Difference Between Job Costing and Process Costing

Job Costing vs Process Costing

Job Costing basically refers to the costs that are encountered in the businesses related to manufacturing goods. Job Costing ledgers, wherein such costs are recorded, form an integral part of the final account statement of the manufacturers. This type of costing involves recording the costs as per the specific jobs rather than a particular process. However, Process Costing refers to the methodology involved in calculating the costs that are incurred while performing a particular task or undertaking a specific process. This might involve the costs that are either incurred directly or indirectly.

Job Costing involves the costs of every individual unit of production. However, Process Costing involves the costs that are averaged for each production unit. As per the definition, Process Costing is a method that is applied to the manufacture business that is held together by various continuous or repetitive processes. Process Costing works efficiently for the industries that are known to produce a single type of product. Both of these terms signify the costs related to labor, material and overhead costs.

Process Costing helps to keep a tight reign over the monthly expenditures in a manufacturing business. As an example, Job Costing involves the costs that form salaries of labors working in a particular process whereas Process Costing involves the costs of the processed or manufactured goods undertaken by different departments.

One of the major differences between Job Costing and Process Costing is that the Job Costing can be carried out while a particular job is going on. However, Process Costing can be achieved only when all the processes are completed. Moreover, when it comes to documentation, in case of Job Costing, the job cost sheet is important whereas in Process Costing a document having deposition and accumulation of various costs is important.

In summary, there are various differences between Job Costing and Process Costing methods. Some of these are listed below:

1. Job Costing signifies the costs encountered for each and every job whereas Process Costing signifies the costs encountered for different departments.

2. In case of Job Costing, a final value of the costs can be calculated beforehand whereas in Process Costing, the final value of the costs is calculated only at the end of the complete process.

3. The important documents needed to carry out Job Costing are much different from those needed for Process Costing.

4. Job Costing is typically used by industries that manufacture customized and heterogenous products whereas Process Costing method is used by the industries that are involved in mass production of homogenous products.

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