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The traditional system of costing suffers from certain limitations. It fails to precisely assign the overheadcosts into product units. Therefore activity-based costing system has recently been developed to overcome the limitations of traditional costing system. The activity costing system is based on premise that activities make a product.

Activity- based costing (ABC) is the determination of product cost based on the activity needed for producing a product. The activities required to produce a product or render service consume a cost. Therefore, an insight into the expenses consumed by all those activities performed for the manufacturing of finished products and sale is very important. A number of researched studies have shown the increasing utility of activity-based costing on overheads allocation and apportionment for product cost determination.

Product cost determination under activity-based costing is made on the basis of cost driver required for producing goods or delivering services. Activity-based costing is becoming more effective in costing of multi-products produced by industries and executing customers' orders.
Activity-based costing (ABC) is an effective management approach for distributing and controlling the overhead costs. Overhead analysis can be made more accurate by using ABC techniques for a wide range of products, for product costing and profitability analysis and for distribution and control of the overheads appropriately.

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FAQs on Introduction to Activity Based Costing - Cost Management - Cost Management - B Com

1. What is Activity Based Costing (ABC) and how does it relate to cost management?
Ans. Activity Based Costing (ABC) is a costing method that assigns costs to specific activities or processes based on their consumption of resources. It provides a more accurate way to allocate costs compared to traditional costing methods. ABC helps in cost management by allowing companies to identify and understand the costs associated with each activity, which can then be used to make informed decisions and improve cost efficiency.
2. How does Activity Based Costing differ from traditional costing methods?
Ans. Activity Based Costing differs from traditional costing methods in several ways. Traditional costing methods allocate costs based on volume metrics, such as direct labor hours or machine hours. In contrast, ABC assigns costs based on the consumption of resources by each activity. ABC also recognizes that not all activities consume resources at the same rate and allows for more accurate allocation of costs. Additionally, ABC provides better visibility into the cost drivers of each activity, which helps in identifying areas for cost reduction and process improvement.
3. What are the benefits of implementing Activity Based Costing?
Ans. Implementing Activity Based Costing offers several benefits. Firstly, it provides a more accurate understanding of the costs associated with each activity, enabling better decision-making. Secondly, ABC helps in identifying and eliminating non-value-added activities, resulting in cost reduction. It also facilitates the identification of high-cost activities, allowing for process improvement and increased efficiency. Lastly, ABC enhances the accuracy of product pricing by providing a more precise allocation of costs, leading to improved profitability.
4. What are the challenges of implementing Activity Based Costing in an organization?
Ans. Implementing Activity Based Costing can pose several challenges. Firstly, it requires a significant amount of data collection and analysis, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Secondly, it may be difficult to accurately identify and measure the cost drivers for each activity, especially in complex organizations. Additionally, implementing ABC may require changes to the existing accounting system and processes, which can be disruptive and met with resistance. Lastly, ABC may not be suitable for organizations with low product diversity or those where the cost allocation does not significantly impact decision-making.
5. How can Activity Based Costing be applied in different industries or sectors?
Ans. Activity Based Costing can be applied in various industries or sectors. For manufacturing companies, ABC can help in accurately allocating costs to different products or product lines based on the activities involved in their production. In service industries, ABC can be used to identify the costs associated with different services or customer segments. In healthcare, ABC can help in understanding the costs of various medical procedures or treatments. Overall, ABC can be applied in any industry or sector where there is a need for more accurate cost allocation and better cost management.
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