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Describe how the value chain can help a business analyse its cost structures. What is meant by upstream costs and downstream costs? Give examples.
On Jun 10, 2024
By analysing the business's value chain, the firm can focus on non-manufacturing as well as manufacturing costs; that is, all the costs that occur across the business. This will enable the business to identify where costs are being incurred and thus enable the elimination of unnecessary costs. The non-manufacturing costs could include selling and distribution costs, administrative costs, as well as other upstream and downstream costs.
Upstream costs are those costs that occur prior to production commencing and could include research and development costs such as the cost of running laboratories, building prototypes of new products and testing new products. Product design costs are also upstream costs and could include the costs of designing the processes that will be used to produce the new product.
Downstream costs are those costs that occur after production and include selling and distribution, administrative and customer service costs.