1. What is target costing?
As demonstrated in Fig. 1, target costing encompasses a whole range of activities and inputs that are internal and external to the organization. This paper takes the perspective followed in Fig. 1, that the target costing process is being used for a new product or service. The target costing process begins with developing an under- standing of unmet needs in the marketplace, and then determining what customers would pay to have their needs met, the ‘‘target price.’’ Internal goals and pressures determine the profit margin desired. Calculating the allowable target cost is the next step, where: Target cost allowed ¼ estimated selling price desired profit:
During the next step, the target cost is apportioned among the key cost elements, and further broken down to the materials or component level. This is the level at which the organization actually tries to manage the cost elements. Based on the component level goals or targets, the next step involves undertaking various cost management activities to achieve the target component/materials prices. This aspect of the target costing process is presented in more depth below. Once the target costs are achieved, the item goes into production, and continuous improvement measures are implemented. The activities that make up the target costing process cut across functional boundaries within the firm and organizational boundaries in the supply chain.