the common confusions is the distinction between costs and expenses. Many
people use costs and expenses interchangeably. Thus, we start with the definition of costs
and expenses.
Costs are all disbursements that are incurred in the course of generating revenue. For
instance, purchase of raw materials represents a cost as the raw material is used to
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produce finished goods that generate revenue when sold. From the above definition, we
can also understand that not all disbursements represent costs. For example, the payment
of dividend is a disbursement but it does not help generate revenue. Hence, dividend is
not a cost.
All costs initially represent assets. As the assets are used in generating revenue, the
amount consumed becomes an expense. The costs of the assets used should then be
recognized as expenses so as to properly match revenues and expenses in the process of
determining the income of the organization over a given period. For instance, Insurance
Premiums paid in advance to serve the coming period are initially recognized as assets,
but as time passes on the asset continually change to an expense. Another example may
be a motor vehicle bought for use in the coming five years is an asset when initially
purchased. However, as the asset is used up in the process of generating revenue, the cost
gradually becomes an expense. Thus, expenses are expired costs, or costs used up in the
course of generating revenue. The figure on the next page may show the distinction
between costs and expenses.
Disbursements for the purpose of generating revenue
Costs (Assets)
Unused portion of Cost Used portion of Cost

(Asset) (Expense)
The distinction between costs and expenses is important for the preparation of financial
statements for service, merchandising and manufacturing firms. However, it has more
importance for manufacturing enterprises. This is because costs incurred in the
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manufacturing process do not become expenses until the product is sold and thus, items
that are fully or partially manufactured represent costs and should be recognized as assets
on the Balance sheet. Therefore, financial reporting in manufacturing firms has some
complication as compared to financial reporting in the service and merchandising
businesses. The coming three chapters are about costing in manufacturing firms, and
hence we focus on manufacturing costs in particular in the following part of this chapter.
2.4. Costs in a Manufacturing Firm
Manufacturing firms normally purchases raw materials and then change these raw
materials into finished goods by combining human talent and machinery. The cost of any
product is then the combination of cost of materials used, direct labor employed and cost
of machineries. These manufacturing costs are commonly known as direct materials,
direct labor, and manufacturing overhead or indirect manufacturing costs. The
classification of these costs as direct and indirect is in relation to the cost object with
which they are associated. A cost object is anything that deserves a separate measurement
of costs. A cost object can be a product, a process, or a department. Some costs can
exclusively traceable to the cost object, and thus, are called direct costs. On the other
hand, there are costs that cannot be directly traceable to the cost object easily because of
some reason, such costs are called indirect costs.
Direct costs are costs that can be directly traced to a cost object in an economically
feasible way. For instance, cost of lumber can be a direct cost of furniture products like
coffee tables, and chairs. Cost of lumber is a direct cost because the cost of lumber can be
directly traced to the coffee table, and chair manufactured. In addition, the cost of lumber
is material enough to be assigned to the cost object (the coffee table, and chairs) in a cost-
effective way. Thus, when we talk about direct cost there are two things to consider: one
is whether the cost can be directly traced to the cost object, and the other is whether that
cost is traced to the cost object economically.
In a manufacturing firm, direct costs encompass direct material and direct labor. A direct
material is the cost of material that is directly entered into the manufactured product.
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However, this is a necessary condition but not sufficient to classify the cost as direct.
That cost must also represent a significant portion of the total cost of the product
manufactured. For instance, glue and nails are one of those materials that directly enter
into the final product. However, their cost does not justify being treated as direct material
because of the fact that the high cost of maintaining bookkeeping records for such a small
amount is more than the benefit of treating them as direct material. Such items are called
indirect materials.
A direct labor represents the wages paid to those individuals who exclusively work for
the cost object. For instance, wages paid to assemblers in an automobile manufacturer is
considered as direct labor. However, wages paid to supervisory personnel is not a direct
cost because it cannot be traced to a single cost object. That cost is common to more than
one cost object, and thus cannot be traced to a cost object directly.
Indirect costs are costs that are related to a cost object but cannot be traced to the cost
object directly and in an economically feasible way. It includes indirect materials,
indirect labor and other manufacturing costs. Some of these costs are common costs that
relate to more than one cost object, and hence cannot be directly traced to a specific cost
object. Indirect manufacturing costs are also called manufacturing overhead,
manufacturing burden or factory overhead. Even though such costs cannot be directly
traced to the cost object, they should be allocated to the many cost objects in some way.
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The diagram shows direct and indirect cost assignment to a cost object.
Cost accumulation Cost assignment
Cost tracing
Direct costs
Cost object
Indirect costs Cost allocation
Activity
Question l: What is cost?
________________________________________________________________
The classification of costs as direct and indirect is not absolute. The same cost can be
________________________________________________________
indirect in relation to one cost object and may be direct for another cost object. The
classification of costs as direct and indirect is, therefore, defined in relation to the cost
object. Thus, the cost object must first be identified; otherwise the classification may
suffer from a thought that renders it meaningless.
2.5. Cost Classifications
Dear students, the costs previously discussed based on the purpose, nature or behavior
can be reclassified in different ways. In this section you will explore about the different
classifications.
Cost behavior: Variable and Fixed costs

A cost can be classified as variable or fixed depending on how the cost behaves as the
volume of activity changes. Some costs respond correspondently with the volume of
activity. As the volume of activity increases, the cost increases, and as the volume of
activity falls, the cost drops. Yet there are costs that do not respond to a change in the
volume activity. Such costs are called fixed cost.
17
Variable costs are those costs that varies in total as the volume of activity changes; the
total dollar amount rise, when the volume of activity increases, and falls when the volume
of activities go down. However, the unit cost remains the same. For instance, a car
assembler needs steering wheel for the cars it assembles. The number of steering wheels
required depends on the number of cars assembled. For instance, if four wheels are
required for a single car, then for four cars, sixteen wheels are required, for eight cars,
thirty two wheeling tires are needed. Assuming that one car need four wheel and one
wheel costs Birr 500.00, the following table shows a comparison between the total cost
and total cars assembled.
Volume of Total wheels Cost of total
activity (cars) required wheels
1 4 2,000.00
2 8 4,000.00
3 12 6,000.00
4 16 8,000.00
5 20 10,000.00
6 24 12,000.00
Graphically, the relationship between the total cost of wheel and cars assembled looks the
following:
18
14000
12000
10000
Total cost of wheels
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
Cars assembled
The graph shows that the total cost of wheels increases as the number of cars assembled
increases. You should mark that it is only the total cost that varies with the volume of the
activity; the unit cost is the same. In the example above, the unit cost of the wheel is birr
500.00 at each level of activity.
Fixed costs are those cost that remain constant in total dollar amount as the level of
activity changes. For instance, in the above example the wages of janitors and guards is
constant in spite of the number of cars assembled. Another example may be the rent
expense that Wollo University pays; the cost of rent does not increase whether the
number of students enrolled is 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, or 4,000. It remains constant
regardless of the number of students.
The graph below shows the nature of fixed costs over the relevant range.
19
120000
100000
Rent expense
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
1 2 3 4
Cars assembled
When we talk about variable and fixed costs, we are talking about the total dollar amount
instead of the unit cost. Assume that the car assembler in the previous example rented the
factory site for Birr 100,000.00 per year. Whether 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4,000 cars are
assembled in a year, the rent expense is the same. However, the unit cost varies. It
decreases or increases as the volume of activities increases or decreases. For instance, the
rent expense in the above example is Birr 100,000.00 in a year. The unit cost would be
Birr 100 if 1000 cars are assembled, Birr 50 if 2000 cars are assembled, Birr 33.33 if
3000 cars are assembled and Birr 25 if 4000 cars are assembled. Thus, when we talk
about variable and fixed costs, we are talking about the total dollar amount instead of the
unit cost.
A fixed cost is fixed only over a certain range, which is called the relevant range. For
instance, in the previous example, the factory rent expense will be fixed may be only up
to 5000 car assembly. If the organization needs to assemble more cars, the factory may
not host all the work. Thus, there comes a need to rent a spacious site that probably costs
higher. Therefore, costs are fixed only over some range. If the volume activity exceeds
that range the cost changes.
20
Some costs have both fixed and variable components. These costs are often called mixed
costs, semi variable or semi fixed costs. For instance, the rental charges for a copier
machine may be Birr 100 per month and Birr 0.1 per a page copy. The base payment 100
is fixed where as the Birr 0.1 charge per copy is variable.
Activity
Question 2: Distinguish between variable and fixed cost?
_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Product costs and period costs
A product cost includes all costs that are assets when they are incurred and become cost
of goods sold when the product is sold. All manufacturing costs: direct material, direct
labor, and manufacturing overhead are products costs. These costs are also called
manufacturing costs. Some of these costs first creates inventory of raw materials before
going through some processes, and then the costs change into work in process as the raw
materials purchased passes through the manufacturing processes, and eventually all
manufacturing costs become finished goods. Until sold, these costs remain as assets in
the form of finished good. Thus, such costs are also called inventoriable costs.
Period costs are those that are treated as expenses when they are incurred, as they are
presumed to benefit only the current period. In manufacturing firms, these costs are also
called non-manufacturing costs. They are not involved directly in the manufacturing
process and mainly they expire as time passes on. The two types of period costs are
selling costs, and administrative costs. Selling costs are those costs that are incurred in
relation to the selling activities of the firm. Selling costs include, Advertising costs, Sales
commission, Salespersons salaries, and Depreciation on Store Building, Delivery costs
etc. Administrative costs are those costs that are incurred in relation to the administration
of the firm. Such costs include among others, Office Supplies, Office Salaries, and
Depreciation on Office Building.
The treatment of non-manufacturing costs, both Selling and Administrative, is very much
similar among Manufacturing, Merchandising and Service enterprises. Most are
recognized as expenses when incurred as they benefit only the current period.
21
Prime and conversion costs
The term prime cost refers to the sum of direct materials and direct labor used in
production. Because it includes direct material and direct labor, prime costs are also
called direct manufacturing costs. Conversion costs are the combination of direct labor
and manufacturing overhead. Conversion costs are the costs of converting direct
materials into finished manufactured part. Conversion costs are also called processing
cost. The following diagram shows the interrelationship of product cost.
Direct Materials Direct Labor Manufacturing

Overhead
Prime costs Conversion costs
Controllable and Non-controllable costs

Some costs are controllable at some level of management within the organization and
some costs are not. For instance, factory rent may be controllable at the vice president
level but this cost cannot be altered by the decision of a foreman. Thus, factory rent is a
controllable cost to the vice president but it is uncontrollable for the foreman.
Controllable costs are all costs that can be altered at a particular level of management. In
the above example, the factory rent is a controllable cost to the Vice President. The Vice
President is held accountable for the cost. Non-controllable cost, on the other hand,
cannot be influenced or altered at that particular level of management. For instance, the
factory rent cost cannot be influenced by the foreman and thus, the Foreman is not
accountable to that cost. Nonetheless, all costs are controllable at top management level
over the long run.
Unit costs and total costs
22
Units costs are the average cost of each units produced. Total cost represents the total
cost of goods manufactured. Unit costs are computed by dividing total costs by the total
units produced. Both total costs and unit costs are important in many areas. However, the
use of unit cost requires some caution. Suppose 10,000 quintals of wheat flour are
produced at a total cost of Birr 2,500,000.00. If 7,500 quintal of flour has been sold
during the period, unit costs are essential to assign the total cost to cost of goods sold, and
ending inventory.
The unit cost would be the total cost divided by the total units produced i.e.,
Total manufacturing cost 2,500,000.00 $ 250.00 per quintal

Number of units produced 10,000
Cost of goods sold is then, Birr 250 X 7,500 1,875,000000

Ending inventory Birr 250 X 2,500 625.000.00
However, unit costs must be used with some precaution. Assume that out of the
2,500,000.00 total cost, the 500,000.00 is fixed that does not change over the relevant
range. The management may forecast the cost for the upcoming period under different
levels of production. Look at the following budget:
Units to be Variable Total variable Total fixed Total cost Unit costs
produced cost per unit cost cost
5,000 200 1,000,000.00 500,000.00 1,500,000.00 300.00
7,500 200 1,500,000.00 500,000.00 2,000,000.00 266.67
10,000 200 2,000,000.00 500,000.00 2,500,000.00 250.00
12,500 200 2,500,000.00 500,000.00 3,000,000.00 240.00
15,000 200 3,000,000.00 500,000.00 3,500,000.00 233.33
To take the unit cost of the previous year to forecast the future would lead to erroneous
conclusion. The unit cost changes as the level of activity changes. For budgeted amount
less than the previous year production, the unit cost is higher than Birr 250.00 as the fixed
23
cost will be absorbed by a relatively smaller amount. For an amount greater than 10,000,
the unit cost falls as the fixed cost is shared by a relatively large number of units. So in
using unit costs, it is better to analyze how that unit cost is composed of.
Other cost terminologies and concepts

Cost driver
A cost driver is a factor that casually affects costs over a given time span. For instance,
there is a cause and effect relationship between volume of activity and total cost of a cost
object. Thus, volume of activity is a cost driver. Costs that are fixed in the short run do
not have a cost driver, though they may have a cost driver in the long run. Different types
of costs respond to widely differing cost drivers.
Differential cost
Often managers are in a position to choose between two or more alternatives. Which
alternative to pursue requires an evaluation of the different courses of action. An
evaluation of the different courses of action is possible either by comparing the aggregate
cost of each course of action or by looking at the differential cost only. Differential cost
is the increase or decrease in cost that is expected from a particular course of action as
compared with an alternative course of action. For instance, a shoe manufacturer can
establish its own shoe tie processing factory or buy it from outside. Assume the cost of
producing a pair of shoe tie is birr 0.5 and the cost of a pair of shoe tie bought from
outside is Birr 0.4; the differential cost is Birr 0.20. Differential cost is also called
incremental cost.
A special case of the differential cost is the marginal cost. Marginal cost represents the
extra cost incurred when one additional unit is produced. Marginal costs differ across
different ranges production as the efficiency of production varies along with production
levels.
Sunk cost
These are costs that are already incurred and cannot be reversed by a subsequent
decision. Except for its impact on income tax, sunk costs are irrelevant for future
decision-making. For instance, you have constructed a hotel in an outskirt of a town
24
expecting that many people come and enjoy particularly on the weekends. However, after
the hotel is constructed, you found only about 20% of the people you normally expect.
Therefore, you want to change the hotel premises for other purposes. What is the
importance of the construction cost for the proposed change? The cost incurred in
constructing the hotel is a sunk cost that cannot be reversed and thus irrelevant for the
decision on hand.
Opportunity cost
Opportunity cost is the income forgone while pursuing one course of action ignoring the
next best alternative. For instance, assume you have Birr 20,000.00, and you are
considering two things to do with this money. One option is to join a College, and the
other option is to open a photocopy business. If you join the College, you may have an
employment after three years, but you lose the money that you can get, had that sum been
invested in the photocopy business. The opportunity cost of going to college is the
income forgone had that money been invested in the photocopy business.
Opportunity cost differs fundamentally from other costs in that it does not represent a
transaction that requires disbursement. However, opportunity costs should be considered
in all managerial decisions.
Activity :
Question 3: Among the three costs classification for Decision Making , which cost is
irrelevant for Decision Making and why?
2.6. Financial Statements of a Manufacturing firm
Financial statements of a Manufacturing company are more complex as compared to

financial statements of Merchandising and Service companies. Particularly, the Balance
sheet, and Income statement of a Manufacturing enterprise are somewhat different from
their Merchandising and Service counterpart. All costs mentioned above should be
properly accounted for and reported in the financial statements of a manufacturing firm,
which is more complex than that of the Merchandising and Service complements.
25
2.6.1. Balance Sheet of a Manufacturing Firm
The Balance sheet of a manufacturing firm differs from the Balance sheet of a
merchandising firm principally by the types of inventories reported. A manufacturing
firm carries three types of inventories namely, Direct Materials, Work-In-Process, and
Finished good. Inventory of Direct Material represents the costs of materials that are not
yet entered into a manufacturing process. Such materials may be purely raw materials
that have not received any processing before such as agricultural outputs, or they may be
semi processed or fully processed products of another firm like wheat flour directly going
into Biscuit in Food Complex industries.
Inventories of work in process represent all goods that are undergoing some
manufacturing process but yet not finished to be dispatched for use by customers. The
costs of work in process inventory include all the manufacturing costs incurred so far in
the manufacturing process; the cost of direct materials, the costs of labor, and applied
manufacturing overhead. The finished good inventory embodies the final product that is
not yet sold. The cost of finished good inventory includes all manufacturing costs, direct
material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead incurred to produce that product.
The following partial Balance Sheet may show the presentation of inventories in a
Manufacturing firm.
ALEDER Furniture Factory
Balance Sheet
As at December 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash on Hand 12,669.00

Cash in Bank 245,980.00
Account receivables 125,468.00
Allowance for doubtful account 4,578.00
120,890.00
Inventories:
Direct material 117,450.00
26
Work in process 131,600.00
Finished good 182,000.00
Total inventories 431,050.00
2.6.2. Income Statement of a Manufacturing Firm
Income statement of a manufacturing firm differs from income statement of a

merchandising firm by the cost of goods manufactured caption. A merchandising firm
sells goods after buying it from a manufacturing firm. But a manufacturing firm sells
goods that are internally produced. Hence, the costs of goods sold caption contains cost
of goods manufactured instead of purchase. The amount of purchase can easily be found
from the ledger, but cost of goods manufactured cannot. Cost of goods manufactured
must first be computed before the income statement is prepared.
A merchandising business can monitor operational performance more easily than a
manufacturing business because they easily know their selling price and buying price.
However, a Manufacturing firm cannot easily identify the cost of production. Further,
there are rooms in a manufacturing business to make operations more efficient.
Therefore, many manufacturing businesses prepare their income statements more
frequently than merchandising businesses. Frequent preparation allows them to know the
results of operation and thereby alter operational strategies if the results are not
satisfactory.
For comparison purposes, here below you will find income statement of a merchandising
and manufacturing business (a hypothetical example).
Tana Import PLC

Income statement
For the year ended December 31, 2018
Sales 1,200,000.00
Cost of goods sold:
27
Merchandise inventory, January 1, 2018 120,000.00
Purchase 960,000.00
Merchandise available for sale 1,080,000.00
Less Merchandise inventory December 31, 2018 240,000.00
Cost of merchandise sold 840,000.00
Gross profit 360,000.00
Operating expenses:
Selling expenses 85,000.00
Administrative expenses 75,000.00
Total operating expenses 160,000.00
Net income 200,000.00
Alder Furniture Factory

Income statement
For the year ended December 31, 2018
Sales 1,831,600.00
Cost of goods sold:
Finished good inventory, January 1, 2018 157,000.00
Cost of goods Manufactured 1,101,750.00
Cost of finished goods available for sale 1,258,750.00
Less finished goods inventory December 31, 2018 182,000.00
Cost of merchandise sold 1,076,750.00
Operating expenses:
28
A comparison of the two statements shows the following facts. Purchase in a
merchandising firm represents goods that are bought over a definite specified period, a
year in the above example. The total purchase made in that period is added to the
beginning inventory balance and yield the total cost of goods available for sale in that
period. The manufacturing equivalent is the cost of goods manufactured, which represent
the total manufacturing cost of goods produced in that period or year.
The cost of goods manufactured by it self needs a computation that presents the cost of
direct material used, cost of direct labor incurred, and factory overhead costs. The direct
material used alone is a separate schedule that shows the direct material placed in
production in that period. In general the following four steps are required to prepare
income statement of a manufacturing firm.
Step 1 – The schedule of Direct Materials used in production

The cost of direct material used is equivalent to the beginning inventory of direct material
plus purchases made during that period less the direct material left at the end of the
period. For illustration purposes, the above income statement of Alder Furniture Factory
will be used.
Direct Materials used = Beginning Direct Materials inventory + Direct Materials

Purchased – Ending Direct Materials inventory
Assume that the direct materials inventory of Alder Furniture Factory amounts to Birr
124,000.00 at the beginning of the year i.e., as of July 1, 2018, purchases of Birr
440,000.00 and freight costs Birr 1,600.00 is made during the year, and the amount of
direct materials inventory at the end of the year is Birr 117,450.00. The direct material
used is therefore will be shown in the schedule below.
Schedule 1- Schedule of direct material used

Beginning direct material inventory 124,000.00
29
Add: Total cost of direct materials purchased
Direct materials purchased 440,000.00
Freight in 1,600.00
441,600.00
Direct materials available for use 565,600.00
Deduct: Ending direct materials inventory 117,450.00
Direct materials used in production 448,150.00
This schedule can be presented either separately or can be incorporated to the cost of
goods manufactured schedule.
Step 2 – The schedule of cost of goods manufactured

To determine the cost of goods manufactured, three factors are necessary: cost of direct
materials used, cost of direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. Extending the same
example, let say the cost of direct labor employed is Birr 437,500, and the following
overhead costs are incurred:
Indirect labor 98,600.00

Depreciation on factory equipment 44,600.00
Light and power 43,600.00
Depreciation of Factory building 12,000.00
Insurance expense on factory properties 9,500.00
Property tax 19,500.00
Factory supplies expense 5,800.00
Miscellaneous factory costs 4,100.00
Total overhead 237,700.00
30
Cost of goods manufactured = beginning work in process inventory + (direct material
used + direct labor incurred + manufacturing overhead) – ending work in process
inventory
Schedule 2- Schedule of cost of goods manufactured
Work in process inventory January 1, 2018 110,000.00
Add: Direct Materials used* (previous schedule) 448,150.00
Direct labor 437,500.00
Factory overhead 237,700.00
Manufacturing cost incurred during the year 1,123,350.00
Total work in process inventory during the year 1,233,350.00
Deduct: Work in process inventory December 31, 131,600.00
2018
Cost of goods manufactured 1,101,750.00
Step 3 – The schedule of cost of goods sold

The cost of goods sold represents the cost of goods that are sold during a given year. The
cost of goods sold is computed using the following formula:
Cost of goods sold = Beginning finished good inventory + cost of goods manufactured –
ending finished good inventory
Assume that the finished good inventory as of the beginning of the year is Birr
157,000.00, and the ending inventory of finished good inventory is Birr 182,000.00. The
cost of goods sold is then prepared as follows:
Schedule 3 – schedule of cost of goods sold
Finished goods inventory, January 1, 2018 157,000.00

Add: Cost of goods manufactured* 1,101,750.00
31
Cost of goods available for sale 1,258,750.00
Deduct: finished good inventory December 31, 182,000.00
2018
Cost of goods sold 1,076,750.00
* The cost of goods manufactured is obtained from the previous schedule.
Step 4 – The income statement
All the above schedules are inputs one to the other. The ultimate goal of making all the
schedules is to prepare the income statement. The income statement contains three main
elements, and these are: Sales, Cost of goods sold, and Operational expenses.
The cost of goods sold is deducted from sales to arrive at gross profit or gross margin.
From the gross margin, operational expenses are deducted to determine net income
assuming no income tax.
Schedule 4 – schedule of the income statement

The income statement of Alder Furniture Factory looks the following
Sales 1,831,600.00
Cost of goods sold: 1,076,750.00
Operating expenses:
The above income statement is called a single step or condensed income statement, as it
does not show how each element is constructed. The separate schedules are inputs to the
income statement. It is also possible to include all the schedules at a time to prepare the
income statement. Such a statement contains detailed information about each item. Such
a statement is called multiple step income statement. The statement in the following page
is a multiple step income statement of ALDER Furniture Factory.
32
ALDER Furniture Factory
Income statement
For the year ended, December 31, 2018
Sales 1,831,600.00
Less cost of goods sold: 157,000.00
Finished goods inventory, January 1,
2018
Work in process inventory, January 1, 110,000.00
2018
Work in process during the year:
Direct materials used:
Direct materials, January 1, 2018 124,000.00
Direct materials purchased (including 441,600.00
freight in)
Direct materials available for use 565,600.00
Direct materials, December 31, 2018 117,450.00
Direct material used 448,150.00
Factory overhead:
Indirect labor 98,600.00
Depreciation on factory equipment 44,600.00
Light and power 43,600.00
Depreciation of Factory building 12,000.00
Insurance expense on factory 9,500.00
properties
Property tax 19,500.00
Factory supplies expense 5,800.00
Miscellaneous factory costs 4,100.00
Total Factory Overhead 237,700.00
33
Total manufacturing cost during the 1,123,350.00
year
Total work in process during the year 1,233,350.00
Deduct: Work in process, December 131,600
31, 2018
Cost of goods manufactured 1,101,750.00
Cost of goods available for sale 1,259,250.00
Deduct: Finished good inventory, 182,000.00
December 31, 2018
Cost of goods sold 1,076,750.00
Deduct: Operational expenses:
Total operational expenses 498,850.00
Accounting systems should serve multiple decision purposes, and there are different
measures of cost for different purposes. The most economically feasible approach to
designing a management accounting system is to assume some common wants favorite of
decisions and choose cost objects for routine data accumulation in light of these wants.
The chapter has concentrated on definitions and explanations of many widely used cost
accounting terms. The most basic distinction is between direct and indirect costs. The
same cost may be direct regarding one cost object and indirect regarding other cost
objects. This unit has merely linked the vast number of classification of costs that have
proved useful for various purposes.
34
Now, before proceeding to the next chapter, attempt the following questions:
Part I: Choice the best answer
1. In a manufacturing business enterprise, costs of the goods manufactured include:
A. Costs of direct materials
B. Manufacturing overhead costs
C. Direct labor costs
D. All of the above
E. None of the above
2. The operating cycle that best describes the transfer of raw materials to the factory
from stores and the application of labor and other factory facilities to complete the
manufacturing process of the product is known as:
A. Ware housing
B. Selling
C. Procurement
D. Production
E. None
3. Which of the following is not classified under factory overhead cost?
A. packing materials costs
B. Lubricants’ cost for factory operations
C. Office supplies costs
D. Factory line supervisors costs
4. One of the following costs represents non-manufacturing costs
A. Sales salaries
B. Insurance expenses on factory equipment & machinery
C. Daily wages expenses of factory workers
D. Heat, light and power consumption to operate the factory
35
5. One of the major functions of Cost Accounting is supplying enough information to
management to achieve the greatest efficiency and profit under competitive
conditions. Which of the following questions might be answers by cost Accounting?
A. Is our plant operating efficiently and economically?
B. Which of our costs are out of line and how can they be controlled?
C. Are our sales prices set realistically in relation to costs?
D. All of the above
Answer Question No 6, 7 and 8 based on the following information obtained from
cost Account section of Awash Manufacturing enterprise.
The following costs were incurred during the month of December.
Direct materials used ---------Br 206,180

Direct labor cost--------------Br.341,220
Depn Factory plant assets ----Br.60,000
Indirect materials used --------Br. 40,000
Indirect labor cost------------ Br30,000
6. What were the prime costs of the month of December?
A. Br 341,220
B. Br 336,180
C. Br. 547,400
D. Br 206,180
E. None
7. What were the conversion costs?
A. Br.416,800
B. Br 336,180
C. Br. 547,400
D. Br 341,220
E. None
8. What were the total manufacturing costs for the month?
A. Br. 677,400
36
B. B. Br 753,580
C. Br. 336,180
D. Br. 547,400
E. None
9. If 2,000 units (finished goods) of an item is produced using direct material cost
of Br. 10,000; direct labor cost of Br. 30,000 and overhead is applied at a rate of 2
times the direct labor cost. The unit cost of producing this item is:
A. Br. 5
B. Br. 20
C. Br. 50
D. None of the above
10. ABC Manufacturing Company has the following cost data:
Direct materials: Beginning bal. ----------------Br 10,000
Net materials purchases……… 15,000
Ending materials Balance -----5,000
If Direct labor cost is 50% of direct materials used; and overhead is 150% of direct labor
costs used, then the total costs of production will be:
A. Br. 40,000 B) Br. 45,000 C, Br. 30,000 D. Br 20,000 E. None

Part II. Answer the following questions in your own words
1. Do service sector companies have inventoriable costs? Explain
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2. Why do managers consider direct costs to be more accurate than indirect costs?
3. Describe the different categories of inventories commonly found in manufacturing
companies.
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37
4. Explain the purpose of cost information in the management functions?
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5. What are the three basic elements of manufacturing cost of a product?
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6. Distinguish between cost and expense.
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Part III : work out questions

1. Foxwood Company accumulated the following data for 2007.
Jan 1, 2007 Dec 31, 2007
Inventories:
Finished Goods $ 52,000 $ 54,000
Work in Process 29,600 27,800
Raw materials 14,200 15,000
Direct labor 95,000
Raw material purchase s 138,000
Indirect labor 15,300
Indirect materials and supplies 10,800
Factory utilities 18,600
Depreciation expense- Factory 14,000
Factory rent 18,000
Payroll taxes- Factory wages 8,100
Repairs and maintenance-Factory 6,000
Insurance expense- Factory 6,800
Miscellaneous factory expenses 5,200
38
Sales 710,000
Sales discount 12,000
Selling expenses 95,600
General expenses 75,300
Interest expenses 7,000
Required:
a) Prepare a statement of cost of goods manufactured.
b) Prepare an income statement (assume an income tax rate of 25%)
2. Consider the following account balance for ABC manufacturing company in the year
2004.
Beginning balance End balance
Direct material inventory $22,000 $26,000
WIP inventory 21,000 20,000
Finished goods inventory 18,000 23,000
Purchase of direct material 75,000
Direct labor cost 25,000
Indirect labor cost 15,000
Plant insurance 4,000
Insurance- administrative 5,000
Depreciation - plant building and equipment 9,000
Depreciation - administrative building 3,000
Repair and maintenance – factory equipment 4,000
Marketing, distribution and customer service cost 93,000
General and administrative cost 29,000
Required
a) Calculate cost of direct material used
b) Calculate cost of goods manufactured
c) Calculate cost of goods sold
d) If revenue for the year is $300, 000, prepare income statement for the Company.
39
CHAPTER THREE: JOB, PROCESS AND OPERATION COSTING
Dear students! Do you know how do organizations choose among costing systems?
Good! Don’t worry we will get the answer from the following discussion. Management
depends on relevant and reliable information about costs in managing their organizations.
The role of management accountant is to develop management information systems that
provide managers with the cost information they need. Management need extensive
information about product related costs.
 Explain the purpose of cost allocation
 Explain basic types of product costing systems
 Demonstrate the accounting processes for materials costs, labor costs and
manufacturing overhead costs and identify documents and records used

 Define job order and process costing systems and identify the situations in
which each costing systems are appropriate
 Define and use the concept of an equivalent unit
3.1. Concepts: Costing System, Cost Pool and Cost Allocation Bases
A costing system constitutes one of the most important elements of the managerial
information system. Its presence enables the organization to meet three objectives. First,
it enables the organization to effect managerial control. Without a costing system,
organizations would not be able to make managers at all levels accountable for the costs
of the resources they consume and identify whether they have been used efficiently and
effectively. Second, cost information is an important element of the planning and
decision-making process. Businesses develop, produce and market products and services.
Identifying which products and services to bring to market would not be possible without
a product costing system. Third, most organizations are legally bound to provide reports
to external parties. The costing system serves to facilitate this legal requirement.
40
There are three main types of cost accounting systems for product costing: Job order,
process and operational cost systems.
(a) Job order costing system: A job order costing system is a product costing
system used by both manufacturing companies and service organizations that
make large, unique, or special order products such as customized publications,
specially built cabinets, custom printing business etc. Under such a system, the
costs of direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead is traced to a
specific job order or a batch of products. A job order is a customer order for a
specific number of specially designed, made to order products. Job order costing
measures the cost of each complete unit. It uses one work in process inventory
account to summarize the cost of all jobs. This account is supported by job order
cost cards or a subsidiary ledger of accounts for each job.
(b) Process costing system: A process costing system is a product costing system
used by companies that produce large amounts of similar products or liquids, or
that have a continuous production flow. Makers of paint, soft drinks, bricks, milk
or paper would use a process costing system. Under such a system the cost of
direct materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead are first traced to
processes, departments, or work cells and then assigned to the products
manufactured by those processes, departments or work cells. A process costing
system uses several works in process inventory accounts, one for each process,
department or work cell.
(c) Operational costing system: In reality, few actual production processes perfectly
match either a job order costing system or a process costing system. This typical
product costing system combines parts of both job order costing and process
costing to create a hybrid system designed specifically when companies produce
large batches of similar products in which significantly different types of
materials are use. An example of a company that would use an operational cost
system is an automobile manufacturer. An automobile Maker may use process
costing to treat the costs of manufacturing basic car and then use job order costing
41
to track the costs of customized features such as a convertible or hardtop, an
automatic transmission or stick shift.
Cost allocation refers to the assignment of all indirect costs to a cost object using an
allocation base. The ultimate goal of cost allocation is to make certain that all costs
incurred by the organization eventually are assigned to its products or services. This is
important for several purposes including cost based pricing, bidding, cost reimbursement
from outside parties like insurance companies, valuation of inventory, determination of
income and all other economic decisions. Besides, the allocation of all costs to
departments serves to make departmental managers aware of the cost incurred to produce
services their departments use. Costs that are incurred by a certain common facility in
serving different users must be allocated to the users based on certain reasonable method.
In the previous chapters of this module, we have discussed the basic concepts of cost
accounting and terms which are commonly used and helpful in cost accounting either in
allocating or generally tracing of costs to accost object.
As we have already discussed in unit two of this module, product cost elements are
broadly classified into three: They are Direct material cost, Direct labor cost and all
indirect manufacturing cost (i.e. manufacturing overhead). They are also called as
Inventoriable costs. Dear student, have you remembered this classification of costs? Well,
let us proceed to the following discussion related to this topic and other related concept.
A direct cost is any cost that can be conveniently and economically traced to a specific
cost objective. Direct materials and Direct- labor costs are referred as direct cost.
An indirect cost is any cost that cannot be conveniently or economically traced to a

specific cost objective. Any production cost not classified, as a direct cost is an indirect
cost. An indirect cost or manufacturing overhead is to be properly classified, accounted
and assigned to cost objective or product. Improper accounting, classification and
assigning of indirect cost leads to overstatement or understatement of product cost. If the
product cost is overstated the concern will loose the bid since the price charged is much
more than competitor’s price.
42
On the other hand, when the cost of product is understated, the overall profitability is
decreased or some times incurring heavy losses. Hence, the manufacturing overhead is to
be properly and correctly assigned to the products. Under this unit, our main focus is on
the proper classification and assignment of indirect costs and the methods used to allocate
the indirect costs.
Cost Allocation: the process of assigning or applying collected indirect costs to cost
objects using an allocation base is known as cost allocation. Dear student, to know the
cost allocation the following terms are to be known and they have strong tie with the
allocation of costs to products or services. These are:
 Cost object
 Cost pool and
 Cost driver
Cost object: - is the destination of all assigned or allocated costs. For example, a cost
may be assigned to a particular product, service or department. For purposes of product
costing, cost allocation is the assignment of manufacturing overhead costs to the product
(cost object) during the accounting period.
Cost pool: is a collection of overhead costs related to a cost object (a product related
activity).
Cost driver: is an activity that causes the cost pool to change (increase/decrease) in
amount as the cost driver changes (increase/decrease) in volume,
Cost allocation requires.
the pooling of manufacturing overhead costs that are affected by a common
activity and
the selection of a cost driver whose activity level causes a change in the cost
pool.
3.2. Job Order Costing System
To properly account product cost, a company must use an Accounting system that
accumulates and assigns costs to the manufactured units. Proper accounting for products
43
is particularly essential in the preparation of financial statements as costs that are
assigned to goods sold appear on the Income statement and costs assigned to the unsold
units appear on the balance sheet.
Activity:
Question1: Differentiate the three costing system and Elaborate the basic
characteristics of job costing?_____________________________________
3.2.1. Cost Accounting System
The cost accounting system uses the perpetual inventory system, and achieves greater
/
accuracy in the determination of product costs than is possible with the general
accounting system. It also permits far more effective control by supplying data on costs
incurred by each manufacturing department or process and it provides a fairly accurate
unit cost of manufacturing each type of product that helps managers make good decisions
timely.
There are two extremes of cost accounting systems for manufacturing operations – job
order cost system, and process cost system. A job order cost system provides a separate
record of the cost of each particular quantity of product that passes through the factory.
The system accumulates costs for a particular batch of production, commonly referred as
a Job. A job has a definite starting and completion time as would, for example, the
production of 10 pieces of windows, or 50 coffee tables. In job order costing system,
costs are accumulated by job. For each job, the firm maintains a separate job cost sheet,
which is a record on which manufacturing costs of the job are accumulated.
Job order costing for manufacturing firms:

An interrelationship exists between the physical flow of production, and the cost
accounting cycle. The flow of costs parallels the flow of work in the production settings.
Work and cost flow in job order costing cycle

The physical flow of production is the sequence of operating activity that begins with the
decision to order direct materials and ends with finished product being sold to customers.
44
The intervening steps may vary from firm to firm, but they share a common thread. The
following may show the steps of the physical flow of production.
a. A decision is made to order basic direct materials. Specialized direct materials

may be ordered as needed. The store room clerk fills a purchase requisition form
when the basic input has reached some point which is commonly called as the
reorder point. The reorder point is the point where the stock level has reached the
allowable minimum amount. The manufacturer does not allow stock levels below
that to avoid stock out situations because of unexpectedly high use of direct
materials.
b. Direct materials and supplies are ordered from vendors.
c. Direct materials are received and placed in the store room.
d. A decision is made to manufacture a specific product.
e. Direct materials and supplies are issued from the store room and placed into
production.
f. Direct labor employees work on transforming the direct materials into work in
process/
g. Other indirect and common costs are incurred in the process of transforming the
direct materials into work in process.
h. The work in process is completed and becomes finished goods.
i. The finished goods are sold and become cost of goods sold.
1. Purchase requisition – For commonly used direct materials, organizations have a

reorder level, which is the minimum amount of stock that can be on hand at any
given time before another purchase is made to meet the lead time demand. The
reason for maintaining such a minimum stock level is to hedge against the risk of
stock shortages due to reasons like unexpected heavy usage, delays and other
reason that results in stock out situations. When the stock level reaches such a
point, the storeroom clerk fills a purchase requisition, a form requesting the
purchase of the needed material. After the form is duly filled, it will be sent to the
purchasing department.
45
A purchase requisition form contains the following information:
 The date the form is prepared.
 A description of the direct material required.
 The quantity of the material in question.
 The date when the material is required.
 The requisition number.
A sample of purchase requisition form looks like the one on the next page:
Date January 5, 2018 Requisition no. 121

Purchase requisition form
Prepared by:
Quantity Description Date needed
1,000.00 board ft Lumber (eucalyptus) January 15, 2018
5 gallons Glue January 15, 2018
50 boxes Nails January 15, 2018
Specialized items may be requested by a central scheduling department or the

department in need of the particular input. No journal entry is required when a purchase
requisition is prepared.
2. Purchase order – the purchasing department following purchase requisitions

from the storeroom clerk will prepare a purchase order. A purchase order is a
document that authorizes the supplier to ship the specified merchandise ordered.
A typical purchase order may contain the following:
a. The name of the company giving the order

b. A purchase order number.
c. The date of the purchase order.
d. The requisition number.
e. The name of the supplier and address.
f. The quantity and description of the material.
46
g. The delivery date.
h. The price and terms of payment.
i. Transportation terms.
A sample purchase order looks the following:

Purchase order form
Date January 6, 2018 Purchase No. 496

Vendor
Gentle lumber processing
Sihn
Close to Piazza
F.O.B point Ship Via Terms Delivery date Requisition no.
Factory site Tana Transport 2/10, n/30 Jan. 15, 2018 121
PLC
Item no. Quantity Description Unit price Total
1. 1,000 board ft. Lumber 20 20,000.00
(eucalyptus)
No journal entry is required when a purchase order is filled.
3. Receiving report – when the ordered materials are received, the receiving
department prepares a receiving report, which lists the description, and quantities
of goods received. A copy of the document will be sent to the storeroom clerk
along with the materials. The receiving report, together with the invoice of the
supplier forms the basis for recording the purchase of the materials. The purchase
of the lumber in the above example, for instance, would be as follows:
Dr. Cr.
January 15, 2018 Direct material 20,000.00
Account payable 20,000.00
47
Had several types of direct materials been purchased, the entry requires posting to the
general ledger control account and the subsidiary ledgers for each class of material.
A sample receiving report is shown below.

Receiving report form
Received from: Receiving report No. R
Gentle lumber processing Sihn 1345
Close to Piazza
Freight: Purchase order No. 496
Pd X Collect
Date received: February 15, 2018 Received by: Tsega G.
Quantity Description Weight

Gross Net
1,000 board ft. Lumber (eucalyptus)
4. Production order – a manufacturer can produce in response to a customer order

or just for stock. Whatsoever, when the decision to produce is made, productions
order will be prepared and approved by the manager in charge. A typical
production order may contain the following commonly:
 A description of the product to be manufactured
 The quantity required
 The estimated date of completion
 A job order no.
 The date of the production order
 The authorization signature
No journal entries are required on the company’s books when the production order is
issued. A sample production order is presented as follows.
48
Production Order
Date: January 19, 2018 Job No. 365
Manufactured for: Stock
Date needed: March 20, 2018
Quantity Model number Description
150 F. 4152 Coffee table
Authorized by: Dereje Demissie
5. Material requisition – to commence production, evidently the production

department needs direct materials. The materials required for production are
requested through a document called material requisition form. The material
requisition form should contain specific description of the direct and indirect
materials required for production. A typical material requisition form contain:
 The job number for which the material is required
 A description of the direct materials and supplies needed
 The quantity of each direct materials and supply needed
 The unit cost of each material
 The total cost
 Classification into direct and indirect material.
A sample material requisition form is shown below:
Material requisition No. 906 Date: January 28, 2018
Job No. to be charged: 365
Quantity Description Unit cost Total cost Classification
500 board ft. Lumber 20 10,000.00 Direct
1 box Nail 22 22 Indirect
1 Gallon Glue 30 30 Indirect
10,052.00
Direct materials -------10,000.00
Authorized signature Indirect materials -----------52.00
At the time the materials are issued from the storeroom, the following entry is made:
49
Jan. 28, 2018 Work in process 10,000.00
Manufacturing over head 52.00
Direct material and supplies 10,052.00
Direct materials that are sent for manufacturing process are no more direct materials
since they are soon to be processed to become finished good. Thus, the cost is charged to
work in process account.
Right after the materials are received from store, a job cost sheet will be prepared. The
job cost sheet is used to accumulate the manufacturing costs incurred in producing that
particular job. It maintains the break down of the manufacturing costs, direct materials,
direct labor, and manufacturing over head. The total costs then divided by the units
produced to determine the unit cost of each item produced. The second importance of job
cost sheet is that it acts a subsidiary ledger to the work in process account in the general
ledger. A separate cost sheet is maintained for each job. Thus, the value of work in
process at any time can be found by adding the different job cost sheet. The following is
a sample job cost sheet:
Job Cost sheet

Job No. 365 Date started: Jan. 29, 2018
Date completed: March 20, 2018
Item 4152 – coffee tables
For stock
Direct material Direct labor Manufacturing overhead
Date Req. Amount Date Hours Amount Date DLH Rate Amount
No.
Jan. 28 906 10,000
2018
Cost summary
Cost item Amount
Total direct material
Total direct labor
Total manufacturing overhead applied
Shipping summary
Date Number of units shipped Cost balance
50
6. Job time ticket – the second cost category of manufacturing firms is the direct
labor employed. A job time ticket is used to record how much time is spent on a
particular job. When a particular job is started, the employee fills the time the job
is started on the job time ticket, and he punch out the card and fills the time he
stopped when he left the job. Suppose analysis of the job time ticket showed
direct labor of 9,600.00 and indirect labor of 4,800.00, the journal entry to record
the cost of direct and indirect labor looks the following:
Jan. 28, 2018 Work in process 9,600.00

Manufacturing over head 4,800.00
Wages payable 14,400.00
A sample of job time ticket is shown below

Job time ticket
Employee’s Name: Date: March 5
Department: Sanding Time started: 8:30 am
Time completed: 11:30
Operation: Sanding Job no. 365
Hours Rate of pay Direct labor Comment
3 hrs. 8 24
Idle time may exist because of machine breakdown, or when there is material shortage or
time lost while the employee shifts from one job to another. The cost of idle time should
be absorbed by all units produced in the year instead of cost of a specified product. Thus,
cost of idle time is debited to overhead.
7. Manufacturing overhead – costs other than direct material and direct labor that
are necessary to transform the raw materials into finished goods are called
manufacturing over head. Such costs include factory rent, electricity, and
depreciation on machinery. Most of these costs are common to more than one
batch of job and hence cannot be directly traced to a specific job. Thus, such costs
must be assigned to the different cost objects in some way. The other problem if
51
actual overhead is used, the cost of units produced in some months unduly
absorbs huge costs and thereby increasing unit cost. For instance, during February
a manufacturer produced 500 coffee tables and only 100 coffee tables are
produced in the month of August. Suppose manufacturing overhead of Birr
30,000 is incurred in both months. Assume that the direct material and direct
labor per unit totaled Birr 108. The unit overhead cost becomes Birr 60 for those
units that are produced in February, and the total cost of a single unit becomes
168. However, the unit overhead cost for those coffee tables produced in August
is Birr 300, which is greater than the February cost by 240.00. The unit cost of a
single coffee table produced in August will also be Birr 408.00. The same
products are charged very different amount if the actual overhead is used.
Another problem with actual overhead is that suppose that maintenance costs of
30,000.00 is incurred in the month of August in addition to the previous amount.
Under the circumstance, the unit overhead cost is going to be even more, which is
600 per unit. Thus, it is essential to charge the total cost of manufacturing
overhead through out the year to all units produced in that period. However, this
amount can only be known at the end of the year, which in turn means that the
organization has to wait until the accounting year ends to determine the actual
overhead cost. Most probably, many of the jobs are completed before the year
ends, and thus, the accounts are left open until the actual amount is known. The
accounting information obtained after the year ends though accurate, it is
irrelevant since it is untimely. The major limitation that the firm could not identify
the cost of its product which in turn prohibiting the preparation of interim
financial statements that management uses to control operations. Therefore, it is
important to estimate the cost in advance and apply to each job using some
allocation bases.
A predetermined overhead rate is calculated using the projected overhead cost and
some activity base that has a cause and effect relationship with manufacturing
overhead costs. For instance, assume that the projected overhead cost for the
52
upcoming year is Birr 80,000.00, and the direct labor hour is estimated to be
4,000 hrs, the predetermined overhead rate can thus be calculated as follows:
Predetermined overhead cost = Estimated overhead cost

Estimated activity base (direct labor hr.)
POR = 80,000 = 20 per direct labor hour.

4,000
If we assume that the direct labor hours spent on the job are 90, the manufacturing over
head applied will therefore be 90 X 20 =600. The entry to record the manufacturing
overhead applied is as follows:
March 18, 2018 Work in process 1,800.00

Manufacturing overhead applied 1,800.00
The manufacturing overhead applied is a contra account to the actual manufacturing cost.
More on this later.
Although actual costs are not assigned, they should be recorded as incurred. Suppose that
factory rent, utilities, and other manufacturing costs totaled Birr 22,000.00. The following
entry is required to record the actual manufacturing cost.
March 20, 2018 Manufacturing over head 22,000.00
Various accounts 22,000.00
8. Finished good inventory ledger card – when work in process is completed and
transferred to the finished good inventory warehouse, the following journal entry
is required:
March 20, 2018 Finished goods 21,400.00
53
9. Cost of goods sold – two records are maintained when sale is made under the
perpetual inventory system: one for sales and the other for cost of goods sold.
Assume that half of the coffee tables produced are sold for birr 180 each on with a
40% down payment. The entry to record the sales looks the following:
April 10, Cash 5,400.00
2018 Account receivable 8,100.00
Sales 13,500.00
The total units produced are 150 as shown in the production order. Half of that amount is
75, and 75 units at 180 is equal to 13,500.00. When we come to the cost of goods sold,
the total cost of goods produced is Birr 21,400.00. Thus, the unit cost of each coffee table
is Birr 142.67. The cost of the 75 units that are sold is Birr 10,700.00. The following
entry is necessary to record the cost of goods sold.
April 10, Cost of goods sold 10,700.00
2018 Finished goods 10,700.00
In general, a firm’s cost accounting system parallels its flow of operation. The nine steps
followed in the previous illustration are summarized below in a concise manner.
1. Procurement – raw materials and supplies needed for manufacturing are ordered,
received, and stored.
2. Production – raw materials are transferred from storeroom to factory. Labor,
tools, machines, power, and other costs are applied to transform the raw material
into finished product.
3. Warehousing – finished goods are moved from the factory to the ware house to be
held until they are sold.
4. Selling – customers are found. Merchandises are shipped from the warehouse, and
customer accounts are charged.
The following diagram shows the above points:
54
Procurement Production Warehousing Selling
Raw materials Work in process Finished good CGS
In Out In Out In Out In
Direct labor
Out
MOH
Out
As shown in the table cost flow parallels with the physical flow of production.
Manufacturing overhead
Manufacturing costs are common costs – costs shared by more than one cost object- that
should be apportioned among the cost objects sharing the cost. However, the total
overhead costs cannot be known exactly until the end of the year. Thus, organizations
should wait up to the end of the year if they are to charge the actual amount. Yet, many
jobs are completed but the job cost sheet remains open waiting for the actual overhead
55
cost. Thus, interim financial statements are impossible which in turn affect managerial
decision purposes.
A predetermined overhead rate is determined to allocate such costs to individual jobs,

which is found by dividing estimated overhead cost to the estimated amount of allocation
base. The allocation base is assumed to be a cost driver of manufacturing overhead costs.
In other words, there has to be a cause and effect relationship between the allocation base
and manufacturing overhead costs. For instance, a labor intensive firm should use a labor
oriented base, and a machine base should use a machine oriented base since most these
overhead costs may respond to a change to the allocation base.
A firm can use one of several allocation bases and the choice depends on the nature of the
manufacturing operations. The most commonly used allocation bases are (1) direct labor
cost (2) Direct labor hour (3) machine hours (4) materials cost, and (5) prime costs. For
illustration purposes, ALDER Furniture Factory estimated the following for the
upcoming period.
Manufacturing over head cost 675,000.00

Direct labor cost 450,000.00
Direct labor hour 90,000.00
Machine hour 45,000.00
Direct material cost 225,000.00
Direct labor base – when the direct labor base is used as an allocation base, the
estimated allocation base will be used as a denominator and the estimated overhead cost
will be used as a numerator.
Predetermined overhead rate = Estimated Manufacturing over head
Estimated direct labor cost
POR = 675,000/450,000 = 1.5 or 150%
The applied overhead is150% of the direct labor cost of the job. The direct labor cost is
the most popular and widely used by labor-intensive firms. The direct labor cost can
56
readily be found from the payroll records. However, the direct labor cost suffers from
serious limitation when the wage rate differs from employee to employee.
Assume that Employee A and B works in the same organization but Mr. A earns Birr 5
per hour, and B earns Birr 10 per hour. Both have worked for 40 hours. Both work
similar jobs; A work Job no. 452 and B works job no. 453. Assume the company
allocates manufacturing costs at 150% of direct labor cost. The assignment looks the
following:
Employee A Employee B
Salary for 40 hrs. 40 X 5 = 200 40 X 10 = 400
Job No. 452 Job No. 453
Manufacturing overhead applied 150% X 200 = 300.00 150% X 400 = 600
When there is a significant difference in the hourly rate of employees, the direct labor
cost produces a weak result. Under such circumstance, direct labor hour is the best
alternative. Given the assumptions above, the predetermined overhead rate is calculated
as follows for direct labor:
POR = Estimated manufacturing overhead cost = 675,000.00 = 7.50per hour
Estimated direct labor hour 90,000.00
Taking the above example,
Employee A Employee B
Hrs. worked 40 40
Manufacturing overhead applied 40 X 7.50 = 300 40 X 7.50 = 300
The direct labor hr. is important in that it is unaffected by the difference in hourly wage
rate. It effectively works when the hourly wage rate is uniform or different. The
limitation is that the administration cost is high.
57
Machine hours are important bases to apply overhead when the factory is machine
intensive. The accounting treatment is almost the same. The predetermined overhead rate
is calculated as:
POR = Estimated manufacturing overhead = 675,000.00 = 15 per machine hour

Estimated machine hours 45,000.00
Machine intensive firms are apt to use machine hours at apply manufacturing overhead
costs to jobs. The problem is that figures on machine hours are not readily available.
Suppose that machine hours spend on Job 452 and Job 453 is 20, and 22 respectively.
The manufacturing overhead to be applied to both jobs is as follows:
Machine hr. 20 20
Manufacturing overhead applied 20 X 15 = 300 22 X 15.00 = 330
Cost of materials is another alternative to apply manufacturing overhead to jobs. The

estimated direct material costs are used as a denominator to determine the predetermined
overhead rate. The predetermined overhead rate can be calculated in the following
manner for ALDER Furniture Factory.
POR = Estimated manufacturing overhead = 675,000.00 = 300% of material cost
Estimated material cost 225,000.00
Suppose that Job 452 consumed direct material cost of 110, and Job 453 consumed direct
material cost of 120. The manufacturing overhead applied to each job is:
Material cost 110 120
Manufacturing overhead applied 110 X 300% = 330 120 X 300% = 360
This method is the least used because very few manufacturing costs are a function of the
cost of direct materials used in production.
Prime costs can also be used as an allocation base to apply manufacturing overhead.
Prime cost is the combination of direct material and direct labor used in the production
58
process. The POR determination for ALDER Furniture Factory using prime costs as an
allocation base is shown below:
POR = Estimated manufacturing overhead = 675,000.00 = 100% of prime cost

Estimated prime cost 675,000.00
The amount to be applied to Job no. 452 and Job no. 453 assuming prime cost of 320 for
each, the application of estimated manufacturing overhead looks the following:
Prime cost 320 320
Manufacturing overhead applied 320 X 100% = 320 320 X 100% = 320
Prime cost as an allocation suffers the same limitation of direct material and direct labor
cost.
Illustration 2 - Job order costing

To illustrate the procedures used to accumulate and assign costs to a job in job order
costing system, assume that ALDER Furniture Factory has three jobs in the coming year
– Job no. 555, Job no. 556, and Job no. 557. Job No. 555 is a job order received from
Wollo University for 1,000 student chairs, and Job no. 556 is production of 30 coffee
tables for stock, and Job no. 557 is production of 20 cupboards for stock. To keep the
illustration simple, assume there is no beginning inventory of, work in process, and
finished good.
1. The beginning inventory of direct materials consisted of:
 Material A------------22,400.00
 Material B------------15,600.00
 Material C------------21,000.00
Total ----------------59,000.00
2. Direct materials amounting to 124,000.00 are purchased on January 26 from Tadu
Wood Processing, terms 2/10, n/60. The details are:
 Material A------------- 2,000.00
 Material B------------32,000.00
59
 Material C------------80,000.00
 Material D ----------- 4,000.00
Total --------------118, 000.00
The following journal entry is required to record the purchase:
Debit Credit
Direct materials, and supplies - control 124,000.00
Account payable 124,000.00
The direct materials and supplies account is a controlling account of the three types of
direct materials, A, B, and C. The individual items will be posted to their respective
subsidiary ledger.
3. Production is to commence and the following materials are issued:
 Material B---------------- 20,000.00
 Material C--------------- 12,000.00
The issuance of direct materials is a change that needs to be recorded.
Debit Credit
Direct materials and supplies –control 32,000.00
Know a separate Job cost sheet is needed to accumulate cost of each job. Assume from
the total materials, the three jobs are to be charged in the following way:
 Job 555---------- 12,800.00
 Job 556------------6,400.00
 Job 557 ----------12,800.00
Total--------------32,000.00
Job Cost sheet
Date completed: February 20, 2018
Item 4154 – student chair
For: Customer Wollo University
60
Date Req. Amount Date Hrs. Amount Date DLC Rate Amt.
No.
Jan. 28 906 12,800.00 Jan. 31 100 2,000.00 Feb. 13,200 .7 9,240
2018 2018 28
Feb.14 909 24,000.00 Feb. 28 560 11,200.00 2018
2018 2018
Job Cost sheet

Date completed: February 12, 2018
Item 4152 – Coffee tables
For stock
Date Req. Amount Date Hrs. Amount Date DLC Rate Amt.
No.
Jan. 28 906 6,400.00 Jan. 31 50 1,000.00 Feb. 6,600 .7 4,620
2018 2018 28
Feb. 14 909 12,000.00 Feb. 28 280 5,600.00 2018
2018 2018
Job Cost sheet

Date completed: March 28, 2018
Item 4152 – Cupboard
For stock
Date Req. Amount Date Hrs Amount Date DLC Rate Amt.
No. .
61
Jan. 28 906 12,400.00 Jan. 31, 100 2,000.00 Feb.28 13,200 .7 9,240
2018 2018 2018
Feb. 14 909 24,000.00 Feb. 28 560 11,200.00
2018 2018
4. The total direct labor cost totaled 25,000.00, out of which 20,000.00 is indirect.
The journal entry to record the payroll for the month is as follows:
Debit Credit
Manufacturing overhead 20,000.00
Wages payable. 25,000.00
The total direct labor cost is to be charged to the three jobs in the following manner: Job
no. 555 and Job no. 557 are to be charged 40% each, and Job no. 556 is charged 20%.
The amount then filled on the job cost sheet (refer the job cost sheet).
5. Additional raw materials are issued amounting to Birr 78,000.00. The detail is
shown below:
 Direct material A -------------- 18,000.00
 Direct material B ---------------23,000.00
 Direct material C---------------31,000.00
 Direct material D-----------------6,000.00
Total -------------------------78,000.00
Out of the total 78,000.00, materials amounting to Birr 18,000 are indirect materials like
glues. The journal entry to record the issuance of the direct and indirect materials issued
looks the following:
Debit Credit
Direct material and supplies- control 78,000.00
The three jobs are charged the 60,000.00 direct materials in the following manner:
62
 Job no. 555 ---------- 24,000.00
 Job no. 556----------- 12,000.00
 Job no. 557 ---------- 24,000.00
Thus, the job cost sheet is filled for the direct materials (refer the job cost sheet)
6. Indirect manufacturing costs incurred during the month totaled Birr 4,000.00. the
journal entry to record the actual manufacturing overhead is as follows:
Debit Credit
Sundry accounts 4,000.00
7. The payroll for the month of July totaled 48,000.00. The indirect labor cost is Birr
20,000. The direct labor cost is charged to the three Jobs – Job no. 555, Job no.
556, and Job no. 557 in 40%, 20%, and 40% respectively. The following journal
entry is required to record the payroll for the month of February.
Debit Credit
The job cost sheets will be charged in the percentage given above. Look at the job cost sheet.
Activity:
Question 2: Discuss how the direct labor and indirect labor used in production
are recorded in manufacturing firm?___________________________________
8. Manufacturing overhead is applied at 70% of direct labor cost. The following
journal entry is required to record the manufacturing overhead applied to the three
jobs.
Debit Credit
To record manufacturing overhead applied
63
The manufacturing overhead applied will be charged to the three jobs in the following
manner. Refer to the job cost sheet.
Jobs Direct labor Overhead rate Manufacturing
cost overhead applied
Job no. 555 13,200.00 70% 9,240.00
Job no. 556 6,600.00 70% 4,620.00
Job no. 557 13,200.00 70% 9,240.00
9. Other manufacturing cost for the month of February totaled 19,800.00. The
journal entry to record the actual manufacturing overhead is as follows.
Debit Credit
Manufacturing overhead – control 19,800.00
Sundry Accounts 19,800.00
10. Job no. 555 and Job 556 are completed and transferred to the finished good
inventory warehouse. To record the transfer, the job cost sheet must be
summarized. The summary of the two job cost sheets gives a total cost amount of
Birr 59,240.00 and Birr 29,620.00 respectively. The journal entry to record the
transfer looks the following:
Debit Credit
To record the transfer of units
completed
Job 555 is for 1,000 Student chairs, and Job 556 is for 30 Coffee tables. Thus, the unit
cost of each product is Birr 59.24 and 987.30 respectively. The following table shows the
computation of unit cost of items produced.
Job no. 555 Job no. 556
Total cost of production 59,240.00 29,620.00
64
Number of units produced 1,000 30
Cost per unit 59.24 987.30
11. St. Mary’ College has paid Birr 85 per chair, and 5 coffee tables are sold for Birr
1,400.00 each during the month of February. The journal entry to record the sale
of the Student chairs and coffee tables is follows:
Debit Credit
Cash 92,000.00
Sales 92,000.00
Since a perpetual inventory system is used, a separate record is maintained for cost of
goods sold. The journal entry to record the cost of goods sold is as follows:
Debit Credit
Cost of goods sold 64,176.5
The unfinished job, job no. 557 represents the work in process at the end of the month of
February.
Activity:
Question 3: List out the procedures followed in job order costing system ?
3.2.2. Actual Costing versus Normal Costing
The use of an applied overhead instead of an actual overhead has the advantage of
timeliness, and hence relevance for timely decision making. However, the amount may
not be as accurate as the actual overhead cost. But the actual cost is known only at the
end of the period, and thus product costing is impossible before the year ends. Actual
costing thus makes product costing untimely, and this in turn affect decisions like product
pricing, and controlling operations. Therefore, most firms use an applied overhead cost
than actual cost for indirect manufacturing costs.
65
Normal costing is a costing system where the actual direct material and direct labor are
added to the work in process inventory at the actual amount, and overhead costs are
applied to the work in process inventory using a predetermined overhead rate. The term
normal comes from the idea that the rate is normalized over a long period of time.
Actual costing is a costing system where direct material and direct labor costs are traced
to the job at their actual amounts, and overhead costs are allocated using actual overhead.
Since manufacturing overhead costs cannot be directly traced to each job in an
economically feasible way, still the amount charged to each job is simply an allocated
amount. The difference is simply the use of an actual overhead than an estimated
overhead. Still the amount charged to each job does not represent the exact amount of
what the job actually consumed. The accuracy in regard to the actual amount of overhead
depends on the accuracy of the allocation base.
The table below shows summary of actual and normal costing
Cost Assignment Actual costing Normal costing

Direct material Tracing Actual Actual
Direct labor Tracing Actual Actual
Manufacturing overhead Allocation Actual over head Estimated
rate X actual cost overhead rate X
driver used actual amount
of cost driver
3.2.3. Disposition of Over and Under Applied Overhead
Under normal costing, the actual amount of manufacturing overhead costs at the end of
the period rarely matches with the applied manufacturing overhead costs during that same
period. Often the applied amount may either be less or more than the actual amount. If
the amount of manufacturing overhead is less than the actual amount, the difference is
66
said under applied overhead or under absorbed overhead. When the reverse is true, the
difference is said over applied overhead or over absorbed overhead.
Under and over applied overhead at the end of one fiscal year should not be carried to the
upcoming periods; rather they should be disposed off in the year the difference occurs.
The disposition of under and over applied overhead costs can take one of the following
two ways. One way of disposing the under applied or over applied overhead is to charge
directly to cost of goods sold. Suppose that the manufacturing overhead – control has a
debit balance of Birr 607,500, and the manufacturing costs applied is Birr 540,000. The
under applied manufacturing overhead cost can thus be disposed to cost of goods sold in
the following manner:
Debit Credit
Manufacturing over head applied 540,000.00
Manufacturing overhead -control 607,500.00
The applied manufacturing overhead is a contra account to manufacturing overhead

control, and thus, the normal balance for the applied manufacturing overhead is credit. At
the end of the period both must be closed. The applied manufacturing overhead is debited
and the manufacturing overhead is credited, and any difference is closed to cost of goods
sold.
Under and over applied overhead costs can also be disposed off by prorating to work in
process, finished good inventory and cost of goods sold. Assume the following
information is pertaining to Awash Manufacturing Company:
67
End of year balance Manufacturing overhead allocated
before proration component of year-end-balances
(before proration)
Work in process 11,400.00 3,907.00
Finished good 18,600.00 7,814.00
Cost of goods sold 427,500.00 183,629.00
Total 457,500.00 195,350.00
Further, assume that the manufacturing overhead control account shows a debit balance
of Birr 192,650.00, which shows an over applied balance of Birr 2,700.00. The over
applied amount of manufacturing overhead will be prorated to work in process, finished
good, and cost of goods sold. The proration base may be on the basis of the
manufacturing overhead applied to the three accounts, or on the respective balance of the
three accounts. Prorating on the basis of the manufacturing overhead applied is
theoretical sound than using the year-end balance. The table below shows the proration
process:
Account Account Manufacturing Proration of the Account balance

balance overhead applied over allocated after proration
(%) overhead
Work in process 11,400.00 3,907.00 = 2% 2% X 2,700.00 11,346.00
=54
Finished good 18,600.00 7,814.00 = 4% 4% X 2,700.00 18,492.00
=108
Cost of goods sold 427,500.00 183,629.00=94% 94% X 2,700 424,962.00
=2,538.00
Total 457,500.00 195,350.00 2,700.00 454,800.00
The following journal entry is required to show the proration of the over allocated
overhead.
68
Debit Credit
Work in process 54.00
Finished good 108.00
The over allocated amount is prorated and the balance of work in process, finished good,
and cost of goods sold is reduced. The amount is reduced because the costs of the three
accounts initially charged higher than the actual, and thus the balance must be reduced.
The over allocated amount can be prorated on the basis of the year-end balance of the
respective accounts as well. The following table shows the proration of the over allocated
cost on the basis of the year-end balance of the three accounts.
Account Account Proration of the over allocated Account

balance overhead balance after
proration
Work in process 11,400.00 11,400/457,500.00 = 2.5% 11,332.50
2.5% X 2,700.00 = 67.5
Finished good 18,600.00 18,600.00/457,500.00 = 4% 18,492.00
4% X 2,700.00 = 108
Cost of goods sold 427,500.00 427,500.00/457,500.00 = 93.5% 424,975.50
93.5% X 2,700.00 = 2,524.5
Total 457,500.00 2,700.00 454,800.00
The journal entry is the same except that the amount is different. The journal entry looks
the following:
Debit Credit
Work in process 67.50
69
Activity:
Question 3: Distinguish between actual and normal costing?
Question 4: what we mean by under and over applied over head and Describe
alternative ways to dispose of under or over allocated indirect costs
3.3. Process Costing System
As discussed in the previously, a firm’s cost flow parallels the flow of operations, and
therefore, the production process influences the choice of cost accounting system. Firms
producing distinct and unique products use job order costing whereas firms producing
similar or identical units use process-costing system. Process costing system accumulate
costs by department for a period of time, just as a job order costing system accumulate
costs by job, and the total cost then will be assigned to the units produced during that
period.
In process costing system, each unit is assumed to take equal amount of direct material,
direct labor and manufacturing overhead. The difference between job order and process
costing system is, thus, the extent of the averaging used to compute unit cost. In job order
costing each job differs in terms of material used, labor incurred, and manufacturing
overhead. Hence, it is impossible to assign the same cost for different jobs. On the
contrary, identical units produced in mass took equal amount of direct material, direct
labor, and manufacturing overhead. Thus, the unit cost can be found by dividing total
cost by the number of units produced.
3.3.1. Cost Accumulation Methods in Process Costing System
When a firm produces identical lots of goods repetitively, maintaining a separate job cost
sheet would be unnecessarily expensive. The aggregate cost and the unit cost can be
70
computed without a job cost sheet, thus saving the costs associated with producing such
records. Costs accumulate by department over a certain period and the unit cost can be
found by dividing the total cost to the units produced during that period. Process costing
system fit among others to, paint manufacturers, oil refineries, sugar refineries, and salt
producers.
In process costing system, manufacturing costs, direct material, direct labor, and
manufacturing overhead costs are accumulated in the same way as job order costing
system. However, the costs are accumulated by department over some period of time than
by individual jobs. The time period over which the cost is to be accumulated depends on
the information needs of the company. It can be a week, two weeks, but no longer than a
month most often. Cost accumulation is much simpler for a process costing system than
for a job order cost system.
Illustration on process costing:

AFDER Salt Processing Share Company is engaged in processing and producing bar salt
for animals. The physical flow of production is given in the diagram below:
Crushing and
Sizing
Packaging
The process costing system of AFDER Salt Processing Share Company has three cost
categories; direct material cost, direct labor and manufacturing overhead cost. The direct
material is added at the beginning of the Crushing and Sizing process in the Crushing and
Sizing Department and Conversion costs are added through out the crushing and sizing
process. Had two different types of materials been used, two different direct materials
71
categories would be needed to assign these costs to products. If the direct labor cost, and
manufacturing overhead are used uniformly, the company can maintain only two cost
accounts; direct material and conversion cost. The manufacturing overhead is applied to
each department on the basis of some factor just as job order costing system. For this
illustration, direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead are reported
separately. Only two accounts can be maintained, direct material and conversion cost,
when direct labor and manufacturing overhead are added evenly through out the
production process.
To utterly illustrate process-costing system, we assume three cases.
Case 1 – process costing with zero beginning and ending work in process; that is all
units are started and completed in the same period.
Direct materials- material requisitions form the basis for issuing material to production
in the same way as job order costing system. Normally fewer requisitions are required as
compared to job order costing system as firms using process costing system manufactures
only a single product in a continues operation. Materials are required when a batch of
manufacturing is started. The number of requisition depends on how often a batch of
product is started.
The entry to record the issuance of direct material is the same as job order costing
system, but since costs are assigned to a department than a job, it is important to
departmentalize the work in process account. Suppose, the materials issued to the
Crushing and Sizing Department at the beginning of the month totaled Birr 240,000.00,
the following entry is required to record the transaction:
Jan. 1 Work in process – Crushing and Sizing 240,000.00

Direct material and supplies inventory 240,000.00
72
Direct labor – payroll costs for a specified time period is accumulated for the
department. It is not necessary to punch in and out the time card whenever new batches
are started since the units produced are similar, and thus, should absorb the same cost.
However, if an employee works for two departments regularly, there is a need to keep
record of the time spent on each department.
Suppose that the direct labor cost of AFDER Salt Processing Share Company for the
month of January is Birr 72,000.00, the following journal entry is required to record the
payroll:

Manufacturing overhead – the manufacturing overhead is applied to the department

using a normal predetermined overhead rate. The important thing is to identify an
appropriate allocation base; direct labor cost, direct labor hours, machine hours, material
cost, or conversion cost. The under or over applied overhead will be disposed at the end
of the period in the same manner as it has been done with job order costing system.
Suppose the manufacturing overhead for AFDER Salt Processing Share Company is
determined to be 150% of direct labor cost. Thus, the entry to record the manufacturing
overhead applied to the Crushing and Sizing Department looks the following:

On January 1 of the current year, there was no work in process, and the Crushing and
Sizing Department transferred out 100,000 bar of animal salt to the packaging
department. Data for the Crushing and Sizing Department during the month is
summarized as follows:
Physical units for January
73
Work in process, January 1 0 units
Work started during January 100,000 bar salt
Completed and transferred out to the 100,000 bar salt
Packaging department
Work in process, January 31 0 units
Total cost for January

Item Amount
Direct material cost added during January 240,000.00
Direct labor incurred 72,000.00
Total cost added to the Crushing and Sizing 420,000.00
Department
The unit cost of the 100,000 bar salt produced can thus be calculated as follows:
Direct material cost per unit (240,000/100,000) 2.40
Direct labor cost per unit (72,000/100,000 0.72
Manufacturing overhead applied per unit (108,000/100/000) 1.08
Total cost per unit (420,000.00/100,000) 4.20
As shown from the above table, the unit cost is calculated by dividing the total cost
during a period by the total units produced in that period. Each unit is charged the same
amount of material cost, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead, as they are
homogenous.
The transfer of the 100,000 units to the packaging department would be recorded in the
following way: The balance of work in process – Crushing and Sizing Department is Birr
420,000.00 which is the summation of direct material placed in production, direct labor
costs incurred and the manufacturing overhead applied.
74
Jan. 31 Work in process – Packaging 420,000.00
Work in process - Crushing and Sizing 420,000.00
Case 2 – process costing with no beginning work in process but some ending work in
process inventory.
Suppose that AFDER Salt Processing Share Company started another 120,000 units of
bar salt in the month of February. Since all units started in January are transferred to the
packaging department, there is no beginning work in process of bar salt at the beginning
of the month. From the total started during the month of February, 90,000 units are
completed and 30,000 units remain just partially processed at the end of the month. The
production data for the month of February is given below:
Physical units for February
Work in process – February 1 0 units
Units started during February 120,000
Units completed and transferred out 90,000
Work in process – February 28 30,000
The 30,000 units that are left partially processed at the end of the month are complete
with respect to materials because direct material is paced in the department at the
beginning of the production process. The direct labor and manufacturing overhead,
however, are placed to production throughout the production process. An estimate made
by the production engineer, the work in process left at the end of the time is 75%
complete with respect to direct labor, and 60% complete with respect to manufacturing
overhead. The direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead applied is
summarized below:
Total cost for February
Items Cost
Total cost of the Crushing and Sizing Department 490,500.00
during February
75
The journal entry required to record the issuance of direct material, the payroll, and
manufacturing overhead applied is the same as the previous case. How much is the cost
of units completed and the work in process as of February 28 is question to be addressed
by the second case. The cost of units completed and transferred out and work in process
can be calculated using the following five steps:
 Step 1 – Summarize the flow of physical units of output
 Step 2 – Compute output in terms of equivalent units
 Step 4 – Compute equivalent unit cost
 Step 4 – Summarize total cost to account for
 Step 5 – Assign total costs to units completed and to units in the ending work in
process
Physical units and equivalent units (step 1 and 2)

The physical unit is about the work started during the period. In the illustration, 120,000
units are started but only 90,000 units are completed. The remaining 30,000 units
represent the work in process at the end of the month. The ending work in process
inventory does not represent full units with respect to the three manufacturing costs like
units completed and transferred out. Such partially completed units must first be changed
in to equivalent units. Equivalent units of production represent the number of units that
could have been manufactured from start to finish given that quantity of each input
placed in production. The 30,000 units in the ending work in process inventory are 100%
complete with respect to direct material, 75% complete with respect to direct labor and
60% complete with respect to manufacturing overhead. Hence, the equivalent unit with
respect to direct material is 30,000 units, which is 30,000 X 100%. This means that the
ending work in process inventory is fully complete with respect to direct material. With
respect to direct labor, the ending work in process inventory is complete 75%, and thus,
the direct labor equivalent unit is 22,500 (30,000 X 75%). The equivalent unit with
respect to manufacturing overhead is 18,000 units, which is 30,000 X 60%.
76
Equivalent units
Flow of production Physical Direct Direct labor Manufacturing
units material overhead
Work in process - Feb. 1 0
Started during current 120,000
period
To account for 120,000
Completed and transferred 90,000 90,000 90,000 90,000
out
Work in process – Feb 28 30,000 30,000 22,500 18,000
Work done in the current 120,000 112,500 108,000
period
The 90,000 units are 100% complete with respect to all the three manufacturing cost,
direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. The 30,000 units of work in
process as of Feb. 28 are 100% complete with respect to direct material, 75% complete
with respect to direct labor, and 60% complete with respect to manufacturing overhead.
Activity:
Question 5:
i. for the current period, Mart started 15,000 units and completed 10,000 units,
leaving 5,000 units in process 30 percent complete. How many equivalent
units of production did mart have for the period?
ii. Explain equivalent units? Why are equivalent unit calculations necessary for
process costing?
Calculation of product costs (step 3, 4, 5)

The direct labor material cost of Birr 288,000 is to produce 120,000 units, whereas the
direct labor cost of Birr 86,400.00 is to produce 112,500 units, and the manufacturing
overhead applied of Birr 129,600.00 is to produce 108,000 units. The table below shows
the equivalent unit cost, the total cost to account for, and the cost of the finished good and
work in process inventory. It is called production cost work sheet.
Item Total production Direct material Direct labor Manufacturing
cost overhead
Costs added 490,500.00 288,000.00 81,000.00 121,500.00
77
during Feb.
Equivalent unit 120,000 112,500 108,000
Per unit cost 288,000/120,000 81,000/112500 121,500/108,000
2.40 0.72 1.125
Completed and 382,050.00 2.4 X 90,000 0.72 X 90,000 1.125 X 90,000
transferred out 216,000.00 64,800.00 101,250
(90,000 units)
Work in process - 108,450.00 2.4 X 30,000 0.72 X 22,500 1.125 X 18,000
Feb. 28 (30,000 72,000.00 16,200.00 20,250.000
units)
Total cost to 490,500.00
account for
The cost of goods transferred out to the packaging department equals 382,050.00, and
thus the unit cost is Birr 4.245, where as the work in process inventory at the end of the
period amounts to Birr 108,450.00. The following journal entry is required to record the
transfer of the units completed and transferred out to the next department:
Work in process – Packaging 382,050.00
Work in process – Crushing and Sizing 382,050.00
Case 3 – process costing with both some beginning and ending work in process
The work in process at the end of February becomes the beginning inventory of March.
Suppose that AFDER Salt Processing Share Company started another 150,000 units
during the month of March, and 140,000 units are completed and transferred out, 40,000
units remain unfinished. The following table contains data for the Crushing and Sizing
78
Department in March:
Physical units in March
Work in process – March 1 30,000
Direct material 100% complete
Direct labor 75% complete
Manufacturing overhead 60% complete
Units started during March 150,000
Units to account for 180,000
Completed and transferred out 140,000
Direct material 100% complete
Direct labor 60% complete
Manufacturing overhead 48% complete
Total cost incurred during the month of March is shown in the table below:
Work in process – March 1
Direct materials (30,000 X 2.40) 72,000.00
Direct labor (22,500 X 0.768) 16,200.00
Manufacturing overhead (18,000 X 1.20) 20,250.00
108,450.00
Manufacturing costs added during March:
Direct material cost 375,000.00
Direct labor cost incurred 118,080.00
Total costs incurred during March 670,200.00
Total cost to account for 778,650.00
The peculiar thing for this case is how to assign costs to the work in process as of March
31. In this regard, there are two alternatives in how to assign costs to units completed and
transferred out, and work in process: one is to use a weighted average unit cost of
production (cost of the beginning work in process plus cost of production incurred during
the period), and the other is to use the FIFO method to determine unit costs. FIFO
assumes costs flow in the order the cost is incurred. The first units to be completed are
79
from the beginning work in process, and the cost incurred during the current period is
used first to complete the beginning work in process, then to complete units started in the
current period and finally to ending work in process.
THE WEIGHTED AVERAGE METHOD

The weighted average method accumulates costs incurred to date (both the work in
process cost at the beginning of the period as well as production costs incurred during the
current month). The total cost accumulated then is assigned to the equivalent units
completed and transferred out and units in the ending work in process inventory. The
weighted average cost is the total cost entered the work in process account to date divided
by the total equivalent units of work done to date. Analogous to the previous case, the
following five steps should be followed to determine the unit cost of production:
Step 1: Summarize the physical flow of outputs - the summary of the physical flow of
outputs shows from where the units came and where they go. The underneath table shows
the physical flow of goods for AFDER Salt Processing Share Company for the month of
March:
Flow of production Physical Equivalent units
units
Direct Direct Manufacturing
material labor overhead applied
Work in process – March 1. 30,000
Total units to account for 180,000
Completed and transferred out 140,000 140,000 140,000 140,000
Direct material 100% 40,000
Direct labor 60% complete 24,000
Manufacturing overhead 48% 19,200
Work done to date 180,000 164,000 159,200
80
Step 2 – Compute out put in terms of equivalent units
All units that entered the manufacturing process are complete with respect to direct
material as direct materials are placed at the beginning of the production process in the
department. However, it is only the completed and transferred amount that is 100%
complete with respect to direct labor and manufacturing overhead. The ending work in
process is only partially complete with respect to direct labor and manufacturing
overhead. Suppose the ending work in process is 60% complete with respect to direct
labor, and 48% complete with respect to manufacturing overhead. Hence, the equivalent
unit of production with respect to direct labor is 24,000 units (40,000 X 60%), and the
equivalent unit of production with respect to manufacturing overhead is 19,200 units
(40,000 X 48%).
Step 3 – Compute equivalent unit cost

The weighted average equivalent unit cost is obtained by dividing the sum of costs in the
beginning work in process inventory and cost of work done in the current period by total
equivalent units of work done to date. The equivalent unit cost for direct material is equal
to the direct material cost of the work in process at the beginning of the month plus direct
material cost placed in production during March divided by total equivalent units to date
with respect to direct material. Similarly, the equivalent unit cost for direct labor and
manufacturing overhead is calculated by adding total cost of direct labor and
manufacturing overhead to date and then diving the sum by equivalent units of
production with respect to direct labor and manufacturing overhead. The table in the
following page shows the equivalent unit production with respect to direct material,
direct labor, and manufacturing overhead.
Step 4 – Summarize total cost to account for

The total cost to account for is the sum of the three manufacturing costs of the beginning
work in process and manufacturing costs added to production in the month of March.
Step 5 – Assign costs to units completed and units in ending work in process inventory
The total cost of units completed and transferred out is computed by multiplying the
equivalent unit cost by total units completed. Like wise, the cost of ending work in
81
process is computed by multiplying the equivalent units with respect to direct material,
direct labor, and manufacturing overhead by the respective equivalent unit cost.
The table below summarizes the last three steps:
Total Direct Direct Manufacturing
production material labor overhead
cost
Work in process – March 1 108,450.00 72,000.00 16,200.00 20,250.00
Costs added during March 637,700.00 375,000.00 105,080.00 157,620.00
Costs incurred to date 746,150.00 447,000.00 121,280.00 177,870.00
Equivalent units 180,000 164,000 159,200
Cost per equivalent unit 2.483 0.739 1.117
Assignment of costs:
Units completed and 140,000
transferred out
Cost of units completed and 607,617.00 347,667.00 103,532.00 156,458.00
transferred out
Work in process March 31 138,533.00 99,333.00 17,748.00 21,452.00
As the table shows cost of goods manufactured is Birr 607,617.00, and the value of cost
of work in process as of March 31 is Birr 138,553.00. The journal entry to record the
transfer of the units completed and transferred out is as follows:

THE FIRST IN, FIRST OUT METHOD
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ACTIVITY:
Question 6: ABC Inc. furnisher the following data for August 2004, the department-
assembly:
Work in process, beginning inventory (August 1) = 0 units
Started during August = 5000 units
Completed and transferred = 3750 units
Work in process, ending inventory (August 31) = 1250 units
Direct material costs added during August = Br 125,000
Conversion costs added during August = 71,250
Total cost Br 196,250
Degree of completion in this department:
Direct materials 100%; conversions cost 80%.
Required :
Compute the equivalent units of production and cost per equivalent by using weighted
average method?
The first in, first out method assume that the first units to be completed are from the
beginning work in process, and thus assign the cost of the beginning work in process to
the first units completed. The cost of equivalent units worked during the current period is
assigned first to complete the beginning work in process, and then to start and complete
new units, and finally to units in ending work in process.
Under the first in, first out method, the cost of the work in process at the beginning of the
period is kept separate from the work done in the current period. Costs incurred in the
current period and equivalent units produced in the same period are used to calculate unit
cost per equivalent unit of work done in the current period. To illustrate the first in, first
out method of process costing, we assume the previous data for the month of March, and
the five steps are restated:
Step 1 – Summarize the flow of physical units

The first units to be completed are the 30,000 units of work in process at the beginning of
the period i.e., March 1. From the 150,000 units started during March, 110,000 units are
completed during the month, 40,000 units are left as work in process at the end of the
Month, March 31.
Step 2 – Compute out put in terms of equivalent units
The equivalent unit calculation under the first in first out method is different from that of
the weighted average method. The equivalent unit of the beginning work in process will
83
be kept separate from the equivalent units of the current month work done. The
equivalent unit of the current month work done includes the equivalent units used to
complete the beginning work in process, the equivalent units of the goods started and
completed during the current month, and the equivalent units of work in process at the
end of the month.
The following table shows the equivalent unit calculation for the current month work
done:
Flow of production Physical Equivalent units
units
Direct Direct Manufacturing
material labor overhead applied
Work in process – March 1. 30,000 (work done before the current month)
Completed and transferred 30,000 01 7,5002 12,0003
out from beginning work in
process
Started and completed 110,0000 110,000 110,000 110,000

during the current month
Work in process ending 40,000 40,000 24,000 19,200
Work done to date 150,000 141,500 141,200
The ending work in process is 100% complete with respect to direct material as direct
material is placed at the beginning of operation, and 60% complete with respect to direct
labor, and 48% complete with respect to manufacturing overhead. Thus, the equivalent
unit from the ending work in process is 40,000, 24,000, and 19,200 with respect to direct
material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead respectively.
1
Since the work in process is 100% complete with respect to direct material, no direct material is added to
the beginning work in process.
2
Since the beginning work in process is 75% complete with respect to direct labor, the amount left is just
only 25%. Thus, the equivalent unit added during the current month is 7,500.00 with respect to direct
material i.e., 30,000 X 25%
3
The work in process is 60% complete with respect to manufacturing overhead, and thus, the amount
required to complete is 40%. Thus the current month equivalent unit to complete the beginning work in
process with respect to manufacturing overhead is 12,000.00 i.e., 30000 X 40%
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Step 3 – Compute Equivalent Unit Costs
The total manufacturing costs incurred during the current month, and the equivalent units
of production during the same period are used to calculate the equivalent unit costs.
Step 4 – Summarize total cost to account for

The total cost to account for is the summation of cost of work in process at the beginning
of the period, and the total manufacturing cost incurred during the current period.
Step 5 – Assign costs to units completed and to units in ending work in process
The equivalent unit costs for the work done in the current period are first used to
complete the beginning work in process, then to units started and completed during the
current period, and then to the ending work in process. The table on the next page
exhibits cost assignment.
production material labor overhead
cost
Work in process – March 1 108,450.00 (costs before the current month)
Costs added during March 637,700.00 375,000.00 105,080.00 157,620.00
Equivalent units of work done in the 150,000 141,500 141,200
current period
Cost per equivalent per unit for the 2.50 0.743 1.116
work done in the current period
Assignment of costs
Completed and transferred during the
current month (140,000 units)
From beginning WIP 30,000 units 108,450.00
Direct material 0 (no material is added in the current month)
Direct labor 5,570.00 0.742 X 7,500 units
Manufacturing overhead 13,395.00 1.116 X 12,000 units
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Total from beginning inventory 127,415.00
Started and completed
Units started and completed during the
current month:
Direct material 275.000.00 (2.50 X 110,000)
Direct labor 81,688.00 (0.743 X 110,000)
Manufacturing overhead 122,792.00 (1.116 X 110,000)
Started and completed units 479,480.00
Total cost of units completed 606,895.00
Work in process March 31:
Manufacturing overhead 21,432.00 139,255.00
The following journal entries are required to record the issuance of direct material, direct
labor, manufacturing overhead, and the transfer of units completed.

Inventory of Direct materials 375,000.00
To record issuance of direct material to production

Wage payable 105,080.00
To record payroll for the month

To record the manufacturing overhead applied
86
The work in process – Crushing and Sizing account has a beginning balance of
108,450.00, which is the value of the beginning work in process. The work in process
added during the current month is the summation of direct material, direct labor and
manufacturing overhead applied, which is 637,700.00. The total balance of the work in
process before recording the transfer of units completed is thus, 746,150.00. The
following journal entry is required to record the transfer of units completed:

The work in process – Crushing and Sizing has now a balance of 139,255.00, which
represent the value of the ending work in process.
3.3.2. Standard costing method of process costing
The weighted average and the FIFO method become very complicated when a company
produces a wide variety of similar products. For instance, a Steel-processing factory can
produce different sizes of various steel alloys that differ in terms of the total direct
material used, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. If broad averaging of actual
costing is used, the different products will be charged inaccurate amount of costs. Under
the standard costing method, a team from different department set standard cost per
equivalent unit on the basis of the different technical processing specifications for each
product. Each product will then be charged using the standard cost per equivalent unit.
Use of standard costing overcomes the disadvantages of a single average actual process
costing.
Suppose a team organized to set standard cost per equivalent unit in the previous example
of AFDER Salt Processing Share Company has reached on the following standard costs:
Direct material 2.40 per unit
Direct labor 0.72 per unit
Manufacturing overhead 1.08 per unit
Total 4.20
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The five steps will also be used here in standard costing. The first and second step has
been done in the following table. The remaining steps are given beneath the table below:
Physical Equivalent units
units
Direct Direct Man.
material labor Overhead
Work in process – March 1 30,000 Work done before the current month
Direct material (100% complete)
Direct labor (75% complete)
Manufacturing overhead (60%
complete)
Started during March 150,000
Completed and transferred out from 30,000.00 0 7,500 12,000
beginning work in process
Started and completed during March 110,000 110,000 110,000 110,000
Work in process – March 31 40,000 40,000 24,000 19,200
Direct material (100% complete)
Direct labor (60% complete)
Manufacturing overhead (48%
complete)
Total units tom account for 180,000
Work done in the current period only 150,000 141,500 141200
The total cost to account for is the amount that is found using the standard cost amount,
which may be different from the actual cost. Any variance from the actual cost is closed
to the direct material variance, direct labor variance, or manufacturing overhead variance.
88
production cost material labor overhead
Standard cost per equivalent unit 2.40 0.72 1.08
Work in process – March 1 107,640.00 72,000.00 16,200.00 19,440.00
Costs added during March at 614,376.00 360,000.00 101,880.00 152,496.00
standard cost
Assignment of costs:
Completed and transferred during
the current month (140,000 units)
WIP – March 1 (30,000 units) 107,640.00
Direct material added current 0 (no material is added in the current month)
period
Direct labor 5,400.00 0.72 X 7,500 units
Manufacturing overhead 12,960.00 1.08 X 12,000 units
Total from beginning inventory 126,000.00
Started and completed (110,000 462,000.00 264,000.00 79,200.00 118,800.00
units)
Total cost of units completed 588,000.00
Work in process March 31: (40,000
units)
134,016.00
The actual cost incurred is recorded in the following manner:

Direct labor control - Crushing and Sizing Department 105,080.00
Wage payable 105,080.00
To record payroll for the month
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Manufacturing Overhead control – Crushing and Sizing
Department ---------------------------------------------------------- 157,620.00
Various accounts ---------------------------------------------- 157,620.00
If the manufacturing overhead applied is based on standard costing, it will be recorded in

the following manner:
Work in process – Crushing and Sizing Department 157,620.00
The variance between standard costing and actual costing is recorded in the following
way:
Direct material variance 15,000.000
Direct materials control – Crushing and Sizing Department 375,000.000
To record actual direct material used and direct material

variance

Direct labor variance 3,200.00
Direct labor control – Crushing and Sizing Department 105,080.00
To record actual direct labor incurred and direct labor variance
The manufacturing overhead variance is recoded only if the actual manufacturing

overhead is used. If the manufacturing overhead is applied, the applied by itself is part of
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the standard cost, and thus, no variance. Suppose that the manufacturing overhead
charged to job is based on actual cost, the journal entry to record the variance is then as
follows:
Manufacturing overhead variance 5,124.00
Manufacturing overhead control – Crushing and Sizing
Department--------------------------------------------------------- 157,620.00
To record actual manufacturing overhead and manufacturing
overhead variance
3.3.3. Transferred in costs
As units move from one department to the other, the related costs are also transferred by
using journal entries. A cost transferred from a preceding department is called
Transferred in cost, or cost of the preceding department or previous department cost. The
costs of the next department then contain four elements: transferred in costs, direct
material cost, direct labor cost, and manufacturing overhead costs. Transferred in costs
are considered as a separate type of direct material added at the beginning of the process.
In other words, when successive departments are involved, the cost of the preceding
department become part of the direct material cost of the next department. However,
transferred in costs are not considered as cost of direct material. Assume that the
Packaging Department of AFDER Salt Processing Share Company have a beginning
work in process inventory of 24,000 units, and the units transferred from the Crushing
and Sizing Department in the month of March is 140,000 units. Further, direct labor and
manufactured overhead are applied evenly through out the Packaging department. Thus,
direct labor and manufacturing overhead are combined as conversion cost.
3.3.3.1. Transferred in Costs and the Weighted Average Method

The five steps of process costing are restated here to account for and assign costs in the
Packaging Department.
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Flow of production Transferred in Direct Conversion
costs material cost costs
WIP – Beginning 24,000
Transferred in during 140,000
the current month
Completed and 120,000 120,000 120,000 120,000
transferred out
WIP – ending 44,0000 44,000 0 35,200
Accounted for 164,000
Work done 164,000 120,000 155,200
Step 1 and 2 physical units and equivalent units

The Packaging Department has a beginning inventory of 24,000 units that are 100%
complete with respect to transferred in costs as the beginning work in process are
completed units of the preceding department. Packaging materials are added at the end of
the production process in the Packaging Department, and therefore, the beginning work
in process is 0% complete with respect to direct material. Assume that the beginning
work in process is 50% complete with respect to conversion costs. Suppose that 120,000
units are completed and become finished goods, and 44,000 units remained as ending
work in process at the end of March. The ending work in process in the department is
100% complete with respect to transferred in costs, and 0% complete with respect to
direct material (materials are added in the department at the end of the production
process). Suppose that the ending work in process is 80% complete with respect to
conversion cost. The table on the next page shows how the physical units and equivalent
units are determined.
Assume that the following costs are incurred in the Packaging Department in the month
of March.
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Transferred in costs4 607,617.00
Conversion costs 116,400.00
The cost of the work in process account at the beginning of the period is given below:
Direct material 0
Total 114,600.00
The direct material cost is 0 for the beginning work in process of the Packaging
Department since materials are placed at the end of the production process in the
Packaging Department.
The equivalent unit cost and the assignment of costs to units completed and work in
process is summarized in the table below:
Total Transferred in Direct material Conversion
production cost costs costs
WIP – beginning 114,600.00 105,600.00 0 9,000.00
Costs added in 784,017.00 607,617.006 60,000.00 116,400.00
current period
Costs incurred to 713,217.00 60,000.00 125,400.00
date
Equivalent unit 4.35 0.50 0.81
cost to date
4
The costs of units completed in the Crushing and Sizing Department using the Weighted Average method.
5
The costs of the work in process in the Packaging department at the beginning of March, which is
transferred from the preceding department (Crushing and Sizing). It includes cost of direct material, direct
labor, and manufacturing overhead.
6
The cost of the 140,000 units transferred from the Crushing and Sizing Department in the current month
to the Packaging Department.
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account for
Cost of units 678,825.00 4.35X120,000 0.5X120,000 0.81X120,00
completed 521,866.00 60,000.00 96,959.00
(120,000) units
WIP – ending 219,792.00 191,351.00 0 28,441.00
account for
There is some rounding error.
Units completed in the Packaging department are finished goods and the following
journal entry is required to show the transfer of the goods from the Packaging department
to the finished good warehouse:

3.3.3.2. Transferred in Costs and the First In, First Out Method
The equivalent unit cost determination is the same as it has been done for the Crushing
and Sizing Department except for the addition of transferred in costs. The five steps are
restated:
Step 1 and 2 – physical units and equivalent units

Flow of production Transferred in Direct Conversion
costs material cost costs
WIP – Beginning 24,000
Transferred in during 140,000
the current month
Completed and 120,000
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transferred out:
From the WIP – beg. 0 24,000 12,000
Started and completed 96,000 96,000 96,000
WIP – ending 44,0000 44,000 0 35,200
Work done 140,000 120,000 143,200.00
The following costs are incurred in the current period:

Direct material 0
Total 114,600.00
Step 3 through 5 is given away in the underneath table:

Total Transferred Direct Conversion
production in costs material costs
cost
WIP – beginning 114,600.00 Costs before the current period work done
Costs added in 783,295.00 606,895.008 60,000.00 116,400.00
current period
Equivalent unit 4.33 0.50 0.81
cost in the current
period
account for
Completed and
7
The costs of the work in process in the Packaging department at the beginning of March, which is
transferred from the preceding department (Crushing and Sizing). It included cost of direct material, direct
labor, and manufacturing overhead.
8
The cost of the 140,000 units transferred from the Crushing and Sizing Department in the current month
to the Packaging Department.
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transferred out
WIP- beg. (24,000)
units 114,600.00
Costs added 21,754.00 0 12,000 9,754.00
Started and 542,191.00 416,157.00 48,000.00 78,034.00

completed
Total cost of units 678,545.00
completed and tra.
WIP –ending 219350.00 190,738.00 0 28,612.00
account for
The following journal entry is required to show the transfer of the 120,000 unit from the
production Department to the finished good warehouse.

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Activity:
Question 7. Assume the following data belongs to Dept. ‘A’ of XYZ Company for the month of February.
Quantities (Physical Units)
WIP, Beginning ……………………………………… 24,000
DM (100% Complete)
CC(40% Complete)
Started During February ………………………………. 50,000
Completed & transferred out during February………… 60,000
WIP, Ending …………………………………………… 14,000
DM (100% complete)
CC (50% Complete)
Total costs for the month:
WIP, beginning Inventory
DM…………………………………………….Br. 14,400
CC…………………………………………….. 13,440 Br. 27,840
Direct material costs added during the month …………. 22,600
Conversion costs added during the month …………….. 80,360
Total costs to account for ……………………………… Br. 130,800
Instruction:
Calculate: a) the cost of completed & transferred out units and the costs of End WIP,
By Using FIFO costing method
Several terms and concepts are used in cost allocation which include cost pool which
refers to the grouping of individual cost items. Two key decisions in relation to indirect
cost pools are the number of indirect cost pools that form them and the allowability of
individual cost items to be included in those cost pools. Cost object is the destination of
all costs allocated and the cost driver is the cause to incur cots. To allocate the costs to
products or services, several methods are used. A traditional approach is a method of
allocating by pooling all indirect costs in to one cost pool and using a single allocation
rate. It uses a single allocation base to allocate the overhead costs.
Job order costing is used by organizations whose production and services can be
identified by individual jobs, or units. Each job generally receives changing amount of
direct labor, direct material, and factory overhead. An organization using job order
costing system would accumulate production costs for each job produced. Since units in
different jobs use different amounts of direct labor, direct material, and factory overhead,
the cost per unit of for different jobs will differ. Industries that use job costing system
include Printing, construction, custom machinery production, furniture production…etc.
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Process costing systems are used in industries like chemical processing, oil refining, etc.
The key feature of process costing is the averaging of cots over a quantity of these like or
similar units. The five key steps in a process costing system using equivalent units are (a)
Summarize the flow of physical units of output, (b) Compute output in terms of
equivalent units, (c) Compute equivalent unit costs,(d) Summarize total cost to account
for and (e) assign these costs to units completed and to units in ending work in process.
An equivalent unit measures output in terms of the physical quantities of inputs necessary
to produce one fully complete unit of the product or service. Equivalent unit calculations
are necessary when all physical units of output are not uniformly completed.
Journal entries in a process costing system are similar to entries in a job costing system.
The main difference is that in a process costing system, there is a separate work in
process account for each department rather than for each job.
The weighted average method of process costing computes unit costs focusing on the
total costs and the total equivalent units completed to date and assigns this average cost to
units completed and to units in ending work in process inventory. The first in first out
(FIFO) method of process costing assigns unit costs of the earliest equivalent units
available to units completed, and the units costs of the most recent equivalent units
worked on during the period to ending work in process inventory.
Now, before proceeding to the next chapter, answer the following questions:
Part I: choose the best answer.
1. When the actual over head cost is greater than the applied over head cost we say that
over head is:
a) Under applied
b) Over applied
c) Over allocated
d) None
2. For the completion of work-In-Process inventory of end of accounting period,
additional costs required are:
a) Direct materials
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b) Direct labor
c) Factory over head
d) B and C
e) A and C
3. All are features of Job order costing system, except
a) Outputs are manufactured in jobs.
b) Products are not identical to satisfy identification.
c) The system accumulates costs applicable to each specific job.
d) Outputs are produced on continuous flows of goods
e) C and D
4. When the over applied factory over head is disposed through proration based on
ending balances of inventories and cost of goods sold,
a) After proration, the inventories balance increase than before
b) Cost of goods sold decrease after proration
c) The inventories balance decrease after proration
d) Gross profit increase after proration
e) All except ‘A’ are correct
5. When factory overhead under applied is disposed through write-off to cost of goods
sold,
a) Cost of goods sold after disposition increases
b) Gross profit increases for the amount charged to CGS
c) Gross profit decreases for the amount charges to CGS.
d) A and C
e) B and C
6. If a company has a policy of applying over head costs to products on the basis of
direct labor hours and if direct labor hours actually worked is 25,000 hours and
budgeted factory over head is 2 times actual direct labor hours used ,what is the
overhead cost applied to a product?
a) 25,000
b) 30,000
c) 50,000
d) 100,000
7. If the total manufacturing cost of enterprise is $ 210,000 and direct material, and
direct labor costs are $ 50,000 and $ 50,000, respectively and if at the end of an
accounting period factory overhead incurred was determined to be $ 108,000.
Based on this information we say that factory overhead is
a) Over applied by $ 92,000
b) Under applied by $ 18,000
c) Over applied by $ 2,000
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d) Under applied by $ 2000
8. WBO Company is army-gun producing company. It receives different job orders
through out the year, 2004. At the end of 2004 year, Job order SPL-A30 is
incomplete. The direct material cost of this job is $ 20,000 and direct labor used is $
30,000. The company applies factory overhead based on direct labor cost and
budgeted rate through out the year is 75%. Considering this information, what is the
cost of Job-SPL-A30?
a) 22,500
b) 72,500
c) 60,000
d) 75,000
9. One of the following is not a characteristic of process costing system
a) Units in one Department are transferred-out only upon completion.
b) Costs are accumulated for each Department, or Cost center.
c) Products are manufactured under mass production of homogeneous type of
products.
d) Unit cost will decrease as the units flow from Department to Department.
e) All of the above
f) None of the above
10. Which of the following is a feature of process costing system?
a) Outputs are manufactured in jobs.
b) Products are not identical to satisfy identification.
c) The system accumulates costs applicable to each specific job.
d) Outputs are produced on continuous flows of goods
e) B and D only
f) All of the above
11. For which of the following business organization would the process costing systems
be the most appropriate?
a) Custom furniture manufacturer
b) Commercial building contractor
c) Crude oil refinery
d) All
e) None of the above
12. The group of manufacturing costs referred to as “conversion costs” include:

a) Direct materials costs and direct labor costs
b) Direct materials and factory overhead costs
c) Direct labor costs and factory overhead costs
d) None of the above
100
13. Information relating to production in Department “A” for May is as follows:
May 1, balance, 1,000 units ¾ completed …………..$ 22,150
May 31, Direct materials, 5,000 units ………………75,000
May 31, Direct labor costs…………………………...32,500
May 31, factory overhead costs……………………..16,250
If 500 units were ¼ completed at the end of May,
5,500 units were completed during May, and inventories are costed by FIFO
method, what were the equivalent units of production for May?
A. 6,500 B 5,875 C. 7,500 D. None of the above
14. Based on the data presented in the question NO.13 above, what is the unit conversion
cost?
A. 20 B .35 C. 23 D. None of the above
Part II: Work out Questions
1. Summarized cost data for the year ended Sene 30, 2002 are presented below for
KURAZ Printing Press enterprise to illustrate job order costing system.
Assume that the enterprise has two jobs in process during the year, job No. 1 and No. 2.
Job No 1 was started in the previous year, and had beginning balance of $40,000 on the
Hamle 1, 1986. Job No. 2 was started in the current accounting period (Hamle 1, 2002).
The following transactions were occurred in the current accounting period (2002):-
1. Materials were purchased during the fiscal year at a total cost of $ 70,000 on account.
On Hamle 1, 2001, the material inventory account shows a balance of $ 15,000 Debit.
2. During the year, the cost of material requisitioned for production on both jobs amounts
Br. 60, 000, of this amount, the direct materials cost traceable to job No. 1 & job No.2
are Br 32,000 & Br. 25,000, respectively. The reminder is cost of indirect material
used up during the year on both jobs.
3. Total wages, and salaries of manufacturing employees accrued amounted to Br. 85,000
for the year. The Wages & salaries traceable to job No. 1 and No. 2 are Br. 45,000
and Br. 25,000 respectively. The remainder is considered as indirect labor costs.
4. The enterprise incurred the following general factory costs applicable to both jobs
during the year:
 Utilities (Heat, light & powers )………………….Br.25,000
 Rent on factory equipment …………………….. 20,000
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 Miscellaneous factory expense ………………… 2, 000
Total Costs 47,000
5. During the year, the enterprise recognized Br. 12,000 in accrued property taxes on
factory & equipment, and $10,000 in insurance expired on factory building, and non-
rented equipment.
6. The enterprise recognized a depreciation of Br.16,000 on factory non-rented equipment
and machinery
7. The company selected the machine hours as an application for FOH costs.
The yearly budgeted FOH cost amounts in total Br. 630,000
The yearly budgeted machine hours requirement for all jobs is 105,000 hours
During the year, 10,000 machine hours were worked on Job No. 1, and 5000 machine
hours were worked on Job No. 2.
8. During the year Job No. 1 have 200 units completed and transferred to warehouse &
job No. 2 was still in process on Sene 30, 2002.
9. By the end of the year ¾ of units in job NO. 1 were shipped to customers at the total
sales value of Br. 200,000. The enterprise had no beginning balance of finished goods
for this year.
10. The following non-manufacturing costs were incurred during the year ended:
Sene 30, 2002- Office salary- Br. 30,000
- Depn on office equipment..7,000
- Advertising expense------ 42,000
- Other selling & administrative Exp. 8,000
Required:- Record all the above transactions in a general journal form.
2.At the beginning of September 2003, XYZ Inc. had 1250 units partially assembled
units in the Assembly Department. During September 2003, XYZ Inc. placed another
4000 units into production. Data for the Assembly Department for Sept, 2003 are:
Physical units for September, 2003
Work in process, beginning inventory (Sep 1) 1250 units
Direct Materials (100% complete)
Conversion costs (80% Complete)
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Started during September 4000 units
Completed and transferred out
during September 4250 units
Work in process, ending inventory (Sep 30) 1000units
Direct Materials (100% complete)
Conversion cost (60% complete)
Total Costs for Sep 2003
Work in Process, beginning inventory
Direct Materials (1250 equivalent unit x Br25 per unit 31250
Conversion cost (1000, equivalent units x Br15 per unit) 15000
46250
Direct materials costs added during September 100000
Conversion costs added during September. 72300
Total costs to account for 218550
Required: Using FIFO METHOD
1 Compute equivalent units for direct materials and conversion costs.
2 Also calculate the cost per equivalent unit for direct materials and conversion costs,
Summarized total cost to account for.
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CHAPTER FOUR: SPOILAGE, REWORKED UNITS AND SCRAP
 Distinguish among spoilage, rework, and scrap

 Describe the general accounting procedures for normal and abnormal
spoilage
 Account for scrap
Dear students! In this section the concepts and the accounting process of spoilage,
rework and scrap. Reducing spoilage, reworked units, and scrap are important aspects of
managing costs and improving quality. To achieve these goals, companies use
sophisticated equipment and systems to monitor and control their processes.
Managers are focusing increasing increasingly on improving quality and reducing defects
they have learned that a rate of defects regarded as normal in the past in no longer
tolerable. Many managers believe that reducing defects reduces costs and makes their
company more competitive. Recording and highlighting the costs of defects in a timely
way helps managers make more informed decisions about managing these costs.
This section concentrates on three types of costs that arise as a result of defects –
spoilage, rework, and scrap – and ways to account for them. The focus is on determining
the cost of products and on valuing inventory and cost of goods sold.
Dear student! We start by defining key terms used in this section. Spoilage is
unacceptable units of production that are discarded or are sold for reduced prices.
Partially completed or fully completed units of output can be spoiled. Examples are
defective shirts, jeans, shoes, and carpeting sold as “seconds” and defective aluminum
cans sold to aluminum manufacturers for re-melting and production of aluminum cans.
Rework is unacceptable units of production that are subsequently repaired and sold as,
acceptable finished goods. For example, defective units of products (such as pagers,
computer disk drives, computers, and telephones) detected during production or
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immediately after production but before units are shipped to customers can sometimes be
reworked and sold as good products. Scrap is material left over when making a
product(s). it has low sales value compared with the sales value of the product(s).
Examples are shavings and short lengths from woodworking operations, edges left over
from plastic molding operations. And frayed cloth and end cuts from suit –making
operations.
Some amount of spoilage, rework, or scrap appears to be an inherent part of many

production processes. One example is semiconductor manufacturing, where the products
produced are so complex is semiconductor manufacturing, where the products produced
are so complex and delicate that some spoiled units are in variably produced. In this case,
the spoiled units cannot be reworked. An example involving spoilage and rework occurs
in the manufacture of high –precision machine tools that must be built to very exacting
tolerances. In this case, spoiled units can be reworked to meet standards but only at a
considerable cost. And in the mining industry, companies process ore that contains
varying amounts of valuable metals and rock. Some amount of rock, which is scrap, in
inevitable, but its volume can often be decreased. Managers in all industries must strive
to reduce costly spoilage, rework and scrap. We focus first on spoilage.
4.1. Types of Spoilage
The key objectives in accounting for spoilage are determining the magnitude of the costs
of spoilage and distinguishing between the costs of normal and abnormal spoilage. To
manage spoilage costs, companies need to highlight these costs and not bury them as an
unidentified part of the costs of good units manufactured managers can hen use this
information to cost products and to control and reduce costs by improving the quality of
the products and processes.
4.1.1. Normal Spoilage
Normal spoilage is spoilage that is an inherent result of the particular production process
and arises even under efficient operating conditions. For a given production process,
management must decide the rate of spoilage it is willing to accept as normal. Costs of
normal spoilage are typically treated as a component of the costs of good units
105
manufactured because good units cannot be made without the simultaneous appearance
of spoiled units. Normal spoilage rates should be computed using total good units
completed as the base, not total actual units stated in production. Why? Because total
actual units started also include any abnormal spoilage in addition to normal spoilage.
More-over, normal spoilage is the amount of expected spoilage associated with or related
to the good units produced.
4.1.2. Abnormal Spoilage
Abnormal spoilage is spoilage that should not arise under efficient operating conditions.
It is not an inherent result of the particular production process. Abnormal spoilage is
usually regarded as avoidable and controllable. Line operators and other plant personnel
can generally decrease abnormal spoilage by minimizing machine breakdowns, accidents,
and the like. Abnormal spoilage costs are written off as losses of the accounting period in
which detection of the spoiled units occurs. To gain the most information from abnormal
spoilage costs, companies record the units of abnormal spoilage and keep a separate loss
from Abnormal spoilage account, which appears as a separate line item in the period`s
income statement.
Many companies, such as the Toyota motor corporation, adhere to a perfection standard
as a part of their emphasis on total quality control. Their ideal goal is zero defects. Hence,
all spoilage would be treated as abnormal.
Issues about accounting for spoilage arise in both process – costing and job –costing
systems.
Timeout! Have you understood the concept of Spoilage, rework and scrap? Good! Now
let’s do the following exercise:
Activity:
Question1:
A) Distinguish among Spoilage, rework and scrap
B) “Normal Spoilage is planned Spoilage.” Discuss
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4.2. Process Costing and Spoilage
A key issue in accounting for spoilage in process-costing systems is how to count spoiled
units. As we have already discussed, units of abnormal spoilage should be counted and
recorded separately. But what about units of normal spoilage? These units can either be
counted (approach A) or not counted (approach B) when computing output units – actual
or equivalent – in a process – costing system. Approach A leads to more accurate product
costs because it makes visible the costs associated with normal spoilage and spreads costs
because it makes visible the costs associated with normal spoilage and spreads it over
good units. Approach B is less accurate because it spreads the costs of normal spoilage
over all units. The following example and discussion illustrate the superiority of approach
A over approach B.
Count All Spoilage

EXAMPLE 1: chipmakers, Inc, manufactures computer chips for television sets. All
direct materials are added at the beginning of the production process. To highlight issues
that arise with normal spoilage, we assume no beginning inventory and focus only on
direct materials costs. In May 2000,$270,000 in direct materials were introduced into
production. Production data for May indicate that 10,000 units were started, 5,000 good
units were completed, and 1,000 units were spoiled (all normal spoilage). Ending work in
process was 4,000 units (each 100% complete as to direct material costs) spoilage is
detected upon completion of the process. The following exhibit reveals the two
approaches.
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Effect of Recognizing Equivalent units in spoilage for direct Materials costs
Chipmakers, Inc, for May 2000
Approach A: Approach B:
Recognizing Spoiled Not Counting
Units Spoiled Units
When Computing When Computing
Output Output
In Equivalent Units In Equivalent Units
Costs to account for $270,000 $270,000

Divide by equivalent units ÷ 10,000 ÷ 9,000
Cost per equivalent unit $ 27 $ 30
Assigned to
Good units completed: 5,000 X $27;5,000X$30 $135,000 $150,000
Add normal spoilage: 1,000 X $27 27,000 0
Costs of good units transferred out $162,000 $150,000
Work in process, ending:
4,000 X$27;4,000 X$ 30 108,000 120,000
Costs accounted for $270,000 $270,000
Spoilage is typically assumed to occur at the stage of completion where in section takes
place. Why? Because spoilage is not detected until this point. In out example, spoilage is
assumed to occur at the end of the process.
The direct materials unit costs are computed and assigned using approaches A and B in
above exhibit. Not counting the equivalent units for normal spoilage decreases equivalent
units, resulting in a higher cost of each good unit. A $30 equivalent unit cost (instead of a
$27 equivalent –unit cost) is assigned to work in process that has not reached the
inspection point. Simultaneously, the direct materials costs assigned to good units
completed, which include the cost of normal spoilage, are understated ($150,000 instead
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of $162,000). Consequently, the 4,000 units, in ending work in process contain costs of
spoilage of $12,000 ($120,000 - $108,000) that do not pertain to those units and that, in
fact, belong with the good units completed and transferred out. The 4,000 units and that,
in fact, belong with the good units completed and transferred out. The 4,000 units in
ending work in process undoubtedly include some units that will be detected as spoiled in
the subsequent accounting period. The ending work in process is being in the next period
when inspection occurs as the units are completed. In effect, under approach B, these
units will bear two charges for spoilage. Such cost distortions do not occur when spoiled
units are recognized in the computation of equivalent units. Approach A has a further
advantage. It high lights the cost of normal spoilage to management and thereby focuses
management’s attention on reducing spoilage. Therefore, we will approach A to present
process costing with spoilage.
The Five Step Procedure for Process Costing with Spoilage

Dear students! We illustrate process costing with spoilage using the following example
EXAMPLE 2: Anzio company manufactures a wooden recycling container in its forming
Department. Direct materials for this product are introduced at the beginning of the
production cycle. At the start of production, all direct materials required to make one
output unit are bundled in a single kit. Conversion costs are added evenly during the
cycle. Some units of this product are spoiled as a result of defects only detectable at
inspection of finished units. Normally the spoiled units are 10% of the good output.
Summary data for July 2000 are:
Physical Units for July 2000

Work in process beginning inventory (July 1) 1,500 units
Direct materials (100% complete)
Conversion costs (60% complete)
Started during July 8,500 Units
Completed and transferred out in July 7,000 good units
Work in process, ending inventory (July 31) 2,000 Units
Direct materials (100% complete)
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Conversion costs (50% complete)
Total Costs for July 2000
Work in process, beginning inventory
Direct materials (1,5000 equivalent units X$8) $12,000
Conversion costs (900 equivalent units X$10) 9,000 $21,000
Direct materials costs added during July 76,500
Conversion costs added during July 89,100
Total costs to account for $186,600
The five-step procedure for process costing used in the above section needs only slight
modification to accommodate spoilage. The key change is in calculating the number of
spoiled units in step 1.
Step 1: Summarize the Flow of physical Units of Output Identify units of both normal
and abnormal spoilage. In our example, the number of spoiled units is computed as
follows:
Spoiled = beginning + Units – Good units + Ending
Units Units started transferred out units
= (1,500 + 8,500) – (7,000 + 2,000)

= 10,000 -9.000
= 1,000 units
Step2: Compute Output in Terms of Equivalent Units Compute equivalent units for
spoilage in the same way as for good units. Following approach A, all spoiled units are
included in the computation of output units. Because Anzio inspects at the completion
point, the same amount of work will be done on each spoiled unit and each completed
good unit.
Step 3: Compute Equivalent –Unit Costs The details of this step are similar to those in
process costing system.
Step 4: Summarize total costs to Account For These are all the costs debited to work in
process.
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Step 5: Assign total costs to units completed, to spoiled units, and to Units in Ending
work in process This step now includes computation of the cost of spoiled units and the
cost of good units. The following exhibit illustrate Process Costing with Spoilage
Weighted- average method of process costing with spoilage

Forming Department of the Anzio company for JULY 2000
PANEL A: STRPS 1 AND 2 –SUMMARIZE OUTPUT IN PHYSICAL UNITS AND COMPUTE

EQUIVALENT UNITS
(Step 1) (step 2)
Physical Equivalent Units
Units Direct Conversion
Flow of Production Materials Costs
Work in process, beginning 1,500

Started during current period 8,500
Good units completed and transferred
Out during current period: 7,000 7,000 7,000
Normal spoilagea 700
700X100%; 700X100% 700 700
Abnormal spoilaged 300
300x100%; 300 X 100% 300 300
Work in process, endingc 2,000
2,000 X100%;2,000X50% 2,000 1,000
Work done o date 10,000 9,000
a
Normal spoilage is 10% of good units transferred out: 10%X7,00 units. Degree of completion of normal
spoilage in this department: direct materials, 100%; conversion costs, 100%
b
Abnormal spoilage = Actual spoilage – Normal spoilage = 1,000 – 700 = 300 units. Degree of completion
of abnormal spoilage in this department: direct materials, 100%; conversion costs, 100%.
c
Degree of completion in this department: direct materials, 100% conversion costs, 50%
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PANEL B: STRPS 3,4, AND 5- COMPUTE EQUIVALENT – UNIT COST
SUMMARIZE TOTAL COSTS TO ACCOUNT FOR, AND ASSIGN COSTS TO UNITS
COMPLETED, TO SPOILAGE UNITS, AND TO UNITS IN ENDING WORK IN PROCESS
Total
Production Direct Conversion
Costs Materials costs
(Step3) work in process, beginning $ 21,000 $12,000 $9,000

Costs added in current period 165,600 76, 500 89,100
88,500 98,100
Divide by equivalent units of work done to date ÷10,000 ÷9,000
Equivalent –unit costs of work done to date $8.85 $10.90
(step 4) TOTAL COSTS TO ACCOUNT FOR $186,600
(setap5) Assignment of cost
Good units completed and transferred out (7,000 units)
Costs before adding normal spoilage $138,250 (7,000dX$8.85) +(7,000dX $ 10.90)
Normal spoilage (700 units) 13,825 (700d X $8.850 + (700dX$10.90)
(A) Total cost of good units completed &
Transferred out 152,075
(B) Abnormal spoilage (300 units) 5, 925 (300dX$8.85) + (300dX$10.90)
Work in process, ending (2,000 units)
Direct materials 17,700 2,00d X $8.85
Conversion costs 10, 900 1,000d X$10.90
(C) Total work in process, ending 28,600
(A) + (B) + )C) Total costs accounted for $186.600
d
Equivalent units of direct materials and conversion costs calculated in step 2 in panel A above.
Weighted – Average method and spoilage

The above Exhibit, Panel A, presents steps 1 and 2 to calculate equivalent units of work
done to date and includes calculations of equivalent units of normal and abnormal
spoilage. And panel B, presents steps 3, 4, and 5 (together called the production cost
worksheet). Step 3 presents the equivalent –unit cost calculations using the weighted –
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average method. Note how, for each cost category, the costs of beginning work in process
and costs of work done in the current period are totaled and divided by the equivalent
units of all work done to date to calculate the weighted average cost. Step 4 summarizes
the total costs to account for. Step 5 assigns costs to completed units, spoiled units, and
ending inventory by multiplying the equivalent units calculated in step 2 by the cost per
equivalent unit calculated in step 3. Note how the costs of normal spoilage, $13,825, are
added to the costs of their related good units. Hence, the cost per good unit completed
and transferred out of the process equals the total costs transferred out (including the
costs of normal spoilage) divided by the number of good units produced,
$152,075÷7,000 = $21.725. It is not equal to $19.75, which is the sum of the costs per
equivalent unit of direct materials ($8.85) and conversion costs ($10.90)
Instead, the cost per good unit is equal to the total cost of direct materials and conversion
costs per equivalent unit, $19,75, plus a share of the normal spoilage $1.975 ($13,825 ÷
7,000) = $21.725. The $5,925 costs of abnormal spoilage are assigned to the loss from
Abnormal Spoilage account and do not appear in the good –unit costs.
FIFO Method and Spoilage

Panel A of the above exhibit, presents steps 1 and 2 using the FIFO method that focuses
on equivalent units of work done in the current period. panel B, on the other hand,
presents steps 3, 4, and 5. Note how the FIFO method keeps the costs of the beginning
work- in- process inventory separate and distinct from the costs of work done in the
current period when assigning costs. All spoilage costs are assumed to be related to units
completed during this period, using the unit costs of the current period.
4.3. Job Costing and Spoilage
The concepts of normal and abnormal spoilage also apply to job –costing systems.
Abnormal spoilage is usually regarded as controllable by the manager. It is separately
identified with the goal of eliminating it altogether. Costs of abnormal spoilage are not
considered as inventoriable costs and are written off as costs of the period in which
detection occurs. Normal spoilage costs in job-costing systems (just as in process –
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costing systems) are inventoriable costs, although increasingly managements are
tolerating only small amounts of spoilage as normal. When assigning costs, job –costing
systems generally distinguish between normal spoilage attributable to a specific jib and
normal spoilage common to all jobs. Normal spoilage attributable to a specific job is
assigned to that job, a step unnecessary in process costing since masses of identical or
similar units are manufactured.
Dear students! We illustrate the accounting for spoilage in job costing using the
following example.
EXAMPLE 3: In the Hull Machine shop, 5 aircraft parts out of a job lot of 50 aircraft
parts are spoiled. Costs assigned prior to the inspection point are $2,000 per part. Hull
calculates these costs on the basis of its inventory costing assumptions – weighted –
average, FIFO, or standard costs. We do not, however, emphasize cost-flow assumptions
in our presentation here or in subsequent sections. The current disposal price of the
spoiled parts is estimated to be $6000 per part. When the spoilage is detected, the spoiled
goods are inventoried at $600 per part.
Normal spoilage attributable to a specific job when normal spoilage occurs because of
the specification of a particular job, that job bears the cost of the spoilage reduced by the
current disposal value of that spoilage. The journal entry to recognize the disposal value
of the normal spoilage (items in parentheses indicate subsidiary ledger postings) is:
Materials Control (spoiled goods at current disposal value): 5X$600 3,000

Work – in – process Control (specific job): 5 X $600 3,000
Note that the work –in-process control (specific job) has already been debited (charged) $
10,000 for the spoiled parts (5 spoiled parts X$2,000 per part). The effect of the $3, 000
becomes an additional cost of the 45 (50 -5) good units produced. The total cost of the 45
good units is $97,000, $90,000 (45 units X$2,000 per unit) incurred to produce the good
units plus the $7,000 net cost of normal spoilage.
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Normal spoilage common to all jobs in some cases, spoilage may be considered a
normal characteristic of a given production cycle. The spoilage inherent in production
only coincidentally occurs when a specific job is being worked on. The spoilage then is
not attributable, and hence is not charged, to the specific job, in stead, it is costed as
manufacturing overhead.
The journal entry is:
Materials control (spoiled goods at current disposal value): 5 X $600 3,000
Manufacturing overhead control (normal spoilage): ($10,000 - $ 3, 000) 7,000
Work –in –process Control (specific job): 5 X$ 2,000 10,000
When normal spoilage is common to all jobs, the budgeted manufacturing overhead rate
includes a provision for normal spoilage cost. Therefore, normal spoilage cost is spread,
through overhead allocation, over all jobs rather than loaded on particular jobs only. the
total cost of the 45 good units is $90,000 (45 units X$2,000 per unit) incurred to produce
the good units plus a prorated share of the $7,000 of normal spoilage overhead costs.
Abnormal spoilage If the spoilage is abnormal, the net loss is highlighted and always
charged to an abnormal loss account. Unlike normal spoilage costs, abnormal spoilage
costs are not included as a part of the cost of good units produced. The total cost of the 45
good units is $90,000 (45Units X$2,000 per unit).
Materials Control (spoiled goods at current disposal value): 5 X $600 3,000

Loss from Abnormal Spoilage: ($ 10,000 - $3,000) 7,000
Work –in-process control (specific job): 5 x $2,000 10,000
Even though, for external reporting purposes, abnormal spoilage costs are written off in
the period and are not linked to specific jobs or units, companies often identify the
specific reasons for abnormal spoilage, and, where appropriate, link abnormal spoilage
with specific jobs or units for cost management purposes.
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4.4. Rework
Rework is unacceptable units of production that are subsequently repaired and sold as
acceptable finished goods. For rework, we again distinguish (1) normal rework
attributable to a specific job, (2) normal rework common to all jobs, and (3) abnormal
rework.
Consider the Hull machine Shop data (Example 3). Assume that the five spoiled parts
used in our illustration are reworked. The journal entry for the $10,000 of total costs
(details of costs assumed) assigned to the five spoiled units be fore considering rework
costs are as follows:
Work-in- process control (specific job) 10,000
Materials Control 4,000
Wages Payable Control 4,000
Manufacturing Overhead Allocated 2,000
Assume that rework costs equal $3,800 (direct materials, $800: direct manufacturing
labor, $2,000; manufacturing overhead, $1,000).
Normal rework attributable to a specific job If the rework is normal but occurs
because of the requirements of a specific job, the rework costs are charged to that job.
The journal entry is as follows:
Work –in-process control (specific job) 3,800
Materials Control 800
Wages payable control 2,000
Manufacturing overhead Allocated 1,000
Normal rework common to all jobs when rework is normal and not attributable to any
specific job, the costs of rework are charged to manufacturing overhead and spread,
through overhead allocation, over all jobs.
Manufacturing Overhead Control (rework costs) 3,800
Wages payable control 2,000
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Abnormal rework if the rework is abnormal, it is recoded by charging abnormal rework
to a separate loss account.
Loss from Abnormal Rework 3,800
Materials control 800
Wages Payable Control 2,000
Accounting for rework in a process-costing system also requires abnormal rework to be
distinguished from normal rework. A process –costing system accounts for abnormal
rework in the same way as a job costing system. Accounting for normal rework follows
the accounting described for normal rework common to all jobs (units) because masses of
identical or similar units are manufactured in process costing systems.
Costing rework highlights to managers the resources wasted on activities that would not
have to be undertaken if the product were made correctly. It prompts managers to seek
ways to reduce rework, for example, by designing new products or processes, training
workers, or investing in new machines. Calculating rework costs helps managers perform
cost-benefit analyses for various alternative ways to reduce or eliminate rework. To
emphasize the importance of eliminating rework and to simplify the accounting, some
companies set a standard of zero rework. All rework is then treated as abnormal and
written off as a cost of the current period.
Timeout! Have you understood the accounting process for normal and abnormal spoilage
both under process costing and job costing? Good! Now let’s do the following exercise:
Activity:
Question2: RST Textiles has some spoiled goods that had an assigned cost of
$40,000 and zero net disposal value.
Required: prepare journal entries for each of the following conditions under (a)
process costing and (b) job costing
1. abnormal spoilage of $40,000
2. Normal spoilage of $40,000 related to the general plant operations.
3. Normal spoilage related to specifications of a particular job.
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4.5. Accounting for Scrap
Scrap is material left over when making a product(s); it has low sales value compared
with the sales value of the product(s). There are no distinctions of normal and abnormal
scrap. But scrap attributable to a specific job is distinguished from scrap common to all
jobs.
There are two major aspects of accounting for scrap:
1. Planning and control, including physical tracking
2. Inventory costing, including when and how to affect operating income
Initial entries to scrap records are most often in physical terms. In various industries,
items such as stamped –out metal sheets or edges of molded plastic parts are quantified
by weighing, counting, or some other expedient means. Scrap records not only help
measure efficiency, but also control what is often a tempting source for theft. Scrap
reports are prepared with the budgeted or standard amounts. Scrap is either sold or
disposed of quickly, or stored for later sale, disposal, or reuse.
Careful tracking of scrap often extends in to the accounting records. For example, in one
survey, 60% of the companies maintained a distinct account for scrap costs somewhere in
their accounting system. The issues here are similar to those discussed in unit 5
regarding the accounting for byproducts:
1. When should the value of scrap be recognized in the accounting records – at the
time scrap is produced or at the time scrap is sold?
2. How should revenue from scrap be accounted for?
To illustrate, we extend our hull example assuming that the manufacture of aircraft parts
generates scrap. We further assume that the scrap from a job has a total sales value of
$900.
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4.5.1. Recognizing Scrap at the Time of Its Sale
When the dollar amount of scrap is immaterial, the simplest accounting is to make a
memo of the quantity of scrap returned to the storeroom and to regard scrap sales as a
separate line item of other revenues. The only journal entry is:
Sale of scrap: Cash or Accounts Receivable 900
Sales of Scrap 900
When the dollar amount of scrap is material and the scrap is sold quickly after it is
produced, the accounting depends on whether the scrap is attributable to a specific job or
common to all jobs.
Scrap attributable to a specific job Job-costing systems sometimes trace the sales of
scrap to the jobs that yielded the scrap. This method is used only when the tracing can be
done in an economically feasible way. The journal entry is:
Scrap returned to storeroom: No journal entry.
[Memo of Quantity received and related
Job is entered in the inventory record]
Work-in-process Control 900
Posting made to subsidiary ledger – “Sales
Of scrap” column on department cost record.
This method does not link scrap with any particular job or product. Instead, all products
bear regular production costs without any credit for scrap sales except in an indirect
manner: the expected sales of scrap are considered when setting the budgeted
manufacturing overhead rate. Thus, the budgeted overhead rate is lower than it would be
if the overhead budget has not been reduced by expected sales of scrap. This accounting
for scrap is used in both process-costing and job –costing systems .
4.5.2. Recognizing Scrap at the Time of its Production
Our preceding illustrations assume that scrap returned to the storeroom is sold quickly
and hence not assigned an inventory cost figure. Sometimes, however, as is the case with
edges of molded plastic parts, the value of scrap is not immaterial, and the time between
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storing it and selling or reusing it can be quite long. Under these conditions, the company
is justified in inventorying scrap at a conservative estimate of net realizable value so that
production costs and related scrap recovery are recognized in the same accounting period.
Some companies tend to delay sales of scrap until the market price is most attractive.
Volatile price fluctuations are typical for scrap metal. If scrap is inventoried, it should be
recorded at some “reasonable value” – a challenging task in the face of volatile market
prices.
Scrap attributable to a specific job The journal entry in the Hull Machine shop example
is:
Scrap returned to storeroom: Materials Control 900
Work-in-process Control 900
Scrap common to all jobs The journal entry in this case is
Manufacturing overhead control 900
Scrap is sometimes reused as direct materials rather than sold as scrap. In this case, it
should be debited to Materials Control as a type of direct materials and carried at its
estimated net realizable value. For example, the entries when the scrap generated is
common to all jobs are:

Manufacturing Overhead Control 900
Reuse of scrap: work-in-process control 900
Materials control 900
The accounting for scrap under process costing is like the accounting under job costing
when scrap is common to all jobs because process costing applies to the manufacture of
masses of identical or similar units.
The high cost of scrap focuses managers` attention on ways to reduce scrap and to use it
more profitably. For example, General Motors Corporation has redesigned its plastic
injection molding processes to reduce the scrap plastic that must be broken away from its
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molded products. General Motors also regrinds and reuses the plastic scrap as direct
material, saving substantial input costs.
Timeout! Have you grasped the accounting for scrap and spoilage? Good! Let us do the
following activity:
Activity :
Question3:
A) How do managers use information about scrap
B) What has been regarded as normal spoilage in the past is not

necessarily acceptable as normal spoilage in the present or future.
Explain
We have seen the general accounting structure in relation with spoilage, rework and
scrap. Spoilage is units of production—whether fully or partially completed—that do not
meet the specifications required by customers for good units and that are discarded or
sold at reduced prices.
Rework is units of production that do not meet the specifications required by customers
but that are subsequently repaired and sold as good finished units. Scrap is residual
material that results from manufacturing a product. Examples are short lengths from
woodworking operations, edges from plastic molding operations, and frayed cloth and
end cuts from suit-making operations.
There are two types spoilage Normal spoilage and abnormal spoilage. Normal spoilage is
spoilage inherent in a particular production process. In particular, it arises even when the
process is operated in an efficient manner. The costs of normal spoilage are typically
included as a component of the costs of good units manufactured, because good units
cannot be made without also making some units that are spoiled. Abnormal spoilage is
spoilage that is not inherent in a particular production process and would not arise under
efficient operating conditions.
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The concepts of normal and abnormal spoilage also apply to job-costing systems.
Abnormal spoilage is separately identified so companies can work to eliminate it
altogether. Costs of abnormal spoilage are not considered to be inventoriable costs and
are written off as costs of the accounting period in which the abnormal spoilage is
detected. Normal spoilage costs in job-costing systems as in process-costing systems are
inventoriable costs, although increasingly companies are tolerating only small amounts of
spoilage as normal. When assigning costs, job-costing systems generally distinguish
normal spoilage attributable to a specific job from normal spoilage common to all jobs.
Rework is units of production that are inspected, determined to be unacceptable, repaired,

and sold as acceptable finished goods. We again distinguish (1) normal rework
attributable to a specific job, (2) normal rework common to all jobs, and (3) abnormal
rework.
4.7. Self test Questions
Work out Question

ABC Electronics Company has two departments to manufacture computers, Assembly
and testing departments. First component parts are assembled in assembly department
and then transferred out to testing department. Direct materials are added some where in
between the assembly process but conversion costs are added evenly through out the
assembly process. The company uses process costing system. The following data are for
the month of January for assembly department.
Physical units Direct material Conversion cost
Beginning WIP 400 $2,484,000 $464,000
Started in the month 2,500
Completed units 2,300
Cost added during the month 16,100,000 6,960,000
Additional information
 There are 200 spoiled units 50% of which is abnormal
 Degree of completion –Beginning WIP
 Direct material (90% complete)
 Conversion cost (40% complete)
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 Degree of completion –Ending WIP
 Direct material (60% complete)
 Conversion cost (30% complete)
Requirements: Under FIFO method
a) Summarize the flow of physical units
b) Compute equivalent unit in terms of each cost
c) Compute cost per equivalent unit
d) Assign the cost to units completed and WIP ending
e) Pass the necessary journal entries
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CHAPTER FIVE: INCOME EFFECT OF ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT COSTING
METHODS
 Explain absorption costing and variable costing
 Distinguish what costs are inventoried (assigned to products) under each
technique.
 Compare the two costing techniques
 Develop income statements under absorption costing and variable costing
 Reconcile Variable costing and Absorption costing.
5.1. Introduction
The elements of costs (materials, labor and expenses) each broadly are put into two
categories; fixed costs and variable costs. Dear learner! As we already discussed in our
module one of unit two, fixed costs are those costs, which do not vary in total but remain
constant within a given period of time and range of activity in spite of fluctuations in
production, however, varies per unit of production. The examples of fixed costs are rent,
insurance charges, management salaries, etc. On the other hand, variable costs are costs,
which vary in total, in direct proportion to any change in the volume of output but remain
constant per unit of activity or production. The costs of direct materials, direct wages etc
can be put into this category. The cost of a product or process can be ascertained using
the different elements of cost according to any of these two techniques: Absorption
costing and Variable costing.
In this unit, you will learn how cost of products is determined using absorption costing
technique and variable costing technique, comparison between absorption and variable
costing and reconciliation of variable and absorption costing. These techniques basically
differ in consideration of variable and fixed costs in determination of product cost. At
the end, it is our hope you will obtain and acquire more knowledge on the essentials of
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product cost determinations using absorption costing and variable costing techniques, and
their basic differences.
5.2. Absorption and Variable Costing
Dear student, income is one of the many important measures used to evaluate the
performance of both segments and entire companies. There are two alternative methods
for reporting income in several firms, depending on the accounting treatment of fixed and
variable overheads. In this unit we will examine these two income-reporting alternatives
(techniques), called absorption (full) costing and variable (marginal) costing.
Products costs – in the products-costing systems we have studied in unit four and five of
this module, that manufacturing overhead is applied to Work-in process Inventory as a
product cost along with direct material and direct labor costs. When the manufactured
goods are finished (completed), these product costs flow from Work-in process Inventory
into Finished-Goods Inventory. Finally, during the accounting period when the goods are
sold, the product costs flow from Finished Goods Inventory in to cost of goods sold, and
then to expense account. Accordingly, our main concern here is how fixed and variable
costs are treated in the determination of product costs and income and the discussion is
presented in detail as follows.
5.2.1. Absorption Costing
Absorption costing technique is also known as traditional or full cost method. According
to this method the cost of a product is determined after considering both Fixed and
variable costs. In our study of product-costing systems, we included both variable and
fixed manufacturing overhead in the products costs that flow through the manufacturing
accounts in addition to direct costs. This approach to product costing is called absorption
costing (or full costing), because all manufacturing –overhead cost are applied to (or
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absorbed by) manufactured goods. The variable costs, such as those of direct materials,
direct labor etc., are directly charged to the products while the fixed costs are apportioned
on a suitable basis over different products manufactured during the period.
Thus, in case of absorption costing all costs are identified with the manufactured
products. Absorption costing is the generally accepted method of product costing for
purposes of external reporting.
Absorption costing which do not recognize the difference between fixed costs and
variable costs does not adequately cater to the needs of Management. The statement
prepared under absorption costing do elaborately explain past profits, past loses and the
cost incurred in past, but these statements do not help when it comes to predict about
tomorrow’s result. A conventional income statement cannot tell what the profit or loss
will be, if the volume is increased or decreased. These days, there is a cut- throat
competition in market and management has got to know its cost structure thoroughly.
Absorption costing (marginal costing) provides this vital information to management and
it helps in the discharge of its function like cost control, profit planning, performance
evaluation and decision-making.
Activity:
Question1: What we mean by absorption costing?
____________________________________
5.2.2. Variable Costing
Variable costing is a technique where only the variable costs are considered while
computing the cost of a product. The fixed costs are met against the total fund arising out
the excess of selling price over total variable cost. This fund is known as "contribution"
in marginal costing.
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The alternative approach, variable costing, in which only variable manufacturing
overhead is applied to Work-in-Process Inventory as a product cost in addition to direct
costs. Fixed manufacturing overhead costs are expensed as they are incurred.
Dear learner, the distinction involves the timing with which fixed manufacturing
overhead become an expense. Eventually, fixed overhead is expensed under both
product-costing systems. Under variable costing, however, fixed overhead is expensed
immediately, as it incurred. Under absorption costing, fixed overhead is inventoriable
until the accounting period during which the manufactured goods are sold.
The main controversy between the two methods centers on what costs should be
inventoried (assigned to products). Absorption costing advocates believe that all
necessary costs of production should be included in product cost direct and indirect, fixed
and variable costing advocates, on the other hand, maintain that a cost should be
inventoried only if incurring the cost now eliminates the necessity of incurring if in the
future.
A variable costing income statement highlights cost behavior characteristics. It provides
managers with information about the effect on costs and profits of changes in the volume
of activity. Comparing variable costs with revenue provides contribution margin
information. Variable costing is one of several reporting methods generally classified as
contribution approach reporting.
Activity:
Question2: Define what is variable costing?
____________________________________
5.2.3. Comparison Between Absorption and Variable Costing
Having read the above details in relation to both techniques (absorption costing and
variable costing), we can list down the following differences in a summarized way as
below:
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Under absorption costing Under Variable costing
1. Both fixed cost and variable cost 1. Only variable cost is considered
are considered for product costing for product costing and
and inventory valuation inventory valuation.
2. The fixed cost is charged to cost 2. Treatment of fixed overhead

of production. Each product is is different. Fixed cost is
to bear a reasonable share of considered period cost and
fixed cost and profitability of profitability of different
product is thus influenced by products is fudged by
subjective apportionment of fixed profit volume rate.
overheads.
3. The presentation of cost data is 3. Presentation of data is oriented

on conventional pattern. Net Profit to highlight the total
of each product is determined contribution and contribution
after deducting fixed overhead from each product.
4. The difference in the magnitude 4. The difference in the magnitude

of opening stock and closing of opening stock and
stock affects the unit cost of closing stock does not affect
production stock affects the the unit cost of production.
unit cost of production due
to the impact of related
fixed overheads.
Unit Cost Computations

To illustrate the computation of unit product costs under both absorption and variable
costing, consider Boley Company, a small company that produces a single product and
that has the following cost structure:
Illustration 5.1 – Absorption and Variable Costing

Number of units produced each year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000
Variable costs per unit:
Direct materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2
Direct labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4
Variable manufacturing overhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1
Variable selling and administrative expenses . . . . . . . . . $3
Fixed costs per year:
Fixed manufacturing overhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30,000
Fixed selling and administrative expenses . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000
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Required:
1. Compute the unit product cost under absorption costing.
2. Compute the unit product cost under variable costing
Solution
Absorption Costing
Direct materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2
Direct labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Variable manufacturing overhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Total variable manufacturing cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Fixed manufacturing overhead ($30,000 / 6,000 units of product) . . . . . . 5
Unit product cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12
Variable Costing
Direct materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2
Direct labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Variable manufacturing overhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
U nit product cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7
(Under variable costing, the $30,000 fixed manufacturing overhead is a period expense
along with selling and administrative expenses.)
Under the absorption costing method, all manufacturing costs, and variable and fixed, are
included when determining the unit product cost. Thus, if the company sells a unit of
product and absorption costing is being used, then $12 (consisting of $7 variable cost and
$5 fixed cost) will be deducted on the income statement as cost of goods sold. Similarly,
any unsold units will be carried as inventory on the balance sheet at $12 each. Under the
variable costing method, only the variable manufacturing costs are included in product
costs. Thus, if the company sells a unit of product, only $7 will be deducted as cost of
goods sold, and unsold units will be carried as inventory on the balance sheet at only $7
each.
Format of Absorption costing Income statement

Sales ----------------------------- XX
Cost of goods sold
Direct material ---------- xx
Direct labor ------------ xx
Variable MOH ---------- xx
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Fixed MOH -------------- xx XX
Gross profit ----------------------- XX
Variable operating expense --------xx
Fixed operating expense ----------- xx
Operating income ------------------- XX
Format of direct costing income statement

Sales revenue ----------------------- XX
Variable cost
Direct material -------------- xx
Direct labor ---------------- xx
Variable MOH ---------------xx
Variable expense ------------ xx XX
Contribution margin ------------------ XX
Fixed MOH cost ---------------------- XX
Fixed operating expense ---------------XX
Operating income ----------------------- XX
Illustration 5–2 displays income statements prepared under the absorption and variable
costing approaches for the year 2006.In preparing these statements, we use the data for
Boley Company presented earlier, along with other information about the company as
given below:
Units in beginning inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Units produced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000
Units sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000
Units in ending inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000
Selling price per unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . . . $20
Selling and administrative expenses:
Variable per unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….. . $3
Fixed per year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …... $10,000
Boley Company
Income statement
For the year ended 2006
Absorption Costing
Sales (5,000 units × $20 per unit) . . . . . . . . $100,000
Cost of goods sold:
Beginning inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0
Add cost of goods manufactured
(6,000 units x $12 per unit) . . . . . . . . . 72,000
Goods available for sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,000
Less ending inventory
(1,000 units x $12 per unit) . . . . . . . . . 12,000
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Cost of goods sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60,000
Gross margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,000
Selling and administrative expenses:
(5,000 units x $3 per unit
variable + $10,000 fixed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,000
Net operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 15,000
Boley Company
Income statement
For the year ended 2006
Variable Costing
Sales (5,000 units x $20 per unit) . . . . . . . . $100,000
Variable expenses:
Variable cost of goods sold:
Beginning inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0
Add variable manufacturing costs
(6,000 units x $7 per unit) . . . . . . . . 42,000
Goods available for sale . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,000
Less ending inventory
(1,000 units x $7 per unit) . . . . . . . . 7,000
Variable cost of goods sold . . . . . . . . . 35,000
Variable selling and administrative
expenses (5,000 units
x $3 per unit) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 50,000
Contribution margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,000
Fixed expenses:
Fixed manufacturing overhead . . . . . . .30,000
Fixed selling and administrative
expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000 40,000
Net operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10,000
Variable costing and absorption costing differ in only one basic respect i.e. how to
account for fixed manufacturing costs. Under variable costing, fixed manufacturing costs
are excluded from inventoreable costs and are a cost of the period in which they are
incurred. Thus, only variable manufacturing costs are inventoried in this method. Under
absorption costing method, all variable manufacturing and all fixed manufacturing costs
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are included as inventoreable costs and become a part of cost of goods sold in the period
when sales occur.
The variable –costing income statement is based on the contribution-margin format. The
contribution margin in this case is measured as the deference between revenue of the
period and both variable manufacturing and variable non manufacturing costs. The
absorption-costing income statement is based on the gross-margin format. The gross
margin is measured as the difference between the revenue of the period and cost of goods
sold.
Under variable costing, reported operating income is driven by the unit level of sales.
Under absorption costing, reported operating income is driven by the unit level of
production as well as by the unit level of sales.
Managers can increase operating income when absorption costing is used by producing
more units. Critics of absorption costing label this potential outcome as the major
negative consequence of treating fixed manufacturing overhead as an inventoreable cost.
The effect of changes in unit inventory levels on operating income is such that:
i) If production and sales of a given period are equal, then operating income
reported under both variable and absorption method will be equal.
ii) If production of a period is greater than the sales of the period, then, lower
operating income will be reported by variable costing method than absorption
costing method.
iii) If production of a given period is less than sales of that period, then higher
operating income will be reported by variable product costing method than
absorption product costing method.
1. Marginal (Variable) costing is not used for external reporting purpose. Do you
agree? Explain in detail.
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2. What effect do fluctuating fixed and variable production costs have on the
difference on the net income between Marginal and Total (full) costing? Explain
supporting with examples.
3. What are the basic points that should be considered in comparison of the income
statements under absorption costing and variable costing?
 This because, under absorption costing a portion of fixed cost relating to
the previous year is changed to current period.
Work out question
The following information relates to the operation of Sanfransisco Company for the year
2004.
Selling price $20

Units produced 10,000
Unit sold 8,000
Total DM cost $40,000
Total DL cost $20,000
Total VMOH cost $60,000
Total FMOH cost $25,000
V. marketing expense $4,500
F.marketing expense $25,000
Required:
1. prepare income statement using Absorption costing

2. prepare income statement using Direct costing
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CHAPTER SIX: COST ALLOCATION
 to understand the purpose of overhead rates
 to select base to calculate overhead application rate
 to determine the applied cost using the overhead application rate
6.1. Introduction
After manufacturing overhead cost have been accumulated by departments, they must be
allocated to jobs or departments. In this unit you will learn how the cost accountant
selects bases for allocating the departmentalized overhead costs to specific units of
production.
6.2. Purpose Overhead Rates
Management cannot wait until the end of the year, or even until the end of the month, to
find out how much a particular job costs. Cost data are most useful when they are
immediately available. They can then be used to evaluate efficiency, to suggest changes
in procedure and to help in setting profitable selling price.
The cost accountant is usually expected to support the total cost of a job as soon as it is
finished. At this time the actual total overhead cost are not available, as they would be at
the end of a fiscal period. For example – various bills such as telephone or utility bills,
may not arrive before a job is completed. The accountant must device a method rapidly
and reliable to estimate the overhead costs applicable to the completed job. Since these
costs are not yet fully known, predetermined overhead rates are used for estimating
overhead costs.
6.3. Determining the Overhead Rates
The basic procedure for determining an overhead rate is quite simple. First a relationship
is formed between the company’s total overhead costs and some second factor or basis
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that relates to the overhead costs of the job in a realistic way. The basis must also be
accurately measurable.
The basis for allocating overhead might be an amount or quantity, such a direct labor
costs, material costs, or direct labor hours. The ratio between the total overhead costs and
the basis, expressed as a percent is called the overhead application rate.
A small plant with only one or a few similar departments manufacturing very few types
of goods may successfully use a single common rate for the entire factory. However, if
several different types of product are manufactured, or if all product do not go through all
departments, a single rate is not appropriate. Nor is a single rate suitable if some
departments perform largely machine operation and other departments use primarily hand
labor. In such a case, a separate rate must be used for each of the producing departments.
Activity :
Question 1: what is the purpose over head rate ?
6.4. Types of Overhead Rate Bases
The primary purpose of using predetermined overhead rates is to charge a fair share of
overhead costs to each job. A number of basis for determining overhead rates may be
used in computing factory wide rates and in setting departmental rates. The most
common basis are the following:
- unit of production
- Material costs
- Machine hrs
- Direct labor hrs
- Direct labor cost
The cost and production figures used in the calculation are usually derived from budget
estimate
The following budgeted data are extracted
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From Zenu House hold producing enterprise
- Manufacturing overhead costs for the year $ 96,000
- Number of units of production in the year 24,000 units
- Direct material costs for the year $ 470,000
- Direct machine hrs for the year 11,000
- Direct labor hrs for the year 38,000
- Direct labor costs for the year $198,000
6.4.1. Unit of Production Method
Overhead may be applied on the basis of the number of units manufactured during the
period. The estimated manufacturing overhead cost is divided by the estimated total
number of units of production to get the overhead to be applied to each units of
production.
Estimated manufacturing overhead cost = overhead cost par

Estimated units of production unit of production
= $96,000 = 4 per unit
24,000
If a job of 2500 units were produced, the overhead applied to the job would be
(2500 X $4) = $10,000
Unfortunately, the unit of production basis has limited application. The rate is
meaningful only if the manufacturing process is a simple one and only if one type or a
few very similar types of goods are produced. For example product X requires 20 hrs. to
be produced and product Y requires 2 hrs, it would be in appropriate to base overhead on
units of production. Product X obviously going to require more overheads.
6.4.2. Material Cost Basis
Overhead may be applied on the basis of the cost of direct materials used to produce the
product. The estimated manufacturing overhead cost are divided by the estimated direct
material
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Estimated manufacturing overhead cost = percentage
Estimated direct material cost of material cost
= $96,000 = 20%
$470,000
If direct materials consumed on a specific job cost $ 22,000, the overhead applied to the
job would be (22,000 X 20%) = 4400
For material cost to make a good rate base each article manufactured must require
approximately, the same amount of material or material usage must be distributed
uniformly through the manufacturing process. In practice, most overhead cost bear little
relationship to materials used, there for this base in rarely used.
6.4.3. Machine Hours Basis
Overhead may be applied as a rate for each machine hrs when work is performed
primarily by machines. A large part of the manufacturing overhead costs consists of
depreciation, power, repair, and other costs associated with machinery. Thus a logical
relation ship exists between the use of the machinery and the amount of cost incurred. To
determine this busies, divide the estimated manufacturing overhead cost by the estimated
number of machine hours to get the rate for each machine hour.
= Estimated manufacturing overhead cost = Rate per machine

Estimated machine hrs hrs
= 96,000 = $8.7 = rate per machine hrs

11,000
If a job requires 500 machine hrs, the overhead applied would be $8.7 X 500 = $4350
In a highly automated factory where machine perform most of the labor and each time
goes through a similar sequence of machinery, this basis makes since. However, a
machine hrs basis is not a curate if differ]rent kinds of machine are used for various
137
products. In such case, variation in original cost, operation cost, machine speed, and
labor cost would make this rate in appropriate as an overall formula. A further objection
to this method is the additional clerical work required to keep record of the number of
machine hrs used on the job.
6.4.4. Direct Labor Hours Basis
Overhead may be applied as a rate for each direct labor hours. This widely used method
assumes that overhead costs tend to vary with the number of hours of direct labor used.
The estimated manufacturing overhead costs are divided by the estimated number of
direct labor hours to obtain an application rate for each hours.
= Estimated manufacturing overhead cost = Rate per machine
Estimated direct labor hrs labor hrs
= 96,000 = $2.53 =
38,000
If a job required 2455 direct labor hrs to be completed the overhead applied would be.
(2455 X 2.53) = $6211.15
The direct labor hors basis is usually appropriate if labor operations are a major part of
the production process and the wage rates paid different workers vary considerably. As a
general rule there is correlation between total manufacturing overhead costs and the
number of direct labor hors worked.
However, the direct labor hrs method requires a record of the number of direct labor
hours spent on each day, which may necessitate additional record keeping. Total labor
costs are part of the company record, but separate computation of total hrs is not typically
made.
6.4.5. Direct Labor Cost Basis
Overhead may be applied as a percentage of cost of direct labor. This method is the most
widely used overhead application basis because it is simple and easy to use. Information
138
concerning direct labor cost of each department and each job is available from the payroll
record and the time tickets.
The estimated manufacturing overhead cost is divided by the estimated direct labor costs.
This calculation results in the percentage of direct labor costs.
= Estimated MOH = Percentage of direct labor
Estimated direct labor Costs
= 96,000 = $48%
198,000
If the direct labor costs incurred on a particular job totaled $5750, the applied overhead
would be ($5750 X 48%)=$2760.
The direct labor costs basis is not generally used in cases where a large proportion of
overhead costs reflect to the use of machinery.
6.5. Selecting Overhead Basis
The following guideline should be used in order to select the overhead basis
- The rate must be easily computed
- The factor chosen as the basis must be one that can easily be measured for each
job.
- There must be some direct relationship between the amount of overhead costs
incurred and the factor chosen as a basis.
- The basis should be representative of the overhead costs applicable to each unit
- Department rates should be used if possible. As a result a number of different
basis many be selected to meet the needs of different departments.
Activity:
Question 2: list at least the three types of overhead rate bases
139
Management needs cost information as soon as a job is finished. Instead of waiting for
the end of a fiscal period when the actual cost totals are available, the cost accountant
estimates overhead cost for each job. There are five types of overhead rates basis used
for cost estimating: Unit of production, material costs, machining hours, direct labor hrs,
and direct labor cost. The direct labor cost basis is used by most of manufacturing
enterprise. Whatever basis is used the application rate is determined by dividing the
estimated overhead costs by the basis chosen. The figure for the application rate is
obtained from budget estimates.
7. List the types of overhead cost allocation basis-----------------------------------------------

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8. What are the basis to select (choose) the logical cost allocation basis?--------------------
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9. Why are estimated (budgeted) overhead application rate used instead of actual
overhead application rates? ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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CHAPTER SEVEN: COST ALLOCATION-JOINT PRODUCTS AND BY
PRODUCTS
 explain and understand about joint products and joint cost
 handle the different methods used in allocating joint cost
 understand and explain by products
In this unit, we consider the complex case in which companies’ produce two or more
products simultaneously out of the same process or processes and from the same input.
Many natural resource and agricultural companies and other industries face the problem
of how to use cost information to manage processes that can produce different products.
Companies that are engaged in wood processing, Shell oil Company which produce
petroleum and chemicals; Coal and mineral producing companies, food processing
industries (meat, milk etc), and many others are encountering such problems.
Joint cost X
Raw
Joint process Y Joint products
materi
al
Z
Split-off point
E.g. -Distillation of coal, yields coke, natural-gas, and other products
Before we discuss the main concepts and cost allocations to the joint products using
several approaches, we should see first the basic terms that are commonly used in joint
cost allocation system.
Joint Process: is a single production process that converts a common input into several
inputs.
For example, processing timber results jointly in lumber of various grades plus wood
chips and sawdust that can be converted into paper pulp. Another example is processing
141
crude oil can result jointly in gasoline of various grades, Kerosene, jet fuel, asphalt,
and/or petrochemicals.
Joint costs: are the costs of a single production process that yields products
simultaneously.
Joint products: are the products that jointly result from processing a common in put and
that have relatively the same sales value. We can think of the examples given under the
joint process. Or X, Y, and Z are joint products.
The split off point:-is the juncture or the point in a joint production process where one or
more products become separately identifiable.
Separable costs:-are all costs incurred beyond the split off point that are assignable to
one or more individual products.
Final product- a final product is one that is ready for sale without further processing.
Intermediate products- are products that usually require further processing before they
are salable to the ultimate consumer, either by the producer or by another processor.
The out put of joint production process can be classified into two general categories-those
with a positive sales value and those with a zero sale value. A product is any output that
has a positive net sales value (or an output that enables an organization to avoid incurring
costs). A joint product has relatively high sales value compared to other products yielded
by a joint production process. No journal entries are made in the accounting system to
record the processing of such products with zero sales value.
In practice companies distinguish between main products and by-products before

allocating joint costs because, by convention, joint costs are allocated only to main
products. To take a very simple example, consider a slaughterhouse (Abattoir Enterprise)
and assume slaughtering of an ox. The products are meat, skin and wastage. Meat and
skin have the sales value and wastages have zero sales value.
Main product-when a joint production process yields only one product with a relatively
high sales value, that product is termed a main product. Thus, main product is a joint
output that generates a significant portion of the net realizable value from the process.
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Byproducts- are products that have relatively low sales value compared with the sales
value of joint or main products. These are outputs from a joint production process that are
minor in quantity and/or net realizable value when compared to the main products. Some
outputs of the joint production process have zero sales value. Example, the processing of
mineral ore to obtain gold and silver also yields dirt that is recycled back into the ground.
No journal entries are usually made in the accounting system to record the processing of
such outputs with zero sales value.
7.1. Objectives of allocating Joint Costs
So many reasons can be cited as to why the joint costs to the joint products, but we can
have the following core and important that needs allocating of joint costs to joint
products.
1) To determine selling price.
2) Inventory costing and computation of cost of goods sold for finical accounting
purpose and reports for income tax authorities.
3) Inventory costing and cost of goods sold computations for internal reporting
purpose.
4) Performance measurement used in division profitability analysis when
compensation is determined for division managers.
5) Cost reimbursement under contracts when only a portion of a business’s products
or services is sold or delivered to a single customer (such as a government of
agency.)
6) Estimating casualty loss for insurance settlements computations when damage
claims made by business with joint products, main products, or byproducts are
based on cost information
7) For other planning, controlling and decision making activities.
Activity:
Question 1: Assume the sugar industry. The Metehara Sugar factory processes
the sugar mill in to several components. Identify the products, the main product
(s) and the byproduct (s).
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 Characteristics of joint product
Dear student, from our above discussions we can summarize the following
characteristics.
- Joint products are produced from the same raw material
- They are produced simultaneously a common process
- They are comparatively of equal importance
- They may require further processing after their point of separation
Timeout! We have discussed some theoretical aspects in the joint process and incurrence
of joint cost so that it is time for you to test your understanding by doing the following
exercise.
Activity:
Question 2
1. Define joint process, joint cost, main product and byproduct
2. list the characteristics of joint products
3. Explain why joint cost allocation is required
7.2. Joint Cost allocations Approaches
Several methods can be used in allocating joint cost in to joint products. These
methods are basically grouped into two major approaches. These are:
Approach-1: It is an approach that allocates joint costs using market-based data such
as revenues. Dear learner, under this method, there are three methods that might be
used under this approach that help us for allocation of the joint costs. They are:
 Sales value at the split-off point method
 Estimated net realizable value (NRV) method
 Constant gross-margin percentage NRV method
Approach-2: the second approach allocates joint costs using physical-measure –based
data such as weight or volume, etc.
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In allocation of joint costs by methods under approach-1, the benefit-received criterion
we have discussed in unit three of module I is generally preferred. Revenue, in general, is
a better indicator of benefits received than are physical measures such as weight or
volume.
I. Sales Value at Split-off point method
Manufacturer with joint production process sometimes must decide whether a joint
product should be sold at the split-off point or processed further before being sold. Such
decision is, however, not affected by the joint costs to be allocated among the joint
products. The only relevant costs are those costs that differ between the two alternatives
i.e. processing further or selling the both products or one of the products at the split-off
point.
In most cases of simplest joint production process, the joint products are sold at the split-
off - point without further processing. In such cases, the relative sales value at the split-
off point method is used to allocate the joint costs incurred on the joint products. That is
the joint costs are allocated to the joint products on the basis of the proportion of their
relative sales value at the split-off point. This method ignores the separable or further
processing cost of the joint products with the essence that the products are sealable at the
split off point without further processing.
Example: For illustration of the sales value at the split-off point method assume
Farmers’ Dairy of Dessie purchases raw milk from individual farms and processes it until
the split of point, where two products (cream and liquid skin) emerge. These two
products are sold to an independent company, which markets and distributes them to
supermarkets in Dessie and other retail outlets. The following diagram indicates the basic
relationships in this example.
145
Cream
Joint costs
Raw Milk Processing

$400,000
Liquid
Split-off point Skim
The Summary data presented by the Farmers’ Dairy for May 2001 are as follows:
- Row milk processed, 110,000 gallons, 10,000 gallons of raw milk are lost in the
production process due to evaporation, spillage and so on, yielding 100,000
gallons of good product.
Production Sales
Cream 25,000 gallons 20,000 gallons at $ 8/gallon
Liquid skin 75,000 gallons 30,000 gallons at $4/gallon
Beginning Inventory ending inventory

Row milk 0 gallons 0 gallons
Cream 0 gallons 5,000 gallons
Liquid skin 0 gallons 45,000 gallons
Cost of purchasing 110,000 gallons of raw milk and processing it until the split off point
to yield 25,000 gallons of cream and 75,000 gallons of liquid skin is $ 400,000.
Dear learner, much attention should be given to the physical amounts used for allocation
of joint costs at the sales value at the split of point method. The total production volume
is used for the allocation process not the number of units sold. The number of units sold
and remained is used to find out the actual revenue reported in the income statement, cost
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of goods sold and cost of ending inventory reported in the balance sheet. Keep in touch
very carefully with the example below.
Required:
1) Allocate the joint costs to each product using the Sales value at the split off point
method
2) How much of the joint costs should be allocated to the cost of goods sold to the
ending inventory of each product.
Solution:
Reminder! As we have discussed already sales value at the split-off point method
allocates joint costs to joint products on the basis of the relative sales value at the split off
point of the total production of these products during the accounting period.
Cream Liquid skin Total
Sales value at split off point
(Cream 25,000x$8; LS, 75,000x$4) $ 200,000 $ 300, 000 $ 500,000
Ratio (200,000; 300,000) 0.40 0.60
500,000 5000,000
Joint cost allocated

(400,000x0.4; 400,000x0.6) $ 160,000 $ 240,000 $ 400,000
Joint product costs per gallon
(160,000; 240,000) $ 6.40 $ 3.20
25,000 75,000
Cost of goods sold: cream = 20,000x6.40= $ 128,000

Liquid skin = 30.000 x 3.20= $96,000
Cost of ending inventory: cream =5,000 x 6.4 = $32,000
Liquid skim= 45,000 x 3.2=$144,000
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Farmers’ Dairy Product-Line Income statement for May 2001 under sales value at
split off point joint cost allocation method
Liquid
Creams skim Total
-Revenue (cream, 20,000 gallons ×$8;

Liquid skim, 30,000 gallons× $4) ----------------- $160,000 ------- $120,000 ----$280,000
Cost of goods sold --------------------------- 128,000 -------- 96,000 ----- 224,000
- Gross margin (revenue-cost of goods sold) ------ $32,000 --------$24,000------ $56,000
- Gross margin percentage on revenue --------------- 20% ------- 20% ---- 20%
II. Estimated net realizable value (NRV) Method
In many cases, products are processed further beyond split off point in order to bring
them to a marketable form or to increase their value above their selling price at the split-
off point.
The estimated net realizable value (NRV) method allocates joint costs to joint products
on the basis of the relative magnitude of estimated NRV of final products. The net
realizable value is expected final sales value in the ordinary course of business minus the
expected separable cost of the total production of these products during the accounting
period.
The estimated NRV method is preferable to sales value at split-off point method in
allocating joint costs when market selling prices for one or more products at the split-off
point are not available.
Dear student, for our illustration of this method still consider the Farmers’ Dairy product
line case and assume the same situation as in the above cases except that both cream and
liquid skim can be processed further as it is represented in the diagram supported by
narration below:
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Joint costs Separable costs
Further
Cream Butter
Processing
Cream
$280,000
Raw Milk Processing
$400,000
Liquid Conde
Further
Skim nsed
Processing
$520,000 milk
Split-off point
 Cream Butter cream: 25,000gallons of cream are further processed to yield

20,000 gallons of butter cream at additional processing cost (separable cost) of
$280,000. Butter cream is sold for $25/gallon.
 Liquid skin Condensed milk: 75,000 gallons of liquid skin are further
processed to yield 50,000 gallons of condensed milk at additional processing costs
of $520,000. Condensed milk is sold for $22/gallon.
Beginning Inventory Ending inventory
Raw milk 0 gallons 0 gallons

Cream 0 gallons 0 gallons
Liquid skim 0 gallons 0 gallons
Butter cream 0 gallons 8,000 gallons
Condensed milk 0 gallons 5,000 gallons
Sales during the accounting period were 12,000 gallons of Butter cream and 45,000
gallons of Condensed milk.
Butter cream Condensed Milk Total
Expected final sales value of production
(20,000x$25; 50,000x$22) $500,000 $1,100,000 $1,600,000
Deduct separable costs to complete & sell 280,000 520,000 800,000
Estimated net realizable value at $220,000 $580,000 $ 800,000
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Split off point
Ratio (220,000; 580,000)

800,000 800,000 0.275 0.725
Joint costs allocated: (4000, 000 X 0.275) =$110,000 (400,000x0.725)

=$290,000
Production cost per gallon
(280,000+110,000; 520,000+290,000) = $19.5 $16.20
20,000 50,000
Cost of goods sold: Butter cream=12,000x$19.5 = 234,000

Condensed milk 45,000 x $16.20 = $729,000
Cost of ending inventory Butter cream = 8000x$19.5= $156.000
Condensed milk = 5,000X$16.2 = $81,000
Dear learner, herein cost of production refers to the total cost incurred until the product is
finalized. That is, the joint cost plus the separable (additional) costs incurred to further
process the out puts. Therefore, to determine the cost of each product, it is the total
product divided by the number of products produced final as we did in the above
example.
Furthermore, to calculate the cost of ending inventory, it is simply the total production
cost minus the cost of goods sold. For example: Butter cream the total production cost is
$390,000 (280,000 + 110,000) and the cost of goods sold is $234,000, then cost of ending
inventory is $156,000 (390,000 – 234,000).
Farmers’ Dairy Product-Line Income statement for May 2001 under estimated net
realizable value method of joint cost allocation
Butter Condensed
Cream milk Total
-Revenue (butter cream, 20,000 gallons ×$25;

Condensed milk, 45,000 gallons× $22) ------------$300,000 ------- $990,000 --$1,290,000
Cost of goods sold:
-Joint costs allocated (butter cream, 0.275×
$400,000; condensed milk, 0.725×$400,000) --$110,000 ------ $290,000 ----$ 400,000
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-Separable processing costs ----------------------- 280,000 ------ 520,000 ----- 800,000
- Cost of goods available for sale -----------------390,000 ------- 810,000 ----- 1,200,000
- Deduct ending inventory (butter cream,
8,000 gallons × $19.50; condensed milk,
5,000 gallons ×$16.20) ------------------------ 156,000 ------- 81,000 ---- 237,000
-Cost of goods sold --------------------------- 234,000 -------- 729,000 ---- 963,000
- Gross margin (revenue-cost of goods sold) ---$66,000 --------$261,000----$327,000
- Gross margin percentage on revenue ------------- 22.0% ------- 26.4% ----- 25.3%
III. Constant Gross-Margin percentage NRV Method:
Another method of allocating the joint costs to the joint products is the Constant Gross-
Margin percentage NRV Method. It allocates joint costs to joint products in such a way
that the overall gross margin percentage is identical for the individual products.
This method entails three steps:

Step :- 1. Compute the over all gross margin percentage
2. Use the over all gross margin percentage and deduct the gross margin from the
final sales value to obtain the total costs that each product will bear.
3. Deduct the expected separable costs from the total costs to obtain the joint -cost
allocation.
To determine the joint-cost allocation, the expected final sales value of the total
production during the accounting period ($1,600,000), not the total sales of the period, is
used. The joint costs allocated under this method need not always be positive under this
method. Some products may receive negative allocation of joint costs to bring their gross-
margin percentage up to the overall company average. In our case, the overall gross
margin percentage is 25%.
The assumption underlying the constant gross-margin percentage NRV method is that all
the products have the same ratio of cost to sales value. This method is fundamentally
different from the sales value at split-off point and the estimated NRV methods in that it
allocate both joint costs and profit unlike the two market based methods which allocates
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only the joint costs to the products. This is because, the total difference between the sales
value of production of all products and the separable cost of all products includes both (a)
the joint costs, and (b) the total gross margin. Both (a) and (b) are allocated to products
under the constant gross-margin method so that each products has the same gross margin
percentage
Step1:- Expected final sales value of total production

During the accounting period (20,000 x $25 + 50,000 x $22) = $ 1,600,000
Deduct joint plus reparable costs (400,000+280,000+520,000) =$ 1,200,000
Gross-margin $ 400,000
Gross-margin percentage= Gross margin = $400,000 = 25%
Revenue 1,600,000
Step 2:-
Butter cream Condensed milk Total
Expected final sales value
(20,000 x $25; 50,000 x$22) $500,000 $1,100,000 $1,600,000
Deduct gross margin (25) of each) 125,000 275,000 400,000
Cost of goods sold 375,000 825,000 1,200,000
Deduct separable costs 280,000 520,000 800,000
Joint cost allocated $95,000 $305,000 $400,000
Farmers’ Dairy Product-Line Income statement for May 2001 under constant gross
margin percentage NRV method of joint cost allocation
Butter Condensed
Cream milk Total
-Revenues (butter cream, 12,000 gallons ×$25;

Condensed milk, 45,000 gallons × $22) ------- $300,000 ------ $990,000 -- $1,290,000
- Cost of goods sold:
 Joint costs (from exhibit 5-9)---------- 95,000 ------ 82,500 --- 232,500
 Separable costs to complete and sell---280,000 ------ 520,000 ---- 800,000
 Cost of goods available for sale ------ 375,000 ------- 825,000 ----- 1,200,000
 Deduct ending inventory ( butter cream,
8,000 gallons × $18.75; Condensed milk,
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5000 gallons × $16.50) ------------------150,000 ------- 82,500 ----- 232,500
 Cost of goods sold -------------------- 225,000 ------742,500 ----- 967,500
 Gross margin( revenue-CGS)-------- $75,000----- $247,500------- $322,500
Gross margin percentage---------------- 25% ------- 25% ------ 25%
Approach II: Physical Measures Method:

We have already discussed the methods allocating joint costs to joint products fall under
the market based data such as revenue. As per the above classification the second
approach for allocating joint costs is physical measures based method. This method
allocates joint costs to joint products on the basis of the relative weight, volume, or other
physical measures at the split off point.
Dear Learner, consider the data and information given in example under the sales value at
the split-off point. As indicated there, the $400,000 joint costs produced 25,000 gallons
of cream and 75,000 gallons of liquid skim. Thus, by using the number of gallons
produced as the physical measure, joint costs are allocated as presented in the following
tabular form.
Cream Liquid skin Total

Physical measures of
Production (gallons) 25,000 75,000 100,000
Ratio (25,000; 75,000) 0.25 0.75
Joint costs allocated $ 100,000 $300,000 $400,000
Production cost per gallon $4 $4
Cost of goods sold: Cream 20,000x4 = $80,000

Liquid 30000x4 = $120,000
Ending inventory: Cream 500x4 = $20,000
Liquid skin 45,000x4 =$180,000
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Farmer’ Dairy Product-Line Income statement for May 2001 under physical
measure method of joint cost allocation method
Liquid
Creams skim Total
-Revenue (cream, 20,000 gallons ×$8;

Liquid skim, 30,000 gallons× $4) ----------------- $160,000 ------- $120,000 ---$280,000
- Joint costs
 Production costs (cream, 0.25×$400,000;
Liquid skim, 0.75×$400,000) --------------- 100,000 --------300,000 ---- 400,000
 Deduct ending inventory (cream,
5,000 gallons×$4; Liquid skim,
45,000 gallons ×$4) -------------------- 20,000 ---------180,000 ---- 200,000
 Cost of goods sold --------------------------- 80,000 -------- 120,000 ----- 200,000
- Gross margin (revenue-cost of goods sold) ----- $80,000 -------- $ 0 ----- $80,000
Dear student, please note the following summarized concept about the methods of joint
cost allocation. As to which joint cost allocation method is to be used depends on the
circumstance at hand. Moreover, each one method has its own advantages and inherent
limitations. On the other hand it is worthy to know that joint costs are irrelevant in
deciding whether to sale joint products at the split-off point or process them further. This
is because joint costs incurred up to the split-off point are past (sunk) costs. Accordingly,
none of the methods for allocating joint-product costs discussed earlier in this unit should
guide management decisions on selling a product at the split-off point or processing it
further. Thus, such decisions should be made on the basis of incremental cost and
incremental revenue analysis (i.e. the comparison of additional separable costs incurred
in processing the product further and the expected additional operating income beyond
the split-off point).
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Activity:
Question 3
Assume that the Addis Mojo Edible Oil Factory produces two joint products, GX oil and
GZ oil from a single raw material refining process. In the year 1999 E.C the joint process
costing of refining the raw material is Br 18,000,000. At split-off point the two products
have a market value of Br 20 for GX oil and Br 12 for GZ oil. Separable process costs
beyond the split-off point were GX oil, Br 22,500,000, and GZ oil, Br 5,625,000. The
unit selling price of the products after further processing is, GX oil is Br 37.5 and GZ oil
is Br 18.75. During the fiscal period the Addis Mojo Edible Oil Company produced and
sold 750,000 liters of GX oils and 375,000 liters of GZ oil.
Using the above example for the factory, answer the following to questions and after you
complete compare your answer with your friend.
1. Based on the estimated net realizable value method, the total costs allocated to GX oil
and GZ oil will be:
2. Under the physical-measure method, the joint costs allocated to the two products will
be equals to:
Timeout! We have seen the different methods of allocating joint costs to joint products
supported by illustrations. Now, attempt the following exercise and check your
understanding of the methods.
Exercise
Lucy Chocolate Company manufactures and distributes chocolate products. It purchases
cocoa beans and processes them into two intermediate products: Chocolate-powder
liquor base and Milk-chocolate liquor base.
These two intermediate products become separately identifiable at a single split off point.
Every 500 pounds of cocoa beans yield 20 gallons of chocolate-powder liquor base and
30 gallons of milk-chocolate liquor base.
The chocolate-powder liquor base is further processed into chocolate powder. Every 20
gallons of chocolate –powder liquor base yield 200 pounds of chocolate powder. The
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milk-chocolate liquor base is further processed into milk chocolate. Every 30 gallons of
milk-chocolate liquor base yields 340 pounds of milk chocolate.
An overview of the manufacturing operations at Lucy Chocolates is as follows:
Production and sales data for August 2006 are:
Cocoa beans processed, 5,000 pounds
Costs of processing cocoa beans to split off point (including purchase of Beans) =
$10,000
Production Sales Selling Price
Chocolate powder 2,000 pounds 2,000 pounds $4 per pound

Milk chocolate 3,400 pounds 3,400 pounds $5 per pound
The August 2006 separable costs of processing chocolate-powder liquor base into
chocolate powder are $ 4,250. The August 2006 separable costs of processing milk-
chocolate liquor base into milk chocolate are $8,750.
Lucy fully processes both of its intermediate products into chocolate powder and milk
chocolate. There is an active market for these intermediate products.
In August 2006, Lucy could have sold the chocolate-powder liquor base for $21 a gallon
and the milk-chocolate liquor base for $26 a gallon.
Required:
Allocate the joint costs of $10,000 to the products under the following methods:
A. Sales value at split off point method.
B. Estimated net realizable Value method, and
C. Constant gross-margin percentage NRV method.
Have you completed doing the exercise? How do you see it? If you do it self-assuredly,
congratulations! If not go back to the discussion and read it very carefully.
7.3. Accounting for Byproducts, Scrap and Waste
Dear learners, joint production process may yield not only joint and main products but
byproducts as well. By-products are unavoidable but unneeded products of the production
process. Although byproducts have much lower sales value than do joint or main
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products, the presence of by-products can affect the allocation of joint costs. Since these
products are relatively minor products, alternative method to account for them are not
likely to have a material effect on the financial statements for either internal or external
reporting. Hence, some companies recognize by-products in the financial statements at
the time production is completed (production method) while other companies make by-
products accounting as easy as possible by simply expensing the by-products’ costs in the
period they are incurred and then recording the total revenue from by-products when they
are sold (the sale method) specially when dollar amounts of by-products are immaterial.
 Distinction of by-products from joint products and main products

There are no hard rules to easily differentiate by-products from joint products and main
products. A product may be treated as a joint product in one business and the same
product may be treated as a byproduct in another business. However, there are certain
factors that enable us distinguish the products from each other. Among the many factors,
the following are the commonly used to distinguish by-products from joint and main
products.
A). Relative sales value: if there are two products produced from the same production
process, the one with relatively high sales value is the main product and the other with
low sales value is the by-product. However, if the products have relatively the same or
relatively equal sales value, the products are joint products.
B). Organizational objective: if a particular organization is established to produce W, the
unwanted part of the production process product V is the by-product. For example,
Metehara Sugar factory is established to produce sugar, the unavoidable part of the
production process bagasses and molasses are by-products.
C). Management Policy: treatment of similar products differs from organization to
organization depending on their policy. Some organizations treat the same product as by-
product or joint product which is considered by another organization reversely. In
general, a product may be treated as a joint product in one business and the same product
may be treated as a byproduct in another
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Dear learner let’s support our descriptions of the by-products using illustrative examples.
Assume that Meat works Groups processes meat from slaughterhouses. One of its
departments cuts lamb shoulders and generates two products:
Shoulder meat (the main product):- sold for $60 per pack
Hock meat (the byproduct):- sold for $4 per pack
Both products are sold at the split-off point without further processing, as shown in the
following exhibit.
Overview of Meat works Groups
Joint costs
Shoulder
Lamb Meat
Shoulders Processing
$25,000
Hock
Meat
Split-off point
 Additional information
Beginning Ending
Productions Sales Inventory Inventory
Shoulder meat ----- 500 -----------400----------- 0 -------------------100

Hock meat---------- 100 ---------- 30 ---------- 0 ------------------- 70
The joint manufacturing costs of these products in July 2001 were $25,000 (comprising
$15,000 for direct materials and $10,000 for conversion costs.)
As we have already stated in our introductory pat of this unit, there are two basic methods
used to accounting the by products. These are:
 Method A: Byproducts recognized at time production is completed
 Method B: Byproducts recognized at time of sales
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Method-A: Byproduct recognized at time production is completed- this method
recognizes the byproducts in the financial statements as the production process is
completed and no revenue is recognized from the sales of the byproducts rather the
selling price of the byproducts is assumed to be as the reduction of the cost for the main
product.
Method-B: Byproduct Recognized at time of sale- This method makes no journal entries
until sale of the byproduct are reported as a revenue item in the income statement at the
time of sale. It delays the recognition of byproducts until the time of sales. It recognizes
sales revenue when the byproducts are sold under this method byproducts share no cost
from the cost of the production process.
Activity:
Question 4
Dear learner, assume a simple production process in your surrounding, for example
woodwork shop, based on your observation answer the following questions:
1. What is the main product of the woodwork shop?
2. What byproducts do you observe?
3. How do you differentiate the byproduct from the main or joint products?
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Income statement of Meat works Group
From the above example we have for Meat Works Group, we can prepare an income
statement under the two methods and we can see the difference in treatment of the
byproducts.
Byproduct accounting Methods
Method A Method B
Revenues:
Main product: Shoulder meat (400 x $60) $24,000 $24,000
Byproducts: Hock meat (30 x $4) - 120
Total revenues (a) $24,000
$24,120
Cost of goods sold:
Total manufacturing costs 25,000 25,000
Less: byproduct revenue (100 x $4) 400 -
Net manufacturing costs $24,600 $25,000
Less: main product ending inventory cost *** 4,920 5,000
Cost of goods sold (b) $19,680 $20,000
Gross margin (a-b) $4,320 $4,120
*** Main product cost Method A: $24,600 = $49.20 Cost of sold units = 400 x 49.2 =
$19, 680. 500
Method A: The production method: The 100 packs of hock meat- are recognized in the
month they are produced (July 2001) and under this method, as we can see from the
income statement, their total sales value is treated as the reduction of cost for the main
product. The estimated net realizable value from the byproducts produced is offset
against the costs of the main (or joint) products. From the above illustrative example we
can pass the following journal entries under Method A.
1. Work in process ----------------------------------- 15,000

Accounts payable------------------------------------------ 15,000
To record direct material purchased and used in production during July.
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2. Work in Process -----------------------------------10,000
Various accounts------------------------------------------- 10,000
To record conversion costs in the production process during July such as
energy, manufacturing supplies, all manufacturing labor, and plant
depreciation.
3. Byproduct Inventory-Hock Meat (100×$4) ------ 400
Finished goods-Shoulder Meat
($25,000-$400)--------------------------24,600
Work in process($15,000+$10,000)------------------------ 25,000
4a. Cost of goods Sold [(400÷500) ×$24,600]---- 19,680
Finished goods-shoulder Meat------------------------------19,680
To record the cost of the main product sold during July.
4b. Cash or Accounts Receivable (400×$60) ---------- 24,000
Revenue-shoulder Meat --------------------------------------24,000
To record the sales of the main product during July
5. Cash or Account Receivable (30×$4) --------------------------- 120

Byproduct Inventory-Hock Meat------------------------------------------120
To record the sales of the byproduct during July
This method reports the byproduct inventory of hock meat in the balance sheet at their $4
per pack selling price [(100-30) ×$4 = $280]. When the byproduct is sold in subsequent
period, the income statement would match the selling price with the net selling price
reported for the byproducts inventory.
Method-B: Byproduct Recognized at time of sale- This method makes no journal entries
until sale of the byproduct are reported as a revenue item in the income statement at the
time of sale. In our example, the byproduct revenue in July 2001 would be $120 (30×$4)
because only 30 packs of the hock meat are sold in July (of the 100 packs produced.).
The journal entries would be:
Journal entries 1 and 2 remains the same as for method-A
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3. Finished goods-Shoulder Meat -------------------25,000
Work in process-------------------------------------------25,000
To record goods completed during July.
4a. Cost of goods sold [(400÷500) ×$25,000] ---------20,000
Finished goods-Shoulder Meat--------------------------20,000
To record the cost of the main product sold during July.
4b. Same as for method -A
5. Cash or Accounts Receivable----------------------120

Revenue-Hock Meat----------------------------------------120
To record the sales of the byproduct during July
Activity:
Question 5
Assume one tone of raw material put in to a common process yields four products, A, B,
C, and D, their weight being 63kg, 117kg, 180kg, and 540kg, respectively. The balance
in weight is considered as normal loss. Based on the total processing cost of birr 20,000
per tone of raw material input, the proportionate cost to products A, B, C and D,
respectively are (amounts in birr)? First, do by yourself and then compare your answer
with your mate.
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Exercise
A single production process yields two products: product 'x' (main product) & product
y (by-product). Both products are fully processed at split- off point, and there are no
separable costs.
The total manufacturing cost is Br. 80,000.
Production Sales Selling Price
(in kgs) (in kgs) per kg
Product 'A' --------------- 10,000------------------6,000------------ Br. 20.00
Product 'B' ---------------- 2,000------------------- 1,200 ----------- Br. 2.00
Required: - Prepare the income statement under the two methods and pass the necessary
journal entries
A single production process may yield several joint products or main product and
byproducts. A joint cost is the cost of a single process that yields these multiple products.
The split off point is the juncture in the process when the products become separately
identifiable.
Joint products have relatively high sales value and are not separately identifiable as
individual products until the split off point. A by product has a low sales value compared
with the sales value of a joint product or main product.
The purpose of allocating joints costs to products include inventory costing for external
financial reporting, internal financial reporting, cost reimbursement under contracts,
insurance settlement, rate regulation, etc.
Two approaches, the market based method (sales value at the split-off point, estimated
net realizable value and constant gross profit percentage) and physical measures methods
are used to allocate the joint costs to the joint products. The sales value at the split-off
point method and the physical measures method allocates joint costs at the split-off point
that the products are sealable at the split-off point.
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Congratulations! This is the end of the unit. We hope that you have grasped adequate
knowledge of this unit. If your answer is yes, congratulations again, but if you don’t
agree with our saying go back and read again till you confidently say I am equipped with
sufficient understanding of this unit. To evaluate your progress attempt the self-test given
below and compare your answers with the answers given at the end.
I. Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer

1. A joint process is:
A. A diversified process that converts a common input in to several outputs.
B. A single process that converts a common input in to only a main product and
by products.
C. A single process that converges and converts diversified inputs in to very
similar products.
D. None
2. _________ are those manufacturing cost incurred during the processing of original
input before the products are separated
a) Joint costs b) direct product costs c) further processing costs d) separable cost
3. One of the following is odd in relation to assigning joint costs to products based on
the ability to generate revenue.
A. Sales value at a split off point.
B. Physical volume method.
C. Constant gross margin percentage NRV.
D. Estimated net realizable value.
E. None
4. Byproducts are:
A. items significant part of the production process
B. items with low sales value and are of secondary value of the production
process
C. Possibly avoidable part of the production process
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D. Items having proximate sales value to the joint products.
E. None
5. A method that delays the recognition of the byproducts until sales is:
A. Sales method (method B)
B. Estimated net realizable value
C. Constant gross profit percentage NRV method
D. Production method (method A)
II. Fill in the blank

Fill the best answer you opt.
1. The stage of production at which separate products are identified is known as ___.
2. The _________ product usually has a greater sales value than byproducts
3. The _________ of the product is the most important criterion (factor) for
distinguishing between byproducts, main products and joint products.
4. The cost incurred beyond the split-off point of the production process of the joint
products is __________________.
5. Under the _________ method of apportionment of the joint costs, the cost per unit
of each product is the same.
III. Workout Questions

Rainbow Lumber has products for sale to lumber wholesalers. Its most known line is oak
products. Oak tree growers sell rainbow lumber whole trees. These trees are jointly
processed up to the split off point at which raw select oak, raw white oak and raw knotty
oak become separable products. Each raw production is then separately further processed
by Rainbow Lumber into finished products (select oak, white oak and knotty oak) that are
sold to lumber wholesalers. Data for August 2005 are:
i) Joint processing cost (including cost of oak trees) $300,000
ii) Separable product at split off point
a) Raw select oak 30,000 board feet
b) Raw white oak 50,000 board feet
c) Raw knotty oak 20,000 board feet
iii) Final product produced and sold
a) select oak 25,000 board feet at $16 per board feet
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b) White oak 40,000 board feet at $9 per board feet
c) Knotty oak 15,000 board feet at $ $7 per board feet
iv) Separable processing costs
a) For select oak $60,000
b) For white oak $90,000
c) For knotty oak $15,000
There is an active market for raw oak products. Selling prices available in august 2005
were raw select oak ($8 per board feet), raw white oak ($4 per board feet) and raw knotty
oak ($3 per board feet). There were no beginning and ending inventories for August
2005.
Required: Allocate the joint cost to the three products using:
a) Sales at a split off point method
b) Physical measures method and
c) Estimated net realizable value (NRV) method.
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REFERENCES
 Horngren, Foster, & Datar. Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis. 9th Ed.
1997/Horngren, Sunden & Stratton. Introduction to Management Accounting. 11th
Ed. 1999
 C.T Horgren, Introduction to Management Accounting 4th to 8 th editions, 1999
USA
 C.T. Homgren, Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis 5th to 8th editions
prentice Hall Inc. 1982 to 1994
 Homgren, foster, &Datar, Cost Accounting A Managerial Emphasis. 10 th Edition
 L.E. Heitger Managerial Accounting 1th and 2 nd editions, McGraw Hill , 1998,
India
 Getu Jemaneh, Management Accounting 1996.
 Ray H.Garrison, Managerial Accounting. 6th edition
 Caluinengler, Managerial Accounting 2nd edition
 L. Gayle Rayburn Principles of cost Accounting using a cost Management
Approach 4th edition Richard DIR WIN Inc. 1989.
 Robert X. Kaplan Advanced Management Accounting 1st and 2nd edition
prentice Hall, Inc, 1982 and 1989 (Chapters 2, 11,12, and 13 only)
167
APPENDIX I: ANSWER KEY FOR SELF TEST QUESTIONS
Answer key for Self test Questions :Chapter One

True or false items
1. False 2. True
Multiple choices items
3. C 4. D 5.E
Fill in the blanks:
6. Financial accounting 7.Cost benefit approach 8.Competence
Answer key for Self test Questions: Chapter Two
Multiple choices
1. D, 2. D, 3.C, 4.A, 5.D, 6.C, 7.E, 8.A, 9.C, 10.D
Answer key for Self test Questions: Chapter Three
Multiple choices
1.A 2.D 3.D. 4.E 5.D 6.C 7.D 8.B 9.D 10.D 11.C 12.C 13.D. 14.D
Answer key for Self test Questions: Chapter Five
i. Yes, marginal costing is used for internal purpose. Variable (marginal) costing,
which only includes variable costs in inventory valuation, does not coincide with
generally accepted accounting principles. Because a portion of product costs
(fixed cost) are not included in inventory cost determination. It is used for
internal reporting purpose to compare the pats operational performance (profit,
loss and costs).
2. Marginal costing uses only the variable costs for inventory valuation. The fixed
costs are written off against contribution margins of a particular period. Where as
the total costing uses the fixed costs and variable costs for inventory valuation.
This fixed overhead makes difference between the net income calculated under
the two methods. This is due to that in absorption costing some of the fixed costs
168
are become part of the closing stock and transfer to the future. If closing stock is
more than opening stock, net income in absorption costing is more than net
income in variable (marginal) costing.
3. The following are the important points that should be taken in to consideration
when we are comparing the income statement under absorption costing and
variable costing.
 When sales and production coincide i.e., there is neither opening stock nor
closing stock, the results under both the methods will be same.
 When closing stock is more than the opening stock, profit under
absorption costing will be more than the profit under variable costing. This
is because, under absorption costing, a portion of fixed overhead is
charged to the closing stock and carried over to the next instead of being
charged to the current period. When closing stock is less than the opening
stock, the profit shown under absorption costing will be lower than the
profit shown under variable costing.
Answer key for Self test Questions: Chapter Seven
I. Multiple choice
1. D 2. A 3. B 4. B 5. A
II. Fill in the blank

1. Split-off point 4. Separable (further processing) cost
2. Main product 5. Physical measures method
3. Relative sales value
III. Workout question
A). Sales value at the split-off point method
Joint cost allocated
Product Quantity price Total sold to each product
Raw select oak 30,000 b.f. $8 per b.f. $240,000 =$144,000
Raw white oak 50,000 b.f. 4 per b.f. 200,000 =120,000
Raw knotty oak 20,000 b.f. 3 per b.f. 60,000 = 36,000
169
Total $500,000
Raw selected oak = $240,000 x 300,000 = $144,000
500,000
Raw white oak = $200,000 x 300,000 = $120,000
500,000
Raw knotty oak = $60,000 x300,000 = $36,000
500,000
B). Physical measures method
Product Quantity Joint cost allocated
Raw select oak 30,000 b.f. 30,000 x 300,000 = $ 90,000
100,0000
Raw white oak 50,000 b.f. 50,000 x 300,000 = $150,000
100,000
Raw knotty oak 20,000 b.f. 20,000 x 300,000 = $60,000
Total 100,000 100,000
C). Estimated net realizable value method
Selected oak white oak knotty oak

Final sales value $400,000 $360,000 $105,000
25,000x$16; 40,000x9; 15,000x7)
Deduct separable costs 60,000 90,000 15,000
Estimated net realizable value at the split-off point $340,000 $270,000 $90,000
Joint cost allocated: =$145,714 =$115,714 = $38,572
(340,000 x 300,000;
700,000
270,000x300,000;
700,000
90,000x300,000)
700,000
170
APPENDIX II: INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
WOLLO UNIVERSITY
CBE/DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
COST AND MANAGEMENT I
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
FOR DISTANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE STUDENT
Course Number: ACFN2091 Total Mark:35%
Name ID No
Department Section Sign
PART-ONE: Write ‘True’ If the Statement Is Correct and ‘False’ If the Statement Is
Incorrect (0.5point each)
1. Under variable costing, an increase in the fixed factory overhead will have no
effect on the unit product cost.
2. There is no difference in the unit costs computed under the weighted-average and
FIFO methods of process costing if there is no beginning work in process
inventories.
3. Revenues of the byproducts are reported as a revenue item in the income
statement when byproducts recognized at the time of sale is made.
4. Process costing system is used in a situation where companies produce a single
product or single mix of products continuously for an extended period of time.
5. Fixed costs are decreases per unit as the activity level falls and increases when the
activity level rises.
6. All indirect costs are directly traced to the cost object.
7. Cost allocation is used to describe the assignment of direct costs to a particular
cost object.
8. Both actual and normal costing allocates indirect costs based on the budgeted
indirect cost rates.
9. If the amount of manufacturing overhead applied is less than the actual amount,
the difference is said to be over applied overhead.
10. Financial accounting provides financial and non financial information to internal
users.
PART-TWO: Choose the correct answer from the given alternatives (1point each)
1. Which of the following statement is correct about Job order costing system?
F. Homogeneous products are produced continuously
G. Cost is accumulated by process or department for a specified period of time
171
H. Production cycle is usually takes short period of time
I. None of the above.
2. Assume that ABC manufacturing company estimated and actual manufacturing over
head costs Are $400,000and $380,000 respectively, estimated and actual total amount
allocation base are 80,000 and 72,000 machine hours respectively. Based on the
above information what is the under/ over applied over head cost?
A. $44,444 over applied overhead C. $20,000 over applied

overhead
B. $20,000 under applied overhead D. None
3. Which one the following would the job order system be appropriate?
F. Flour companies D. Petroleum refineries

G. printing firms E. B and C
H. Repair shops F.A and D
4. Which of the following cost is necessary production and will not be incurred if there
is no production?
A. Direct cost C. product cost

B. Factory over head cost D. All
5. The secondary product recovered in the course of manufacturing a primary product
during a joint process is:
A. a split-off product C. a main product E. None
B. a byproduct D. a joint-product
6. The FIFO method provides a major advantage over the weighted-average method in
that:
A. the FIFO method provides measurements of work done during the current period
B. the calculation of equivalent units is less complex under the FIFO method
C. the FIFO method treats units in the beginning inventory as if they were started and
completed during the current period
D. the weighted-average method ignores units in the beginning and ending work in
rocess inventories
E. None
7. XYZ Company uses the weighted-average method in its process costing system. The
Painting Department started the month with 6,700 units in its beginning work in
process inventory that were50% complete with respect to conversion costs. An
additional 57,800 units were transferred in from the prior department during the
month to begin processing in the Painting Department. There were 7,600 units in the
ending work in process inventory of the Painting Department that were 60% complete
with respect to conversion costs. What were the equivalent units of production for
conversion costs in the Painting Department for the month?
A. 58,700 B. 62,360 C. 61,460 D.56,900
172
8.A company produces a single product. Variable production costs are $12 per unit and
variable selling and administrative expenses are $3 per unit. Fixed manufacturing
overhead totals $36,000 and fixed selling and administration expenses total $40,000.
Assuming a beginning inventory of zero, production of 4,000 units and sales of 3,600
units, the dollar value of the ending inventory under variable costing would be:
A. $8,400 B. $4,800 C.$6,000 D.$3,600 E. None
9. Indirect labor is a part of:
A. Conversion cost C. Period cost E. None of the
above
B. Prime cost D. Nonmanufacturing cost
10. Fixed costs expressed on a per unit basis:
A. will decrease with increases in activity
B. will increase with increases in activity
C. are not affected by activity.
D. should be ignored in making decisions since they cannot change
PART THREE: Work Out Questions (Total 20points)
1. Robinson manufacturing company uses a job order costing system. Its job order
costing system has two direct costs (DM and DL) and one indirect cost category
On January 1, 2004, the following inventories are available

 Raw material --------------- $10,000
 WIP -------------------------- $5,000
 Finished goods ------------- 15,000
Robinson budgeted the 2004 manufacturing overhead to be $1,280,000 and the budget
quantity of machine hours (allocation base) are 16,000 machine hours.
The following transaction occurs during the month of January
a) Purchase of material (direct and indirect), $89,000 on account
b) Raw material sent to manufacturing plant floor is $85,000 out of which $4000
is indirect material
c) Manufacturing labor wages liability incurred is $54,000 out of which $15,000
is indirect
d) The actual machine hours used in the period were 1000 machine hours. The
manufacturing over head is allocated using this actual machine hour.
e) Additional manufacturing over head cost incurred during the month is
$75,000.this cost consists of utility and repairs, $23, 000, insurance expired
$2,000, depreciation expense $50,000.
f) Cost of finished goods of eight individual jobs completed and transferred out
is $188,800.
g) Finished goods costing $180,000 was sold for $300,000 on cash.
173
Required:
i. Journalize the above transactions
ii. Post using T-account
iii. Compute the under or over applied MOH cost
iv. Close the amount using direct write off to cost of goods sold
2. Shark Bicycle of Bombay, produces an inexpensive, yet rugged, bicycle for use on the
city’s crowded streets that it sells for 500 Birr each. Selected data for the company’s
operations last year follow:
Units in beginning inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Units produced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000
Units sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000
Units in ending inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000
Variable costs per unit:
Direct materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Br. 120
Direct labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Br. 140
Variable manufacturing overhead . . . . . . . . . . . Br. 50
Variable selling and administrative . . . . . . . . . . Br. 20
Fixed costs:
Fixed manufacturing overhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . Br. 600,000
Fixed selling and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . Br. 400,000
Required:
a) Compute the unit product cost by using absorption costing.
b) Compute the unit product cost by using variable costing.
c) Prepare income statement under absorption and variable costing
3. Honey butter, Inc., manufactures a product that goes through two departments prior to
completion- the Mixing Department followed by the Packaging Department. The
following information is available about work in the first department, the Mixing
Department, during June.
Percent Completed
Units Materials Conversion
Work in process, 70,000 70% 40%
beginning
Started into production 460,000
Work in process, ending 450,000 75% 25%
Work in process, $36,500 $13,500
beginning
Cost added during June $391,850 $287,300
Required:
174
A. Assume that the company uses the weighted-average method;
i. Determine the equivalent units for June for the Mixing Department.
ii. Compute the costs per equivalent unit for June for the Mixing Department.
iii. Determine the total cost of ending work in process inventory and the total cost
of units transferred to the Packaging Department.
iv. Prepare a cost reconciliation report for the Mixing Department for June.
4. Let’s say XX produces two joint products—corn syrup and corn starch—using a
common production process. In July 2012, XX reported the following production and
selling-price information:
Corn Syrup Corn Starch Joint Costs

Joint costs (costs of processing corn to split off 325, 000
point
Separable cost of processing beyond split off $375, 000 $93,750
point
Beginning inventory 0 0
Production and Sales (cases 12,500 6250
Ending inventory (case) 0 0
Selling price per case $50 25
Required : Allocate the $325,000 joint costs using the constant gross-margin percentage
NRV method?
175

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WOLLO UNIVERSITY

COLLAGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DISTANCE MODULE FOR DEGREE PROGRAM

COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING

Prepared By: Naod Mekonnen (MSc.)

Distance Education Program

Cost and Management Accounting

Prepared By: Naod Mekonnen (MSc.)

Course Code AcFn2091

1.1. Purpose of an Accounting System

Dear students, as you have learnt in principles of accounting course, accounting as a

1.2. Comparisons Among Accounting Systems

Cost accounting is indistinguishable from management accounting. The major purpose of

Financial accounting takes a historical perspective. The reports it generates focuses on

Areas of comparison Management Accounting Financial Accounting

 Report format Flexible format, driven by user’s Based on generally accepted

 Primary users As a whole business or aggregate Division, product wise owners,

 Legal compulsion As the discretion of management Compulsory

1.3. Management Accounting Guidelines

(b) Behavioral and Technical considerations: A management accounting system

1.4. Management Philosophies of Continuous Improvement

Dear students, what do you think about management philosophy mean?

i). Just in time operating Technique (JIT)

ii). Total Quality Management (TQM)

iii). Activity Based Management (ABM)

iv). Theory of Constraints:

Professional accounting organizations promote high ethical standards. Professional

1.6. Chapter Summary

Financial accounting- is defined as the art of recording, classifying, measuring and

1.7. Self-Test Questions

2.3. Cost Terminologies and Concepts

Disbursements for the purpose of generating revenue

Unused portion of Cost Used portion of Cost

2.4. Costs in a Manufacturing Firm

Indirect costs Cost allocation

2.5. Cost Classifications

Cost behavior: Variable and Fixed costs

Direct Materials Direct Labor Manufacturing

Prime costs Conversion costs

Controllable and Non-controllable costs

Unit costs and total costs

Total manufacturing cost 2,500,000.00 $ 250.00 per quintal

Cost of goods sold is then, Birr 250 X 7,500 1,875,000000

Other cost terminologies and concepts

2.6. Financial Statements of a Manufacturing firm

Financial statements of a Manufacturing company are more complex as compared to

Cash on Hand 12,669.00

2.6.2. Income Statement of a Manufacturing Firm

Income statement of a manufacturing firm differs from income statement of a

Tana Import PLC

Alder Furniture Factory

Step 1 – The schedule of Direct Materials used in production

Direct Materials used = Beginning Direct Materials inventory + Direct Materials

Schedule 1- Schedule of direct material used

Step 2 – The schedule of cost of goods manufactured

Indirect labor 98,600.00

Step 3 – The schedule of cost of goods sold

Schedule 3 – schedule of cost of goods sold

Finished goods inventory, January 1, 2018 157,000.00