In manufacturing, capacity represents the work that could be performed if all the resources of the factory are used to their full potential. For example, running three shifts a day, a factory should be able to produce a given output per year. A management accountant could then compute unit cost using “practical capacity” or ”actual utilization” as a base. In a manufacturing setting, the argument in favor of using practical capacity as a
Denominator to compute unit costs is that it eliminates the effect of volume differences on
Cost computation, and that it suggests what a product should cost if capacity is fully utilized.
On the other hand, practical capacity can be arbitrary, masks the actual costs, and may be
Difficult for non-accountants to understand.
What is the relevance of capacity considerations in a medical practice? To benchmark against other practices, should FMMG compute the cost of each unit of service delivered on a capacity base or an actual volume base? When would capacity or actual volume bases be most appropriate in medical practices?
