In: Accounting
Discuss the uses of a process cost system and how it compares to a job order sytem. Can you provide examples of each?
Solution:
Process costing means a system that accumlates cost incurred to produce a product that goes through different processes/department for its completion.
For example, the production of gasoline requires all oil used in the process, as well as all labor in the refinery facility. Costs are likely to be accumulated at the department level and then cost of one process transferred to another process and total cost of production is divided by number of unit produced to arrived at unit cost.
Job costing involves accumulation of production costs attributable to specific units or groups of units. Under job order costing, managers and workers track costs on a per-job basis.
The differences between process cost system and job order system are as under:
1. Job costing accumulates costs by individual jobs. Process costing accumulates costs by process or department.
2. Job cost systems have one Work in Process Inventory account for each job. Process cost systems have a Work in Process Inventory account for each department / process.
3. Job costing is used for unique products, and process costing is used for standardized products.
4. Job costing requires much more record keeping, since labor and materials must be charged to specific jobs. Process costing aggregates costs, and so requires less record keeping.
5. Job costing is used for very small production runs, and process costing is used for large production runs.