
Following are the possible causes of this variance:
- Careless handling of materials by employees
- Use of poor quality material
- Poor maintenance and defects in machinery
- Change in production design and production methods
- Abnormal wastage
- Pilferage of material due to inadequate inspection
- Wrong mixture of materials
- Improper engineering specifications
- Low quality of raw materials.
- Incorrect specification of materials.
- Raw materials obsolescence.
- Damage in transit to the company.
- Damage while being moved or stored within the company.
- Damage during the production process.
What is material price variance?
How to find material cost variance?
Why is variance favorable?
What is the difference between the standard cost of direct materials specified for production and the actual cost of direct materials used in production?

What are the causes of material price variance?
A Material Price Variance may occur for a variety of reasons, such as a rise in price, changes in transportation expenses, size of the order, or the quality of materials being purchased, among others.
What causes material and Labour variance?
This variance results from differences between quantities consumed and quantities of materials allowed for production and from differences between prices paid and prices predetermined. The material usage variance results when actual quantities of raw materials used in production differ from standard quantities.
What are the 4 possible causes of variances on a budget?
There are four common reasons why actual expenditure or income will show a variance against the budget.The cost is more (or less) than budgeted. Budgets are prepared in advance and can only ever estimate income and expenditure. ... Planned activity did not occur when expected. ... Change in planned activity. ... Error/Omission.
What is material variance?
Material Variances reflect the deviation of actual cost incurred on material from the standards. These deviation in material cost could because of changes in material price, quantity used, change in mix of various materials used or output achieved.
What are the causes of Labour efficiency variance?
Causes of a Labor Efficiency VarianceInstructions. The employees may not have received written work instructions.Mix. The standard assumes a certain mix of employees involving different skill levels, which does not match the actual staffing.Training. ... Workstation configuration.
What causes adverse Labour variance?
If estimated labor costs are lower than they should be due to unreliable historical trends, inherent employee bias or any other reason, actual labor prices may be significantly higher, causing an unfavorable variance from the budgeted amount.
What are the causes for adverse variances of material price and labor efficiency?
Reasons for adverse material usage variance include: Purchase of materials of lower quality than the standard (this will be reflected in a favorable material price variance) Use of unskilled labor. Increase in material wastage due to depreciation of plant and equipment.
What might cause a company to experience favorable labor efficiency variances?
If a mix of more highly paid workers is used, the labor rate variance is unfavorable as the actual labor rate is higher than the standard rate. However, the labor efficiency variance is favorable because due to using the highly paid workers, fewer hours are likely required to complete the job than the standard hours.
What is the Direct Material Usage Variance?
The direct material usage variance is the difference between the actual and expected unit quantity needed to manufacture a product. The variance is used in a standard costing system, usually in conjunction with the purchase price variance. These variances are useful for identifying and correcting anomalies in the production and procurement systems, especially when there is a rapid feedback loop. Standards for raw materials are typically set by the engineering department and recorded in a bill of materials for each product.
Where is variance used?
The variance is most commonly used in a production environment, but can also be used in a services business where hours worked can be compared to a budgeted level.
What is material price variance?
Material Price Variance is the difference between the standard price and the actual price for the actual quantity of materials used for production. The cause for material price variance can be many including changes in prices, poor purchasing procedures, deficiencies in price negotiation, etc.
How to find material cost variance?
This means Material Cost Variance = Material Price Variance + Material Usage Variance. We can confirm and cross check this equation with the help of our example.
Why is variance favorable?
The variance is favorable because the actual price is less than the standard price. In cases where the actual price is more than the standard price, the result is (A) which means adverse. Let us now understand the meaning of Material Usage Variance.
What is the difference between the standard cost of direct materials specified for production and the actual cost of direct materials used in production?
The difference between the standard cost of direct materials specified for production and the actual cost of direct materials used in production is known as Direct Material Cost Variance. Material Cost Variance gives an idea of how much more or less cost has been incurred when compared with the standard cost. Thus, Variance Analysis is an important tool to keep a tab on the deviations from the standard set by a company.
