Quick Definition
Manufacturing overhead refers to indirect costs incurred in the production process that cannot be directly attributed to specific products. These costs include expenses such as factory rent, utilities, equipment maintenance, depreciation, supervision, and administrative costs. Manufacturing overhead is essential for the operation of the manufacturing facility and the support of production activities but does not directly contribute to the production of individual units. Manufacturers typically allocate or apportion manufacturing overhead to products based on predetermined allocation methods, such as direct labor hours, machine hours, or material costs, to determine the total cost of each unit.
What is Manufacturing Overhead?
Manufacturing overhead, also known as factory overhead or indirect costs, represents the total of all indirect expenses incurred during the production process of goods or services in a manufacturing business. These financial costs are not directly attributable to specific units of production, but they are essential for the overall manufacturing operations and are necessary to keep the production facility functioning efficiently.
Manufacturing overhead costs encompass much more than direct labor costs for production and material costs of the product. They include a variety of expenses such as depreciation of manufacturing equipment, property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance expenses, and indirect labor, including wages of employees involved in supporting production but not directly engaged in the hands-on manufacturing process, such as janitors and factory building workers. Indirect materials, such as lubricants or janitorial supplies, are also part of manufacturing overhead.
Determining the allocation of manufacturing overhead costs to individual products or units can be complex. Manufacturers often use cost accounting techniques, such as the allocation based on machine hours or direct labor hours, to distribute overhead expenses across various products based on their respective usage of manufacturing resources.
Manufacturing overhead is an essential component in calculating the total cost of goods sold (COGS). It includes both variable and fixed costs. Variable overhead and variable costs fluctuate with the level of production, such as utilities or certain raw materials, while fixed overhead costs remain relatively constant, irrespective of the production volume, such as property taxes or insurance.
Manufacturing overhead plays a significant role in financial statements, particularly the income statement and balance sheet. In the income statement, manufacturing overhead costs are combined with direct labor and direct materials to calculate the total cost of goods manufactured (COGM). On the balance sheet, manufacturing overhead costs are included in the inventory value of finished goods until they are sold.
Appropriate allocation of manufacturing overhead is essential to achieve accurate cost calculation and profitability analysis. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) require adherence to proper accounting methods for overhead allocation to ensure transparent financial reporting.
Examples of manufacturing overhead costs include supervisory salaries, maintenance expenses for production equipment, quality control costs, and certain legal fees related to manufacturing compliance.
The manufacturing overhead rate is calculated by dividing total manufacturing overhead costs by a relevant cost driver, such as direct labor hours or machine hours. This rate helps determine the overhead cost associated with each unit of production.
For business owners, understanding and controlling manufacturing overhead is crucial for cost management and maintaining competitiveness. Templates and software tools can aid in tracking and allocating manufacturing overhead costs accurately.
In conclusion, manufacturing overhead represents the indirect costs incurred in the production process that are not directly attributable to specific manufacturing units or units of production. It encompasses various expenses necessary for the functioning of the manufacturing facility, such as indirect labor, maintenance, utilities, and insurance. Proper allocation of manufacturing overhead is vital for calculating total production costs and determining the overall profitability of a manufacturing business. It plays a significant role in financial statements, impacts the cost of goods sold, and is subject to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Controlling manufacturing overhead is essential for business owners to optimize production costs and financial performance.
