Standard costs are used in companies for a variety of reasons. Which of the following is NOT one of the benefits of using standard costs? a. to indicate where changes in technology and machinery need to be made
b. to estimate the cost of inventory
c. to plan direct materials, direct labor, and variable factory overhead
d. to control costs

a. to indicate where changes in technology and machinery need to be made.

Explanation:

Standard cost in business management refers to the amount of money a product is supposed to cost in manufacturing it. It is a management tool that can be used to measure efficiency in the level of output or production of goods and services at a specific period of time.

In Financial accounting, the difference between the actual cost of each unit of a product and its standard cost is referred to as variance. In order to determine the standard cost of a product, the expected quantity of the product is multiplied by an expected price.

Standard costs are used in companies for a variety of reasons such as;

1. Standard costs are used to estimate the cost of inventory.

2. Standard costs are used to plan direct materials, direct labor, and variable factory overhead.

3. Standard costs are used to control costs.

However, standard costs cannot be used to indicate where changes in technology and machinery need to be made rather an actual cost should be used.

Additionally, the standard cost of each unit of a product manufactured in a business firm is categorized into two (2) and these are;

1. Price standard.

2. Quantity standard.