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CHAPTER 4 SYSTEMS DESIGN: PROCESS COSTING

Key Terms and Concepts to Know
Differences between Job-Order Costing and Processing Costing: Process costing is used when a single product is made on a continuous basis. The units produced are identical. Job order costing is used when different jobs are worked each period. Process costing accumulates manufacturing costs (raw material, direct labor and manufacturing overhead) by processing department. Job-order costing accumulates manufacturing costs by job. In process costing, unit costs are computed by department. In job-order costing, unit costs are computed by job. The Flow of Materials, Labor, and Overhead Costs: In process costing, the flow of costs through raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods and cost of goods sold accounts is the same as for job order costing. The manufacturing overhead account is used in the same manner as for job order costing. However, since process costing accumulates manufacturing costs by department, each department requires a separate work-in-process account. Equivalent Units of Production Weighted Average Method: At the end of most accounting periods, there is a balance in work-in-process inventory. This means incomplete units are still in process and must be assigned costs to in proportion to how complete they are with respect to each of direct materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. To simplify the calculations, partially completed units are converted into equivalent whole units for each type of cost. For example, if there are six units in process at the end of the period and one-third of the direct materials needed for a complete unit have been added to each unit, then the six incomplete units are the equivalent of two complete units of direct materials. Units completed and transferred out are always 100% complete for all types of costs.

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Key Topics to Know

Process costing is accounted for in three separate steps: Prepare a schedule summarizing the units completed and transferred to the next department and the units remaining in ending work-in-process inventory. Calculate equivalent units for the units in ending work-in-process inventory and transferred to the next department. Determine the costs incurred for direct materials, direct labor and overhead and calculating the cost per equivalent unit for each type of cost. Assign costs to the units completed and transferred to the next department and the units remaining in ending work-in-process inventory.
Often the steps are combined into a single report, the Production Report. The advantage of such a report is the ability to see process costing as a continuous flow of information and how the four steps relate to one another. The disadvantage is that the separate discrete steps become blended into a single report.

In process costing, the flow of costs through the work-in-process accounts follows the flow of units being produced through the manufacturing departments. When the units are completed in one department and transferred to the next department, the costs incurred to date for those units are transferred to the next departments work-in-process inventory account. Each processing department maintains a separate work-in-process account and prepares separate process costing accounting. Materials, labor, and/or manufacturing overhead can be added in any processing department. Following are typical journal entries to record the flow costs through the inventory accounts into cost of goods sold: Materials Costs Work in Process Department A Raw Materials Labor Costs Work in Process Department A Salaries and Wages Payable Manufacturing Overhead Costs Work in Process Department A Manufacturing Overhead
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xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

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Completion and Transferring Work in Process Department B Work in Process Department A Finished Goods Work in Process Department B Cost of Goods Sold Cost of Goods Sold Finished Goods

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

Equivalent Units, Costs and Cost Assignment

If the steps listed above are combined into a single report: Physical Units

STEP 1A: Work in Process Units

Beginning balance + Started into production = Units to be Accounted For

Materials Completed and Transferred Out + Ending balance = Units Accounted For Total

STEP 1B: Equivalent Units

Labor

Overhead

STEP 2A: Costs Incurred

Beginning balance + Costs added during the period = Costs to be Accounted For

STEP 2B: Cost per Equivalent Unit STEP 3: Costs Assigned

Completed and Transferred Out + Ending balance = Costs Accounted For

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Step 1A: Analyze the flow of physical units through the work-in-process inventory account. Units to be Accounted For (inflows) must equal Units Accounted For (outflows). Step 21B Calculate equivalent units only for Units Completed and Transferred Out and Ending Balance in Work-In-Process. Multiply physical units by percent complete for each cost column (materials, labor and overhead) for each line and total equivalent units for each cost column. Step 2A: Total costs in beginning inventory and costs added during the period for each cost column (materials, labor and overhead) and in total. Step 2B: For each cost column (materials, labor and overhead), divide total costs from Step 2A by total equivalent units from Step 2 to compute cost per equivalent unit. Step 3: For Completed and Transferred Out, multiply equivalent units from Step 2 by cost per equivalent unit from Step 2B for each cost column (materials, labor and overhead). For Ending Balance, multiply equivalent units from Step 2 by cost per equivalent unit from Step 2B for each cost column (materials, labor and overhead). Total costs assigned in each cost column and the total column. Total costs to be assigned in Step 2A must equal total costs assigned in Step 3. Note that labor and overhead may be combined as conversion cost only if the percent complete is the same. Example #1: Micro Labs Company produces house paint in two processing departments: the Mixing Department which mixes the paint colors and the Finishing Department which puts the paint in containers and labels them. The following information related to the companys operation for October follows: a) Raw materials were issued for use in production: Mixing department, $551,000, and the Finishing department, $629,000. b) Direct labor costs incurred: Mixing department $230,000, and Finishing department $270,000. c) Manufacturing overhead cost applied: Mixing department $665,000, and Finishing department, $405,000. d) The cost of the mixed paint transferred from the Mixing department to the Finishing department was $1,850,000. e) Paint that had been prepared for shipping was transferred from the Finishing department to Finished Goods. Cost of the transferred paint was $3,200,000. Required: Prepare journal entries to record items a) through e) above.

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Solution #1: a) Work in Process Mixing Work in Process Finishing Raw Materials b) Work in Process Mixing Work in Process Finishing Wages and Salaries Payable c) Work in Process Mixing Work in Process Finishing Manufacturing Overhead d) Work in Process Finishing Work in Process Mixing e) Finished Goods Work in Process Finishing

551,000 629,000 230,000 270,000 665,000 405,000 1,850,000

1,180,000

500,000

1,070,000 1,850,000

3,200,000

3,200,000

Example #2: Micro Labs uses a processing costing system. The following data are available for the mixing department for October. The department started 175,000 gallons into production during the month. Percent Complete Conversion Gallons Materials Costs Work-in-process, October 1 30,000 65% 30% 15,000 80% 40% Work-in-process, October 31 Required: Determine the equivalent units of production for the month.

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Solution #2: Equivalent Units Conversion Materials Cost

Work-in-process, October 1 Started into production Units to be Accounted For Completed and Transferred Work-in-process, October 31 Units Accounted For

Gallons 30,000 175,000 205,000 190,000 15,000 205,000

190,000 12,000 202,000

190,000 6,000 196,000

Example #3: Micro Labs September 30th general ledger showed a balance of $634,500 in work-inprocess inventory. $206,500 of the balance was direct materials. Required: Compute the cost per equivalent unit for materials and conversion costs using the data and solutions from Examples #1 and #2. Solution #3: Total $634,500 1,446,000 $2,080,500 Materials $206,500 551,000 $757,500 $757,500 202,000 = $3.75 Conversion Cost $428,000 230,000 665,000 $1,323,000 $1,323,000 196,000 = $6.75

Beginning balance Costs added during the period Costs to be Accounted For

Cost per Equivalent Unit

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Example #4: Micro Labs must assign the manufacturing costs in work-in-process inventory at the end of October to the gallons finished and ready for sale and the gallons still in process at October 31. Required: Using the data and solutions from Examples #1, #2 and #3, compute the ending balance in work-in-process inventory for the Mixing department and the cost of gallons transferred to the Finishing department during October. Solution #4: Total Completed and Transferred Work-in-process, October 31 Costs Accounted For $1,995,000 $85,500 $2,080,500 Materials 190,000 x $3.75 = $712,500 12,000 x $3.75 = $45,000 $757,000 Conversion Cost 190,000 x $6.75 = $1,282,500 6,000 x $6.75 = $40,500 $1,323,000

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Practice Problems
Practice Problem #1 Steel Manufacturing Company uses a process cost system. The Molding Department adds materials at the beginning of the process and conversion costs are incurred uniformly throughout the process. Work in process on May 1 was 75% complete and work in process on May 31 was 40% complete. Required: Complete the four process costing steps for the Molding Department for May. Physical Units 16,000 50,000

STEP 1: Work in Process Units

Beginning balance + Started into production = Units to be Accounted For

STEP 2: Equivalent Units

Materials Completed and Transferred Out + Ending balance = Units Accounted For 46,000

Conversion Costs

STEP 3A: Work in Process Dollars

Beginning balance + Costs added during the period = Costs to be Accounted For

Total $41,000 250,000 198,000 $42,000

STEP 3B: Cost per Equivalent Unit STEP 4: Costs Assigned

Completed and Transferred Out + Ending balance = Costs Accounted For

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Practice Problem #2: The Pasta Factory manufactures spaghetti sauce through two production departments: Cooking and Packaging. For the month of February, the work-in-process accounts show the following postings: Beginning work-in-process Materials Labor Overhead Costs transferred in Cooking $0 40,000 21,000 25,000 Packaging $6,000 21,000 9,000 14,000 50,000

Required: a) Journalize the February transactions for work in process inventory. b) Determine the February 28th balances in the work-in-process accounts.

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Sample True / False Questions

1. Process cost accounting focuses on the process involved in mass-producing products that are very similar in nature. True False Process cost systems are used to apply costs to a specific job, such as the manufacturing of a specialized machine. True False In a process cost system, materials, labor and overhead are only added in the first production department. True False Equivalent units of production are used to determine the cost per unit of completed products. True False Equivalent units of production is the sum of units completed and transferred out plus equivalent units of beginning work in process. True False The physical units in a department are another name for the equivalent units of production. True False Process costing data is used by management to analyze production quantity and cost data for a particular job. True False Equivalent units of production measure the work done during a period, expressed in fully completed units. True False The total manufacturing cost per unit is used in costing the units completed and transferred during the period. True False

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10. One similarity between process cost accounting and job order cost accounting is that both determine total manufacturing costs after each job. True False
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Sample Multiple Choice Questions

1. Jacobs Company's Assembly Department has materials cost at $4 per unit and conversion cost at $8 per unit. There are 9,000 units in ending work in process, all of which are 70% complete as to conversion costs. What are the total costs assigned to inventory? a) $50,400 b) $86,400 c) $75,600 d) $108,000 If beginning work in process is 2,000 units, ending work in process is 1,000 units, and the units accounted for equals 5,000 units, what are the units started into production? a) 7,000 b) 6,000 c) 3,000 d) 4,000 Stone Company had the following department information about physical units and percentage of completion: Physical Units Work in process, May 1 (60%) 36,000 Completed and transferred out 90,000 Work in process, May 31 (40%) 30,000 If materials are added at the beginning of the production process, what is the total number of equivalent units for materials during May? a) 126,000 b) 120,000 c) 116,400 d) 102,000 Which of the following would not appear as a debit in the Work in Process account of a second department in a two stage production process? a) Materials used b) Overhead applied c) Labor assigned d) Cost of products transferred out

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5.

One characteristic of products that are mass-produced in a continuous production process is that a) The products are identical or very similar in nature. b) They are grouped in batches. c) They are produced at the time an order is received. d) Their costs are accumulated on job cost sheets. Which of the following would not appear as a debit in the Work in Process account of a second department in a two stage production process? a) Materials used b) Overhead applied c) Labor assigned d) Cost of products transferred out Use the following information for questions 79. In the month of June, department X had 10,000 units in beginning work in process that were 70% complete. During June, 40,000 units were transferred into production from another department. At the end of June, there were 5,000 units in ending work in process that were 40% complete. Materials are added at the beginning of the process, while conversion costs are incurred uniformly throughout the process

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How many units were transferred out of the process in June? a) 40,000 units b) 35,000 units c) 45,000 units d) 50,000 units The equivalent units of production for materials for June were a) 45,000 units b) 50,000 units c) 52,000 units d) 40,000 units The equivalent units of production for conversion costs for June were a) 40,000 units b) 47,000 units c) 45,000 units d) 50,000 units

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10. A process costing accounting system is most appropriate when a) A variety of different products are produced, each one requiring different types of materials, labor, and overhead. b) The focus of attention is on a particular job or order. c) Similar products are mass-produced. d) Individual products are custom made to the specification of customers 11. Which of the following cost elements occurs in a process costing system? a) Direct materials b) Direct labor c) Manufacturing overhead d) All of the above 12. If equivalent units are 6,000 for conversion costs and units transferred out equals 4,000, what stage of completion should the ending work in process be for the 8,000 units remaining? a) 75% b) 25% c) 10% d) 20% 13. In a) b) c) d) a process costing system: A Work in Process account is maintained for each product. A materials requisition identifies the job on which the materials will be used. A Work in Process account is maintained for each process. One Work in Process account is maintained for all manufacturing processes.

14. Binder Company has the following production information available for June: Total materials costs $ 80,000 Equivalent units of materials 10,000 Total conversion costs $120,000 Equivalent units of conversion costs 20,000 What is the total manufacturing cost per unit? a) $14.00 b) $6.67 c) $6.00 d) $8.00

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Solutions to Practice Problems

Practice Problem #1: Physical Units 16,000 50,000 66,000

STEP 1: Work in Process Units

Beginning balance + Started into production = Units to be Accounted For

STEP 2: Equivalent Units

Materials Completed and Transferred Out + Ending balance = Units Accounted For 46,000 20,000 66,000 Total $83,000 250,000 $333,000 $41,000 157,000 $198,000 $3.00 $42,000 93,000 $135,000 $2.50 46,000 20,000 66,000 Conversion Costs 46,000 8,000 54,000

STEP 3A: Work in Process Dollars

Beginning balance + Costs added during the period = Costs to be Accounted For

STEP 3B: Cost per Equivalent Unit STEP 4: Costs Assigned

Completed and Transferred Out + Ending balance = Costs Accounted For

$253,000 80,000 $333,000

$138,000 60,000 $198,000

$115,000 20,000 $135,000

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Practice Problem #2: a) Work in ProcessCooking Work in ProcessPackaging Raw Materials Inventory Work in ProcessCooking Work in ProcessPackaging Salaries and Wages Payable Work in ProcessCooking Work in ProcessPackaging Manufacturing Overhead Work in ProcessPackaging Work in ProcessCooking b) Cooking $0 40,000 21,000 25,000 50,000 $36,000 Packaging $6,000 21,000 9,000 14,000 50,000 $100,000 40,000 21,000 61,000 21,000 9,000 30,000 25,000 14,000 39,000 50,000 50,000

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Solutions to True / False Problems

True False - Process costing focuses on accumulating quantities and costs by production department, not production jobs. 3. False - Materials, labor and/or overhead may be added at any point during the production process. 4. True 5. False - Equivalent units is the sum of units completed and transferred out plus equivalent units of ending work in process. 6. False - Physical units are the actual units being produced whereas equivalent units are an accounting convenience to eliminate partially completed units. 7. False Process costing reports quantity and cost data for a particular production department. 8. True 9. True 10. False Process costing reports total manufacturing costs for a particular production department. 1. 2.

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Solutions to Multiple Choice Questions

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. B C B D A D C B B C D B C A

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