Standard Costing
Standard Costing
Standard Costing
CHAPTER : I
Note: The study material is not exhaustive. These are only guidance. The examples given are issued to save time in
dictation. Student’s arc required to refer to reference books
Introduction :
Cost control is one of the objectives of cost management. Management of an organisation setups
predetermined cost to compare the actual cost with the predetermined cost. Predetermined costs are standard
costs used for cost control and performance evaluation. Historical Costing or Actual Costing is a system
where costs are ascertained after they are incurred. Historical costing does not help in finding mistakes and
inefficiencies, which all lead to variation in profit. Due to these disadvantages and limitations the standard
costing technique was developed.
Standard cost seeks to establish the cost of a product, operations or process under standard operating
conditions. The aim of standard cost is to eliminate the influence of abnormal changes in prices. It is used as a
guide for future decision and action over a period of time. Standard costing is an effective management tool
for planning, control of business and decision making. It is a technique of cost control.
Definition:
Standard Cost :
Standard costs are pre-determined cost or costs determined in advance. The I.C.M.A. (Institute of Certified
Management Accountants) London, defines standard cost as “ A pre-determined cost based on a technical
estimates for material, labour and overheads for a selected period of time and for a prescribed set of working
conditions”
A standard cost is a unit base figure which represents an amount that can be taken as a typical of the cost of an
article or service. It is a cost per unit that the firm should try to achieve if the result of operations is to be
desired. It is established on the basis of planned operations, plant cost efficiency levels and expected ca Atcitty
utilization.
Standard Costing:
Standard costing is a technique of costing which compares the pre-determined cost of a product with the actual
cost. Standard costing involves the preparation of standard costs and applying them to measure the
variations from actual costs and analysing the causes of variations with a view to maintain-maximum
efficiency in production.
The Official Terminology of I.C.M.A. London defines standard costing as “Control technique that reports
variances by comparing actual costs to pre-set standards so facilitating action through management by
exception.”
According to CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), "Standard Costing is the preparation
and use of standard costs, their comparison with actual costs and the analysis of variances to their causes and
points of incidence." On the basis of above definition, the steps involved in the techniques of standard
costing are as follows:
Step 1 -> Fixation of realistic (i.e attainable) standards for each element of cost, i.e. material,
Step 2 -> Comparison of the actual cost with the standard cost and find out the difference between
the two known as variance. A variance which increases profit is called favourable and which
decreases profit is called unfavourable or adverse.
Step 3 -> Analysis of variances to ascertain the reasons for the variances.
Step 4 -> Presentation of information to the appropriate level of management to decide upon
The standards in respect of each element of costs are determined with regard to price and
quantity. This gives rise basically to two types of variances; (l) Price Variance and (2) Quantity
or Usage or Efficiency Variance. Several other variances may, however, also be computed for
specific purposes.Classification of variance
Variance
Or
= (Standard Quantity for Actual Output x Standard Price) - (Actual Quantity x Actual Price)
Or
= (SQ X SP) - (AQ X AP)
Note: Standard Quantity of Material for Actual Output is calculated as follows:
= Standard Qty of Material x Actual Output
Standard Output
or = Standard Qty of Material required per unit x Actual Output.
(a) Favourable (F) if the effect of the variance is to increase the profit (i.e. where actual cost is less than the
standard cost.)
(b) Adverse (A) if the effect of the variance is to decrease the profit (i.e.where actual cost is more than the
standard cost.)
MCV may arise due to:
o change in price of material, or
o change in quantity of material, or
o change in price and quantity of material
MCV may be further divided into:
(a) Material Price Variance (MPV), and
(b) Material Usage Variance (MUV)
Meaning: Direct Material Price Variance (MPV) is that portion of the material cost variance which is due to the
difference between the standard price specified and the actual price paid.
Meaning
Direct Material Usage Variance (MUV) is that portion of the material cost variance which is due to the
difference between the standard quantity specified and the actual quantity consumed.
MUV = (Standard Quantity for Actual Output - Actual Quantity) x Standard Price
or (SQ X SP) – (AQ X SP) OR = (SQ - AQ) X SP
Nature
(a) Favourable (F) if the effect of variance is to increase the profit (i.e. where AQ < SQ)
(b) Adverse (A) if the effect of variance is to decrease the profit (i.e. where AQ > SQ)
MUV may arise due to:
1. Use of non-standard materials.
2. Use of non-standard material mixture.
3. Use of substitute materials.
4. Inefficiency in the use of materials.
5. Change in the quality of materials.
6. Change in the design or specification of the product.
7. Change in method of production
8. Yield from materials in excess of or less than standard yield.
9. Pilferage.
10. Defect in plant and machinery.
Division :
MUV may be further divided into:
(a) Material Mix Variance (MMV), and
(b) Material Yield Variance (MYV).
.
DIRECT MATERIAL MIX VARIANCE (MMV)
Meaning: Direct Material Mix Variance (MMV) is that portion of the material usage variance which is due to
the difference between standard and actual composition of materials.
Material Mix Variance (MMV) is calculated as follows:
MMV = Standard Cost of Revised Qty of Actual Materials consumed
minus
Standard Cost of Actual Qty of Materials Consumed
or
= (RSQ X SP) - (AQ X SP) or = (RSQ - AQ) X SP
Note: Revised Standard Quantity (RSQ) is calculated by dividing the total actual quantities of all
materials in a standard material mix ratio as follows:
RSQ = Standard Qty of one material x Total Actual Quantities of all materials
Total Standard Quantities of all materials
Nature
(a) Favourable (F) if the effect of the variance is to increase the profit (i.e. where AQ<RSQ)
(b) Adverse (A) if the effect of the variance is to decrease the profit (i.e. where AQ>RSQ)
MMV arises only when the actual two or more materials are mixed in a ratio different from the standard
material mix ratio. Change from Standard mix may be due to the non-availability of one or more
components of material mix.
Meaning :MYV is that portion of the material usage variance which is due to the difference between standard
yield specified for actual quantity used and actual yield obtained. The standard yield is the output expected to be
obtained from the actual usage of materials. MYV is an output variance which represents a gain or loss on
output in terms of finished production.
or = SQ X SP
STANDARD OUTPUT
Nature
(a) Favourable (F) if the effect of the variance is to increase the profit (i.e. where AY>SY)
(b) Adverse (A) if the effect of the variance is to decrease the profit (i.e. where AY<SY)
MYV arises only when the actual loss as % of total actual input differs from the standard loss as % of
total standard input.
.
Example 1 . The standard and actual figures of product ‘Z’ are as under:
Standard Actual
Material quantity 50 units
Variances:
(i) Price variance = Actual qty (Std. price – Actual price)
= 45 units (Rs.1.00 – Rs.0.80) = Rs. 9 (F)
(ii) Usage variance = Std. price (Std. qty – Actual qty.)
= Rs.1 (50 units – 45 units) = Rs. 5 (F)
(iii) Material cost variance = Standard cost – Actual cost
(Total variance) = Rs. 50 – Rs. 36 = Rs. 14 (F)
VERIFICATION = MCV = MPV+ MUV= 9+5 = 14(F)
Example 2
From the following information , calculate MCV,MPV,MQV,MMV AND
MSUV AND MYV
Material Yield Variance = (Actual Yield - Standard Yield) x Average Standard Price
=( 90 KG – 90KG* 110KG) X 800 = 160(A)
100 KG 45
Solution : Workings : Rate is given in terms per hour so Standard time and actual time should be in terms of
Hours
LEV = SR (SH-AH)
SK = 2(92250-72000) = +40500
SSK = 3(61500-63000) =-4500
LEV = 36000 (F) VERIFICATION = LCV = LRV+LEV
SKILLED WORKERS
STD MIX 150000 : HRS 90000 =135000 X 90000/150000=81,000
ACTUAL MIX 135000: (?)
Example 7. A manufacturing department of a company employing 100 workers produced 1040 units in a 42
hours week despite 5% of the time paid was lost due to an abnormal reason. The standard wage rate per hour
was Rs. 6 but the actual wage rate per hour was Rs.8. The standard output is 25 units per hour in a department
employing 100 workers. Calculate Idle time variance
Idle Time variance = Idle Hours X Standard Rate = [ 5% of (100 x 42) x 6] = 1260(A)