Setting Up Job Cost Methods

Setting Up Job Cost Methods

Costing Type

Job Cost Methods calculate job costs in one of two ways:

• Attribute Costing - this type of costing calculates the cost of a job based on the number of pages in the job and any special attributes such as Color, Staple or Duplex (double-sided) printing. A one off per job cost can also be charged. Separate Per Job Costs and Per Page Costs are defined for the various page sizes and attributes that you want to charge for. Using Attribute Costing, the cost of a job is calculated as follows:

  Base Job Cost + Job Attribute Costs + (Per Page Cost × number of pages)

• Area Costing - this type of costing calculates the cost of a job based on the area of paper printed on (this is useful for devices such as plotters where paper feeds through continuously). A one off per job cost can also be charged. Using Area Costing, the cost of a job is calculated as follows:

  Base Job Cost + (Per Inch Cost × number of inches printed)

To change the type of costing used by a Job Cost Method, select "Attribute Costing" or "Area Costing" from the combo box in this field.

Area costing cannot be used with copiers. If a Job Cost Method is currently being used by a copier, you cannot select "Area Costing".

Setting Up Costing by Attribute

To set up attribute costs for a Job Cost Method, select "Attribute Costing" from the Costing Type combo box, then configure the following properties:

1. Enter a value for the Base Job Cost property. This is a one-off charge that is applied to all jobs, in addition to per page costs and any extra per job costs for special attributes.

2. Enter a value for the Default Per Page Cost property. This is the amount that will be charged per page if none of the page sizes or per page attributes detected match the properties specified in the Job Cost Method. (If some of the job attributes are recognized, they will be used, and any others will be ignored.)

3. Click the editing button at the end of the Per Page Attribute Costs property. This opens the Page Attribute Costs dialog:

   1. Tick the boxes for all page size and attributes that you wish to charge for, then click Apply.

   2. All combinations of page sizes and attributes are displayed in the Price Lines section of the dialog. Enter per page costs for each combination.

   3. Click OK to close the dialog.

4. Click the editing button at the end of the Per Job Attribute Costs property. This opens the Job Attribute Costs dialog:

   1. Enter a per job cost for each attribute that you want to charge for.

   2. Click OK to close the dialog.

If a Job Cost Method is attached to one or more Copiers, you cannot change the paper sizes and attributes that are configured in the Job Cost Method, i.e. you cannot add or delete paper size or attributes. You can still change the costs associated with paper size/attribute combinations, however.

If you need to change a Job Cost Method, you must disassociate it with all Copiers before editing it. It may be easier to simply create a new Job Cost Center, then change all Copiers to use it once it is set up.

Setting Up Costing by Area

To set up paper area costs for a Job Cost Method, select "Area Costing" from the Costing Type combo box, then configure the following properties:

1. Enter a Base Job Cost. This is a one-off charge that is applied to all jobs, in addition to the per inch cost.

2. Enter a Per Inch Cost.

Using Job Cost Methods in Pharos

Once Job Cost Methods have been set up, the Pharos Uniprint and/or Off-The-Glass system must be set up to use them for job costing.

Using Job Cost Methods for printing

In the Uniprint print management system, Job Cost Methods are attached to Spool Queues. All jobs printed through a queue are costed and charged according to the Job Cost Method attached to that queue.

Costing options are set at Printing > Print Services > [selected Print Service] > Spool Queues > Charging tab. For each Spool Queue:

1. Select "Attribute" from the Charging Method combo box.

2. Click outside the Property Window to save this change.

3. Once Attribute charging is selected, the Job Cost Method property becomes available. Select the appropriate Job Cost Method from the combo box in this field.

Using Job Cost Methods for copying

In the Off-The-Glass copy management system, Job Cost Methods are attached directly to copiers. All copy jobs done on a copier will be costed and charged according to the Job Cost Method attached to that copier.

A Job Cost Method must be selected when first inserting a Copier. A Copier's Job Cost Method can be changed later at Output Devices > Pharos Managed Copiers > Copier tab.