the ABC analysis helps managers focus their attention
and energy on improving activities that will
have the biggest impact on the bottom line.
Fully exploiting ABC as a guide to profitability,
however, requires a conceptual break from traditional
cost accounting systems and a willingness to act
on tbe insigbts ABC analysis provides. Managers
must refrain from allocating all expenses to individual
units and instead separate the expenses and
match tbem to the level of activity tbat consumes
tbe resources. Very simply, managers sbould separate
tbe expenses incurred to produce individual
units of a particular product from tbe expenses needed
to produce different products or to serve different
customers, independent of bow many units are produced
or sold.
Tben managers must be prepared to act. First, they
should explore ways to reduce the resources required
to perform various activities. Then to transform