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SimpleERP

Glossary

What is raw material?

What raw material means for a small manufacturer, how it is costed, and how it moves from the godown into finished goods.

Updated

In short

Raw material is what a manufacturer buys to make its products. In SimpleERP raw materials are stocked products listed as components in a BOM, consumed at average cost when a work order completes.

Raw material is the material a manufacturer buys to turn into its products, such as steel sections, paint, fabric or packing. It is held as inventory until production uses it, then its cost moves into the finished goods. Bought-in parts that go into the product unchanged, such as nuts and bolts, are often called components but are treated the same way in stock and costing.

Raw material: a worked example

The raw materials Lakshmi Steel holds in the Main godown for its steel racks.

Raw materialUnitOn handAverage costValue
Slotted angle 6 ftNos480₹310₹1,48,800
Shelf panel 36 × 18 inNos395₹290₹1,14,550
Nut and bolt setNos4,800₹2₹9,600
Powder coat paintkg59.50₹450₹26,775
Total raw material₹2,99,725
Enough for one more batch of 50 racks; panels run short before a second.

FAQ

Questions, answered

What are examples of raw materials?

For a steel furniture maker: steel sheets, angles and tubes, paint and fasteners. For a garment unit: fabric, thread and buttons. For a brick kiln: clay, fly ash and coal. Packing material is often treated as raw material too.

Is raw material an asset or an expense?

An asset while it is in your godown, shown in inventory on the balance sheet. It becomes part of the cost of finished goods when consumed, and an expense, cost of goods sold, when those goods are sold.

Can I claim GST input tax credit on raw material?

Generally yes, when it is used to make taxable goods and you hold a valid tax invoice that appears in your GSTR-2B. SimpleERP records the input GST from the supplier's bill; matching it to GSTR-2B is a check you make on the GST portal.

How do I value raw material at year end?

At cost or net realisable value, whichever is lower. In SimpleERP the stock on hand report gives the quantity and weighted average cost of each raw material; filter it by the raw material category and export it for your accountant.

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