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As a manager, to maintain the budget you want to go for Cost-Cutting. So what are the areas you consider for cost cutting?

Assume that you are implementing cost-cutting in your company.

Please suggest based on your experience.

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Question added by Zaferullah Sharief, PMP® , Project Manager , Huawei Technologies
Date Posted: 2016/01/11
Rehan Qureshi
by Rehan Qureshi , Financial Consultant , Self Employeed

Do the following

 

Review company policies

Ask for employee input

Look at your own spending

Take your time

Measure performance

 

And at the same time also Don't do the following

 

Forget the training

Play favorites

Remove all the perks

Forget some padding

Take it personally

 

Do review company policies

 

Many companies have company policies with regard to costs. They could range from the amount an individual is allowed to spend without additional authorization to the policies regarding company credit cards. It is a good idea to review these policies and make sure they still apply. If you are seeing an increase in the amount of discretionary spending, it may be time to lower the amount an individual can spend without additional authorization.

 

Do ask for employee input

 

When it comes time to make cuts, the people on the front line are the most knowledgeable about where cuts can and can’t occur. Ask for their input. You could even put a program in place to reward employees that come up with significant cost-saving ideas. Involving employees in department decisions allows them to feel important and have skin in the game. The amount spent on the program will be minimal when compared to the overall savings.

 

Do look at your own spending

 

As managers move up through an organization, they have a tendency to expect some benefits with the title. Whether it is a dedicated assistant, company car, or expense account, these benefits cost money and impact the company’s bottom line. Take a look at your expenses and see if there are areas where spending can be reduced. Do you need a dedicated assistant or could you and another manager share one? Can you reduce your expense account? By taking a look at your own spending and making reductions where you can, you are not placing the entire burden solely on your employees. By sharing the burden, you are showing that you and your employees are truly a team

 

Do take your time

 

An annual budget isn’t something that should be put together at the last minute. It takes time and effort to create a budget that will allow you and your team to perform effectively, efficiently and at the lowest cost possible. Be prepared for the process by putting together your expenses for the current year as well as any unknown expenses and initiatives for the upcoming year.

 

Do measure performance

 

Compare your actual spending to your budget on a monthly basis. By doing so, you will be able to easily identify any areas where you are over-spending and address them before they get too far out of control. You should also communicate these metrics to your employees so that they are aware of how the team is doing.

 

Do not forget the training

 

Many times training is one of the areas that is minimized during the budgeting process. However, a well-trained workforce is critical to maintaining your levels of quality and reducing turnover so don’t take it for granted that you can just slash the training budget to get your spending under control.

 

Do not play favorites

 

When identifying areas for cost reductions, the team and all of the related costs as a whole should be reviewed equally. Many times a manager has a pet project or program that they are unwilling to even consider for a cost reduction. Each project and program should be evaluated for possible reductions. Not only will this make all of your employees feel equal, but it will make everyone more cost aware when it comes to spending.

 

Do not remove all the perks

 

Happy, engaged employees are important to the success of any company. Company perks play an important role in keeping your employees happy and engaged. When you are considering removing employee benefits to reduce costs, you need to also take into account any impact this would have to overall employee morale. A reduction in employee morale can turn into employees leaving the company which may cost you more money than the benefit you reduced.

 

Do not forget some padding

 

No one can budget for all costs that may occur during a given year. Equipment may fail, an employee may quit both of which are unforeseen and can have a financial impact. So when putting together your budget it is a good idea to include some additional dollars to handle these unexpected situations. By doing so, you are covered if something occurs, and if not, you can come in under budget.

 

Do not take it personally

 

During the budgeting process, there are going to be tough decisions. You are going to win some and lose some so it is important to view all of these decisions as business and not personal. Many times managers are only concerned with their budget as they are developing it for the upcoming year. By changing that mindset and focusing on your actual costs and adherence to your budget on a regular monthly basis, you will be able to quickly address areas where you are over or under spending.

Mohammed Thiab
by Mohammed Thiab , Founder / Chief Consultant , MV Consulting

Ultimately, you will end up (hopefully) cutting extra fat in the body of the organization not the muscles that keep it moving, and not the critical organs inside that keep it alive 

 

  • No/Low value contribution processes in the business process diagrams of the organization
  • Redundant/Unnecessary positions, roles and/or titles within the organization
  • Low productivity/Low profitability functions that are not mandatory to the organization
  • All kinds of waste affecting time, effort, materials, tools, ... 

Gayasuddin Mohammed
by Gayasuddin Mohammed , Advocate , Practicing Law before High Court at Hyderabad

reduce wastage

unwanted stationary or excess usage of stationary

prompt and full utilization of available resources in optimal manner

with out any overtime expenses.

few points generally can go for cost cutting i can think of. Thanks.

Yaqoub Alomar
by Yaqoub Alomar , Civil Engineer , Al-Zubeir municipality

 First, take a look at costs to see where they are-look for areas in which you can make a difference. so, depends on what type of office, size, etc., but here are some ideas - 

 

encourage people to print double-sided-this obviously has the potential to cut printer paper costs in half! (go to windows control panel/printers)-each person sets this up and it can be easily changed for jobs they must print single sided also, set up jobs to not print a cover page if possible 

 

lock the supply cabinets-surpising how much less you will use. 

 

set up a system for reusing old file folders,3-ring binders, or other filing type items. 

 

don't order new furniture unless absolutely necessary-look around first for unused tables, chairs, file cabinets, etc. and you can hiring a maintanance staff in your office to repair the damaged furniture and then return them to the service

 

shop around for the lowest prices on office supplies, and if your current supplier won't match or at least give a better deal it or doesn't offer another reason to stay, change suppliers

Gregory May
by Gregory May , Owner Operator Gregory May Catering London W1 , Gregory May Catering

Fixed costs   -  renegotiation of constant cost, such as rents,  business rates, insurance.

                        salaried permanent staff  -  re new contracts, with more emphasis on performance related                             pay as opposed to set pay for set hours. Look at potential redundancies.

Variable costs  - Audit your supply chain and look for better value  - if necessary from new sources

                           Review staff training and analyse staff productivity and efficiencies.

Personnel Management

Motivation            Are you getting the best from your staff?

Improve products and services - thereby increasing turnover and reducing cost as a percentage  

Md Fazlur Rahman
by Md Fazlur Rahman , Procurement Specialist , Engineering and Planning Consultants Ltd

Areas of Cost cutting:

Production Process simplification through business process re-engineering will reduce manpower cost, time cost and logistics cost.

Strategic procurement decisions involving wide range of vendors and getting competitive price will reduce cost.

Accurate delivery time without stock out will reduce  storage cost and investment cost.

Innovative marketing ideas will reduce traditional marketing cost

A through review of he distribution channel will reduce the distribution cost 

Finally, a good manager must initiate management control systems  to ensure cost cutting without compromising the cost of the product or servciess

umesh babu R
by umesh babu R , Project Engineer , Salarapuria Sattva Developers PVT LTD

Keeping the track on the work schedules and plans timel completion without repeat ion of works

Lee Palin
by Lee Palin , Director , Pro-Tec Systems Ltd

 expenses require to reduce. Like Printing stationery, other stationery. reduce overtime and increase productivity but it should be on practical stage. In production wastage should not go beyond normal limit. Stock should be in control.

DHIRAJ DUBEY
by DHIRAJ DUBEY , Mechanical Engineer , Almeer Technical Services Company

Major areas for any cost cutting are :

1) Money : By investing small amount of money initially and after satisfaction whole amount can be invested. This will allow no wastage of money.

2) Manpower : By reducing the number of helpers, riggers, technicians etc. that we have hired. This can be achieved by giving some more work to them in same limited period of time.

3) Resources : Such as cranes, hydra, dewatering pumps etc. can be reduced by either purchasing them instead of renting them or by using one equipment for many jobs. For example hydra can be used in place of crane and forklift. Hence having hydras are more advantageous than having cranes.

4) Management : Bringing the awareness of cost cutting in other employees by training them will definitely cut the high cost.

5) Material : By keeping the common inventory, bringing the principle of zero inventory  and following the latest inventory control tools will definitely reduce the cost.

chetan shah
by chetan shah , Accounts Manager

for cost cutting will start from daily expenses. inappropriate exp or excess expenses require to reduce. Like Printing stationery, other stationery. reduce overtime and increase productivity but it should be on practical stage. In production wastage should not go beyond normal limit. Stock should be in control. so that working capital free and not require to use more bank facilities for excess stock. Production loss to be reduce by proper follow up. 

حسين محمد ياسين
by حسين محمد ياسين , Finance Manager , مؤسسة عبد الماجد محمد العمر للمقاولات العامة

agree with answers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

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