Total cost of work in process less the cost of the ending work in process inventory.

  • Accounting

Guide to Understanding Work in Progress (WIP)

What is Work in Progress (WIP)?

Work in Progress (WIP) represents incomplete goods still in the production process, i.e. the manufacturing stage between raw materials and finished goods.

Total cost of work in process less the cost of the ending work in process inventory.

Table of Contents

  • How to Calculate Work in Progress (WIP)
  • WIP Formula
  • How to Interpret Work In Progress Inventory
  • WIP Calculator – Excel Template
  • WIP Inventory Calculation Example

How to Calculate Work in Progress (WIP)

Work in progress (WIP) is a term used to describe inventory that is partially finished and currently amidst the production cycle.

WIP stands for “work in progress” and refers to any partially complete inventory not yet ready to be sold to customers.

At the WIP stage, these inventory items are not marketable and require more time before it can be sold in the market.

For instance, the WIP inventory could be undergoing finishing touches prior to being marked as complete.

There are three stages that inventory – a current asset on the balance sheet – can be classified into:

  1. Raw Materials → The materials on hand that are part of the production process, e.g. commodities.
  2. Work In Progress (WIP) → The process of turning the raw materials into finished goods has begun, however, the item is not yet ready to be sold.
  3. Finished Goods → The production process is complete and these items are now ready to be sold.

Once the product is marked as a finished good and is subsequently sold, the appropriate amount is removed inventory balance on the balance sheet.

On the income statement, the sale of the product would be recorded in the cost of goods sold (COGS) line item.

WIP Formula

The formula for calculating work in progress inventory – in the specific context of a manufacturer – is as follows.

Formula
  • Ending Work in Progress = Beginning WIP + Manufacturing Costs – Cost of Goods Manufactured

The beginning work in progress inventory is the ending WIP balance from the prior accounting period, i.e. the closing carrying balance is carried forward as the beginning balance for the next period.

The manufacturing costs are then added to the beginning WIP inventory balance.

Manufacturing costs are a bit of an open-ended term but refer to any costs incurred related to the process of manufacturing raw materials into a finished product, e.g. the cost of raw materials, labor, and overhead costs.

Formula
  • Manufacturing Costs = Raw Materials + Direct Labor Costs + Manufacturing Overhead

In the final step, the cost of manufactured goods (COGM) is subtracted.

COGM is defined as the total costs incurred while creating a finished product, and in order to estimate the value of a company’s end-of-period WIP, the finished COGM is a necessary input.

COGM can be determined by adding the total manufacturing costs to the beginning WIP inventory, followed by subtracting the ending WIP inventory.

Formula
  • Cost of Manufactured Goods (COGM) = Manufacturing Costs + Beginning WIP Inventory – Ending WIP Inventory

How to Interpret Work In Progress Inventory

Work in progress inventory can be found on the current assets section of the balance sheet, which reflects how inventory is expected to cycle out within a twelve-month period, i.e. be converted from raw materials into cash.

Generally, most companies strive to reduce the amount of time that inventory spends at the work in progress (WIP) stage.

  • Long Work in Progress Stage → The longer the items remain in the work in progress stage, the less efficient that company may be – all else being equal.
  • Short Work in Progress Stage → The quicker the inventory cycles out (i.e. as part of the cash conversion cycle), the more free cash flow (FCF) there tends to be since the cash is not merely sitting as inventory.

However, different industries will have different targets for their WIP and inventory management KPIs, particularly for more technical, manufacturing-intensive products that require substantially more time to pass through the WIP stage.

Therefore, it is also essential to make internal comparisons (i.e. track the changes in WIP year-over-year), as well as avoid making comparisons between companies operating in entirely different industries, i.e. stick to the company’s closest competitors and other industry peers to determine the proper target WIP benchmark.

WIP Calculator – Excel Template

We’ll now move to a modeling exercise, which you can access by filling out the form below.

WIP Inventory Calculation Example

Suppose a manufacturer is attempting to calculate its work in progress (WIP) for the end of the latest fiscal year, 2021.

If the beginning WIP balance is $20 million, the manufacturing costs were $250 million, and the cost of goods manufactured (COGM) is $245 million, what is the ending work in progress (WIP) balance?

The assumptions that our model will use are as follows.

  • Beginning Work in Progress = $20 million
  • Manufacturing Costs = $250 million
  • Cost of Goods Manufactured (COGM) = $245 million

The ending work in progress inventory roll-forward starts with the beginning balance, adds the manufacturing costs, and then deducts the cost of goods manufactured (COGM).

If we enter those inputs into our WIP formula, we arrive at $25 million as the ending work in progress (WIP), reflecting an increase of $5 million in WIP from the beginning to the end of the period.

  • Ending Work in Progress = $20 million + $250 million – $245 million = $25 million

Total cost of work in process less the cost of the ending work in process inventory.

Total cost of work in process less the cost of the ending work in process inventory.

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What is the cost of the ending work in process inventory?

It is: Beginning WIP Inventory + Manufacturing Costs – COGM = Ending WIP Inventory.

What is total cost of work in process?

The total cost of work in process refers to the sum of the cost of the beginning work in process and total manufacturing costs for the present period. In other words, we can get the mentioned term by adding beginning work in process inventory to the total manufacturing cost.

Which costs are included in work in process inventory?

Work in process (WIP) inventory refers to materials that are waiting to be assembled and sold. WIP inventory includes the cost of raw materials, labor, and overhead costs needed to manufacture a finished product.

How is the ending balance in work in process inventory calculated for a firm?

Add the cost of beginning inventory to the cost of purchases during the period. This is the cost of goods available for sale. Multiply the gross profit percentage by sales to find the estimated cost of goods sold. Subtract the cost of goods available for sold from the cost of goods sold to get the ending inventory.