What is Cost Reduction Program?

506 reads · Last updated: December 5, 2024

Cost reduction plan is a plan formulated by enterprises to achieve cost control and improve competitiveness. This plan usually includes analyzing and evaluating the costs of various aspects of the enterprise, determining the goals and strategies of cost reduction, and implementing and monitoring cost reduction measures. Cost reduction plans can be achieved through reducing ineffective expenses, improving production efficiency, optimizing supply chains, improving product design, etc.

Definition

A cost reduction plan is a strategy developed by companies to control costs and enhance competitiveness. This plan typically involves analyzing and evaluating costs across various aspects of the business, setting targets and strategies for cost reduction, and implementing and monitoring measures to achieve these reductions. Cost reduction can be achieved through reducing ineffective expenditures, improving production efficiency, optimizing the supply chain, and enhancing product design.

Origin

The concept of cost reduction plans originated in the early 20th century as industrialization progressed, and companies began to recognize the importance of cost control. In the 1970s, with the rise of globalization and increased competition, cost reduction plans became a crucial part of strategic management for businesses.

Categories and Features

Cost reduction plans can be categorized into short-term and long-term plans. Short-term plans focus on quick wins, such as waste reduction and process optimization. Long-term plans involve deeper changes, such as technological innovation and organizational restructuring. Their features include systematic, continuous, and strategic approaches.

Case Studies

A classic example is Toyota's lean production system, which successfully reduced production costs by minimizing waste and enhancing efficiency. Another example is Apple Inc., which significantly lowered production costs and increased profit margins by optimizing its supply chain and product design.

Common Issues

Common issues investors face when implementing cost reduction plans include excessive cuts leading to quality degradation and decreased employee morale. The key to resolving these issues is balancing cost reduction with quality and employee satisfaction.

Suggested for You

Refresh

Zero-Rated Goods

Zero-rated goods, in countries that use value-added tax (VAT), are products that are exempt from that value taxation.

Zero-Rated Goods

Zero-rated goods, in countries that use value-added tax (VAT), are products that are exempt from that value taxation.

Zero-Floor Limit

The term "zero-floor limit" refers to a policy whereby merchants are required to obtain authorization for every transaction processed at their store, regardless of its size. By contrast, some stores only require authorization for transactions that are above a certain size, with that size threshold being known as the store's floor limit.

Zero-Floor Limit

The term "zero-floor limit" refers to a policy whereby merchants are required to obtain authorization for every transaction processed at their store, regardless of its size. By contrast, some stores only require authorization for transactions that are above a certain size, with that size threshold being known as the store's floor limit.

The Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Lisbon, updated regulations for the European Union, establishing a more centralized leadership and foreign policy, a proper process for countries that wish to leave the Union, and a streamlined process for enacting new policies.The treaty was signed on December 13, 2007, in Lisbon, Portugal, and amended the two previous treaties that established the foundation for the European Union.

Lisbon Treaty

The Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Lisbon, updated regulations for the European Union, establishing a more centralized leadership and foreign policy, a proper process for countries that wish to leave the Union, and a streamlined process for enacting new policies.The treaty was signed on December 13, 2007, in Lisbon, Portugal, and amended the two previous treaties that established the foundation for the European Union.

Labor Intensive

The term "labor-intensive" refers to a process or industry that requires a large amount of labor to produce its goods or services. The degree of labor intensity is typically measured in proportion to the amount of capital required to produce the goods or services: the higher the proportion of labor costs required, the more labor-intensive the business.

Labor Intensive

The term "labor-intensive" refers to a process or industry that requires a large amount of labor to produce its goods or services. The degree of labor intensity is typically measured in proportion to the amount of capital required to produce the goods or services: the higher the proportion of labor costs required, the more labor-intensive the business.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are products that sell quickly at relatively low cost. FMCGs have a short shelf life because of high consumer demand (e.g., soft drinks and confections) or because they are perishable (e.g., meat, dairy products, and baked goods).They are bought often, consumed rapidly, priced low, and sold in large quantities. They also have a high turnover on store shelves. The largest FMCG companies by revenue are among the best known, such as Nestle SA. (NSRGY) ($99.32 billion in 2023 earnings) and PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) ($91.47 billion). From the 1980s up to the early 2010s, the FMCG sector was a paradigm of stable and impressive growth; annual revenue was consistently around 9% in the first decade of this century, with returns on invested capital (ROIC) at 22%.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are products that sell quickly at relatively low cost. FMCGs have a short shelf life because of high consumer demand (e.g., soft drinks and confections) or because they are perishable (e.g., meat, dairy products, and baked goods).They are bought often, consumed rapidly, priced low, and sold in large quantities. They also have a high turnover on store shelves. The largest FMCG companies by revenue are among the best known, such as Nestle SA. (NSRGY) ($99.32 billion in 2023 earnings) and PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) ($91.47 billion). From the 1980s up to the early 2010s, the FMCG sector was a paradigm of stable and impressive growth; annual revenue was consistently around 9% in the first decade of this century, with returns on invested capital (ROIC) at 22%.

Negotiable Instruments

A negotiable instrument is a signed document that promises a payment to a specified person or assignee. In other words, it is a formalized type of IOU: A transferable, signed document that promises to pay the bearer a sum of money at a future date or on-demand.Common examples of negotiable instruments include personal checks, cashier's checks, money orders, certificates of deposit (CDs), promissory notes, and traveler's checks. The person receiving the payment, known as the payee, must be named or otherwise indicated on the instrument. Because they are transferable and assignable, some negotiable instruments may trade on a secondary market.

Negotiable Instruments

A negotiable instrument is a signed document that promises a payment to a specified person or assignee. In other words, it is a formalized type of IOU: A transferable, signed document that promises to pay the bearer a sum of money at a future date or on-demand.Common examples of negotiable instruments include personal checks, cashier's checks, money orders, certificates of deposit (CDs), promissory notes, and traveler's checks. The person receiving the payment, known as the payee, must be named or otherwise indicated on the instrument. Because they are transferable and assignable, some negotiable instruments may trade on a secondary market.