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Production Order-Material Variance issue? Way out of whack

  • February 26, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 42 views

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Good day,

I have production order that has issue with Planned vs. Actual.  The variance is way out of whack.  The cost correct.  The material amounts are all correct.  The Planned is on target.  The issue is the actual.  How could this happen?  The BOM is on point.  We have used it many times in the past.

Any suggestions? Or areas to look?

See screenshot below.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Evan

 

Best answer by PaulMainard55

@grillevan - I would assume at this point the production order is complete, or is it still in WIP.

I’m not one for trying to go back in time try to adjust inventory, as this can be tricky and lead to undesired results.  Others may disagree, but given the nature of how inventory costs behave, it’s always best to make the adjustments based on the current status of your inventory and not retrospectively.  

With that said, how you fix it is based on facts and circumstances.  

You could do a dissassembly production order as a first step to effiectively put the aluminum “back” into your Raw Materials inventory at the cost reflected in your material issue, while also reducing your finished goods quantity.  Then make an appropriate inventory adjustment for your Aluminum per the instructions below.  Once you’re able to get your cost metrics dialed in, redo the production order.  

If you’re using an average cost method, I would simply take your current inventory quantity (after the disassembly) and do your best to estlmate what your extended costs should be, based on your expected average current cost per unit.  Then subtract expected value from the current extended cost of your Aluminum to arrive at an adjustment amount.  Then record an Inventory Cost Adjustment (leaving the quantity set to “0.00” units), and simply enter only the cost difference (I presume it’ll be a negative number to adjust the cost downward). 

If you’re using FIFO for your raw materials, the steps are the same, except you should focus your adjustment only for the impacted cost layer(s) and not on the entire inventory balance.  

Alternatively, you could choose NOT to run a dissassembly order, and simply record two cost adjustments; one for the RM inventory and one for the Finished Goods.

Of course there’s more to consider here, such as the root causes of the costing error.  We know that it’s resulted in an overvaluation of your inventory, but was it due to a UOM conversion error, a purchase price variance, or both?  All will have potentially impacted your financials, so you might want to get with the appropriate folks to identify how the debits and credits should flow.  

Hope that helps and best of luck.  

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5 replies

PaulMainard55
Varsity I
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This looks like a potential problem with your actual unit cost for materials.  There can be a number of reasons for this variance.  

The planned costs is based on the unit cost of your materials based on the time of that the BOM was built, or based on your most recent cost roll.  In other words, the “planned” cost does not change dynamically; it only changes when you do a cost roll.

You might want to take a look at the transaction history for your Aluminum.  This could be due to an cost adjustment or some kind of activity that caused the cost per unit to skew.


Debbie Baldwin
Acumatica Moderator
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  • Acumatica Product Manager
  • 477 replies
  • February 26, 2025

@grillevan - what is showing on your Totals tab? Also did you check the cost on your inventory item? someone may have accidentally received something in inventory at the incorrect cost. 


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  • Author
  • Jr Varsity III
  • 42 replies
  • February 26, 2025

Thank you for the advice and directly.  I was able to find the issue; it was a receipt at the incorrect cost.  What is the best way to correct it?  PR/PO and receipt are all posted last year October.

Below is the totals tab.

 

@Debbie Baldwin 

@PaulMainard55 


PaulMainard55
Varsity I
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  • Varsity I
  • 49 replies
  • Answer
  • February 27, 2025

@grillevan - I would assume at this point the production order is complete, or is it still in WIP.

I’m not one for trying to go back in time try to adjust inventory, as this can be tricky and lead to undesired results.  Others may disagree, but given the nature of how inventory costs behave, it’s always best to make the adjustments based on the current status of your inventory and not retrospectively.  

With that said, how you fix it is based on facts and circumstances.  

You could do a dissassembly production order as a first step to effiectively put the aluminum “back” into your Raw Materials inventory at the cost reflected in your material issue, while also reducing your finished goods quantity.  Then make an appropriate inventory adjustment for your Aluminum per the instructions below.  Once you’re able to get your cost metrics dialed in, redo the production order.  

If you’re using an average cost method, I would simply take your current inventory quantity (after the disassembly) and do your best to estlmate what your extended costs should be, based on your expected average current cost per unit.  Then subtract expected value from the current extended cost of your Aluminum to arrive at an adjustment amount.  Then record an Inventory Cost Adjustment (leaving the quantity set to “0.00” units), and simply enter only the cost difference (I presume it’ll be a negative number to adjust the cost downward). 

If you’re using FIFO for your raw materials, the steps are the same, except you should focus your adjustment only for the impacted cost layer(s) and not on the entire inventory balance.  

Alternatively, you could choose NOT to run a dissassembly order, and simply record two cost adjustments; one for the RM inventory and one for the Finished Goods.

Of course there’s more to consider here, such as the root causes of the costing error.  We know that it’s resulted in an overvaluation of your inventory, but was it due to a UOM conversion error, a purchase price variance, or both?  All will have potentially impacted your financials, so you might want to get with the appropriate folks to identify how the debits and credits should flow.  

Hope that helps and best of luck.  


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  • Author
  • Jr Varsity III
  • 42 replies
  • February 28, 2025

@PaulMainard55  Thank you for advice and direction.  I have sent this to the Accountants for review.

I appreciate your support.

Evan


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