In: Accounting
Which types of companies would most likely use a process costing system? Provide examples of two Saudi Compagnies.
Explain the methods with which the cost per unit will be calculated for this type of companies. Explain how the different items of inventory will be evaluated?
Companies which are engaged in mass production and standardised items for sale usually adopt process costing. The products manufactured usually do not have separate identity from one to another unlike job costing. The raw materials usually pass through 2 or more departments until it becomes finished goods.
Examples:
· Petroleum industry
· Chemical industry
· Dairy industry
Example of Saudi companies
· Saudi Aramco (Oil and Gas)
· Almarai (Dairy)
The cost per equivalent unit is adopted to calculate the cost of work transferred to finished goods or to next department. The cost per equivalent unit is calculated by computing equivalent units of production for opening stock and closing stock. There are 2 method one is FIFO and another one is weighted average method.
· FIFO calculates equivalent units by adding work uncompleted on opening WIP plus units completed during the period and work competed on closing stock. The current period cost( Direct material and Conversion costs) is divided by the equivalent units to calculate cost per equivalent unit
· Weighted average does not take into account the opening units of unfinished work. It takes into account units started and completed plus closing units work completed only. The opening WIP cost and current period cost is added and divided by the equivalent units to calculate cost per equivalent unit
Different items of inventory valuation
· FIFO- in FIFO method opening WIP is valued for opening WIP cost plus work done during the period. The unfinished work on opening stock is multiplied by cost per equivalent unit. The closing stock is valued at equivalent units in ending WIP multiplied by cost per equivalent unit. Units completed and transferred is sum of opening WIP plus work completed on opening WIP during the period and units completed during the period.
· Weighted average method – In Weighted average method the cost of opening WIP is added with current period cost and weighted average cost per unit is calculated and this cost per equivalent unit is used to calculate the ending WIP inventory. Opening inventory is not separately valued. Units completed and transferred is multiplied by cost per equivalent unit for valuing finished units or units transferred to next department