Question

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

The type of product a company produces affects the type of accounting system needed to determine product cost. The 2 most common types of costing systems are job-order costing and process costing.

Compare and contrast job-order and process costing systems. How can events in a job-order costing system affect financial statements? How can events in a process costing system affect financial statements? Provide specific examples for each type.

Answer 1

Job costing involves the detailed accumulation of production costs attributable to specific units or groups of units. For example, the construction of a custom-designed piece of furniture would be accounted for with a job costing system. The costs of all labor worked on that specific item of furniture would be recorded on a time sheet and then compiled on a cost sheet for that job. Similarly, any wood or other parts used in the construction of the furniture would be charged to the production job linked to that piece of furniture. This information may then be used to bill the customer for work performed and materials used, or to track the extent of the company's profits on the production job associated with that specific item of furniture.

Process costing involves the accumulation of costs for lengthy production runs involving products that are indistinguishable from each other. For example, the production of 100,000 gallons of gasoline would require that all oil used in the process, as well as all labor in the refinery facility be accumulated into a cost account, and then divided by the number of units produced to arrive at the cost per unit. Costs are likely to be accumulated at the department level, and no lower within the organization.

Following are differences between the two costing methodologies:-

• Uniqueness of product. Job costing is used for unique products, and process costing is used for standardized products.

• Size of job. Job costing is used for very small production runs, and process costing is used for large production runs.

• Record keeping. Much more record keeping is required for job costing, since time and materials must be charged to specific jobs. Process costing aggregates costs, and so requires less record keeping.

• Customer billing. Job costing is more likely to be used for billings to customers, since it details the exact costs consumed by projects commissioned by customers.

Similarities between Process Costing and Job Order Costing:-

Both process costing and job order costing maintain the costs of direct material, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. The process of production does not change because of the costing method. The costing method is chosen based on the production process. In job order cost production, the costs can be directly traced to the job, and the job cost sheet contains the total expenses for that job. Process costing is optimal when the costs cannot be traced directly to the job. For example, it would be impossible for David and William to trace the exact amount of eggs in each chocolate chip cookie. It is also impossible to trace the exact amount of hickory in a drumstick. Even two sticks made sequentially may have different weights because the wood varies in density. These types of manufacturing are optimal for the process cost system.

Choosing Between Process Costing and Job Order Costing:-

Process costing and job order costing are both acceptable methods for tracking costs and production levels. Some companies use a single method, while some companies use both, which creates a hybrid costing system. The system a company uses depends on the nature of the product the company manufactures.

Companies that mass produce a product allocate the costs to each department and use process costing. For example, General Mills uses process costing for its cereal, pasta, baking products, and pet foods. Job order systems are custom orders because the cost of the direct material and direct labor are traced directly to the job being produced. For example, Boeing uses job order costing to manufacture planes.

When a company mass produces parts but allows customization on the final product, both systems are used; this is common in auto manufacturing. Each part of the vehicle is mass produced, and its cost is calculated with process costing. However, specific cars have custom options, so each individual car costs the sum of the specific parts used.