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Question

Factors which govern the operating cost of an equipment are :

1. Purchase price of the equipment

2. Depreciation due to regular use

3. Cost of operation, maintenance and repairs

Which of the above statements are correct ? 

The correct answer is

2 and 3 only

Understanding Equipment Operating Costs

When we talk about the cost of using a piece of equipment, there are generally two main types of costs: capital costs and operating costs.

Defining Operating Costs

Operating costs are the expenses associated with the day-to-day running and maintenance of an asset or business. These costs are ongoing and are necessary to keep the equipment functioning.

Analyzing the Given Statements

Let's look at each statement provided in the question:

  1. Purchase price of the equipment: This is the initial cost incurred to acquire the equipment. It is a significant expense, but it is a one-time capital cost, not an ongoing operating cost. Think of it as the cost to own the equipment, not the cost to run it over time.
  2. Depreciation due to regular use: Depreciation represents the reduction in the value of the equipment over time due to wear and tear, age, or obsolescence. As the equipment is used (operated), its value decreases. This loss in value is considered an operating expense because it is a cost associated with the usage of the equipment during its operational life. It accounts for the consumption of the asset's value.
  3. Cost of operation, maintenance and repairs: These are direct costs incurred to keep the equipment running smoothly. Operation costs include things like fuel or electricity. Maintenance includes routine checks and servicing. Repairs are costs incurred when something breaks and needs fixing. These are clearly ongoing expenses necessary for the equipment's functioning and are therefore considered operating costs.

Identifying the Correct Factors

Based on the analysis:

  • Statement 1 (Purchase price) is a capital cost, not an operating cost.
  • Statement 2 (Depreciation) is an operating cost as it reflects the cost of using the asset over time.
  • Statement 3 (Cost of operation, maintenance and repairs) are direct operating costs.

Therefore, the factors that govern the operating cost of an equipment are depreciation due to regular use, and the cost of operation, maintenance, and repairs.

The correct statements are 2 and 3.

Cost Type Statement Is it an Operating Cost? Reason
Purchase price 1 No Initial Capital Expenditure
Depreciation 2 Yes Represents value consumed during operation
Operation, Maintenance, Repairs 3 Yes Direct, ongoing costs of running equipment

Revision Table: Equipment Costs

Cost Category Examples Relation to Operating Cost
Capital Costs Purchase price, installation costs Initial expense, not ongoing operating cost
Operating Costs Depreciation, fuel, electricity, wages of operator, maintenance, repairs, consumables Ongoing expenses required for day-to-day functioning

Additional Information: Capital vs. Operating Costs

Understanding the difference between capital costs (CapEx) and operating costs (OpEx) is crucial in business and economics.

  • Capital Expenditure (CapEx): These are funds used by a company to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, industrial buildings, or equipment. CapEx is a one-time or infrequent large expense. It is an investment in the future of the business.
  • Operating Expenditure (OpEx): These are the costs required for the day-to-day functioning of a business. OpEx includes things like rent, utilities, salaries, maintenance, and raw materials. These costs are ongoing and are typically expensed in the period they are incurred.

While depreciation is related to the capital cost (it spreads the initial cost over the asset's useful life), it is treated as an operating expense in accounting because it reflects the portion of the asset's value consumed during a specific operating period.

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Important Questions from Project Management

  1. In Emerson's efficiency plan of wage incentive system, the bonus is paid to-

  2. Match List I with List II

    LIST I

    (Project Network concepts)

    LIST II

    (Underlying meaning)

    A.Crashing an activityI.Length of the longest path through the project network
    B.Project NetworkII.It shows the time and cost when the activity is fully crashed
    C.Critical pathIII.It consists of a number of nodes and a number of arcs that connects two different nodes
    D.Crash pointIV.Taking special (costly) measures to reduce the duration of an activity below its normal value

    Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  3. The following statements relate to project network. Choose the correct code for the statements being correct or incorrect.

    Statement I: An activity cannot be represented by more than one arrow, but an arrow can represent one or more activities.

    Statement II : The activities in a critical path can be preponed or postponed.

  4. A public limited company has 9,00,000 shares outstanding at current market price of Rs. 130 per share. The company needs Rs. 2.25 crores to finance its proposed new project. The board of the company has decided to issue rights shares to raise the required money at Rs. 75 per share (as subscription price) to ensure that the rights issue is fully subscribed. How many rights are required to purchase a new share ?

  5. CPM was developed by ______

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