Case Study: Optimizing Manufacturing Costs with Allocation Methods

Learn how a manufacturing company optimized its costing methods, gaining clarity and control over its finances to drive business growth.
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 manufacturing costs absorption methods

The Client

A growing manufacturing company that was facing challenges in accurately determining the true cost of its products.

The Challenge

As the company grew, its costing methods became outdated. Management lacked the necessary visibility to know the real cost of each product, making it difficult to make pricing decisions and identify areas for cost reduction. The company needed an expert solution to gain a clear view of its operational costs.

If you want to know more about these kinds of problems, you can read our article on 5 Common Bottlenecks in Manufacturing and How to Spot Them.

The upkaizen Solution

UPKAIZEN adopted a comprehensive approach. After a detailed analysis of the manufacturing process, including materials, labor, and overhead costs, we implemented a new cost accounting system. The solution was based on the absorption costing method.

  • Factor Analysis: We conducted an in-depth review of the various factors of production to determine a precise hourly rate for each machine.
  • Custom Tool: A comprehensive spreadsheet was created to organize all the data, from energy consumption and maintenance costs to depreciation, to accurately calculate the machine’s hourly rate.

The Results

The implementation of the new costing system yielded immediate results:

  • Cost Visibility: The company gained a clear and precise view of the real costs of each product, eliminating guesswork.
  • Improved Decision-Making: Management can now easily analyze financial data and make informed decisions about pricing, budgeting, and strategies to increase profitability.
  • Foundation for Growth: The new costing system provided a solid foundation for more robust financial management, allowing the company to set more realistic goals and take control of its future.

Do you identify with this case?

If your company suffers from a lack of cost visibility or inefficient management, our Production Efficiency Micro-Diagnostic can help you find the solutions.

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Ieva Kalve

Ieva Kalve

Associate Consultant

I believe that it is healthy laziness that moves the world and business forward, and I am always ready to help find the most effective and appropriate solutions concerning strategic and change management, as well as various efficiency solutions in office work.

As a practicing consultant in Latvia, I already have 20 years of experience in various fields related to the optimization of organizational management:

  • I can help with advice on implementing the Balanced Scorecard system,
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I am constantly updating my knowledge both informally – following everything new in my areas of competence, and also formally: I have master’s degrees in pedagogy, economics, nutrition science, and modeling of sociotechnical systems. In 2021, I was a full-time student again for 1 semester – at the University of Buffalo (USA).

It is this unique “set” that allows me to view various processes, trends, and organizational needs holistically, offering realistic and at the same time modern solutions.

I also share my experience with students of various Latvian universities, I have given lectures in Lithuania, Germany, and Moldova as part of the Erasmus+ program, as well as participated in the international Sail program.

I also like to conduct corporate training.

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Antoine Hauger

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Antoine is a marketing enthusiast with a deeper understanding of digital marketing.  

Having worked for SMEs and international groups, Antoine has gained deeper online marketing (B2B & B2C) experience in various industries like retail, automotive and software.

Being a Partner and Marketing Manager at a global software vendor in the open source segment enabled Antoine, on the one hand, to consult digital agencies to build up and extend relationships, increasing their client base and improving customer experience. And on the other hand, to build up his global marketing competencies (E-Mail/Social Media/Content/Event).

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