Innovation in Cost Management. A Comparison Between Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) and Value Stream Costing (VSC) in an Auto-Parts Factory

This paper deals with two new approaches to cost accounting: Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) and Value Stream Costing (VSC). First, the paper introduces both methods, focusing on TDABC. Next, we analyse the experience of an auto parts manufacturer who shifted from ABC to TDABC. Finally, we test how both methods work in a multiproduct/multi-process manufacturing environment adapted from reality, and we compare them. Although their aims are very different, they yield similar results.