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Define Variance Keys

You definevariance keys in this step.

Orders ( product cost collectors or manufacturing orders) and cost object nodes in cost object hierarchies can only be selected for variance calculation if a variance key is entered in the order or cost object node.

You can calculate variances either for the entire life of the object (cumulative) or for a specific posting period (periodic).

InProduct Cost by Order you usually calculate the variances cumulatively.

In cumulative variance calculation, the

target costs are calculated on the basis of the quantity you have transferred to stock for the order. The actual costs are for the entire life of the order. Variance calculation requires that the order have the status DLV (delivered) or TECO (technically completed).

In Product Cost by Period, you always calculate the variances periodically.

• In variance calculation by period, the target costs are calculated on the basis of the quantity that you delivered to stock in the period. The actual costs are only for the period in which you calculate variances. Variance calculation requires that a goods receipt was posted for the order in the period. If that is not the case, the system only calculates remaining variances.

The variance key specifies the following:

• Whether the

• scrap variances are calculated

• Whether a document is written containing the date, user name, and change made (line item)

The following requirements must be met before you can calculate scrap:

• The material must have a

• standard cost estimate with quantity structure, or another cost estimate in accordance with the valuation variant for work in process and scrap .

• In repetitive manufacturing in Product Cost by Period, reporting point backflushes must be entered.

Transfer of the Variance Key into an Order

The variance key is transferred into the master data of the order in the following way:

• You define a variance key as a default value for each plant.

• When you create a material master record, the system proposes a variance key using the default value for that plant.

• When you create a production order or process order to manufacture the material, the system proposes a variance key through the entry in the material master record.

• When you create a

• product cost collector to manufacture the material, the system uses that variance key as a default value for the product cost collector.

Transfer of a Variance Key into a Cost Object Node

If you are not using actual cost distribution, you do not calculate variances for the orders assigned to the cost object hierarchy (such as product cost collectors). Instead, you calculate variances for thecost object nodes themselves. You specify in the cost object category whether variance calculation is allowed for the cost object nodes of a cost object hierarchy. You can then specify a variance key as a default value in the cost object profile. You link this cost object profile to a cost object category.

Requirements

Decide if you want to use the functions Product Cost by Order or Product Cost by Period. Read the section Product Cost by Period or Product Cost by Order? in the Cost Object Controlling documentation. Subsequently, make the necessary settings in Customizing.

Standard Settings

The standard system contains predefined variance keys for production orders, process orders, and product cost collectors that you can use as supplied.

Actions

Check whether the existing variance keys meet your requirements. If you require your own variance keys, proceed as follows: