Improving Resource Utilization Efficiency through Cost Accounting Information

This study examines the role of cost accounting information in supporting resource utilization efficiency and managerial decision-making. It emphasizes that a reduction in reported expenditure does not necessarily indicate improved operational efficiency, as changes in production volume, input prices, or the timing of expenditures may influence financial results. The study conceptualizes cost accounting information as a combination of measured resource quantities, monetary valuations, attribution to processes and outputs, and explanations of deviations. It further distinguishes information availability, information quality, managerial use, and realized outcomes in assessing the contribution of accounting information to resource decisions. Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) is considered as a useful approach for identifying material losses and making resource consumption more visible. The analysis highlights the importance of examining physical resource flows before interpreting their economic significance and demonstrates that reliable cost information can support managerial decisions when it is connected to operational processes, decision authority, implementation costs, and potential quality risks.