By John Jordan
Whether you are configuring SAP Product Costing, investigating production variances, or improving everyday Controlling processes, a useful reference should connect system settings to the business questions you need to answer.
How is a standard cost calculated? Why do actual production costs differ from the baseline? Which master data and configuration settings influence the result?
The four books featured on the ERPCorp books page approach these questions from different perspectives. Here is how to choose a starting point for your role and SAP environment.
Choose a Book for Your Current Challenge
| Your priority | Suggested starting point |
|---|---|
| Implement or improve Product Costing in SAP S/4HANA | Product Cost Controlling with SAP S/4HANA |
| Understand production cost differences and reporting | Production Variance Analysis in SAP S/4HANA |
| Work with established SAP ERP Product Costing processes | Product Cost Controlling with SAP |
| Find practical techniques across SAP Controlling | Controlling with SAP |
Product Cost Controlling with SAP S/4HANA
By John Jordan and Janet Salmon
This book provides a broad reference for professionals implementing, supporting, or improving Product Costing in SAP S/4HANA.
It covers master data, configuration, cost estimates, cost object controlling, and reporting. It also examines period-end activities, including overhead, work in process, variance calculation, and settlement.
For teams evaluating changes in S/4HANA, the book discusses SAP Fiori applications, event-based costing, Actual Costing, and Universal Parallel Accounting. These topics help readers connect established costing concepts with newer processing approaches.
Start here if: You need to understand how the pieces of an S/4HANA Product Costing solution fit together.
Explore Product Cost Controlling with SAP S/4HANA
Production Variance Analysis in SAP S/4HANA
By John Jordan and Janet Salmon
A cost difference is a starting point for investigation. The next step is understanding which quantities, prices, postings, and production conditions contributed to it.
This book focuses on that analysis. It covers cost estimates, actual postings, period-end processing, and reporting, including cost center, purchase price, and scrap variances. It also explains the relationship between variance analysis, Material Ledger, and Actual Costing.
Readers can explore reporting options ranging from line items and production orders to cost center analysis and SAP Fiori applications.
Start here if: Your main challenge is explaining production cost differences and turning the results into useful discussions with manufacturing and finance.
Explore Production Variance Analysis in SAP S/4HANA
Product Cost Controlling with SAP
By John Jordan
For professionals working with SAP ERP, this book provides detailed coverage of established Product Cost Controlling processes.
Topics include master data, configuration, integrated planning, cost estimates, actual costs, WIP, settlement, and reporting. It also addresses scenarios such as subcontracting, delivery costs, and mixed costing.
The third edition was published in 2016. It is a useful reference for the SAP ERP processes it covers; readers working on S/4HANA-specific functionality should begin with the dedicated S/4HANA title.
Start here if: You support an SAP ERP environment and need a comprehensive costing reference.
Explore Product Cost Controlling with SAP
Controlling with SAP: 100 Things You Should Know About…
By John Jordan
Sometimes the immediate need is a practical technique for a specific task.
The expanded second edition contains 110 tips, supported by instructions and screenshots. Its coverage extends across cost center accounting, internal orders, product cost planning, cost object controlling, Material Ledger, and profitability analysis.
Published in 2015, it offers a different reading experience from an implementation guide: readers can select a topic relevant to their work and explore a focused improvement. Check the technique against your system's release and interface before applying it.
Start here if: You want practical ideas across several areas of SAP Controlling.
Turn Reading into Practical Understanding
Choose one business question and follow it through your SAP process. For example, select a material, review its cost estimate, identify its production activities, and investigate an actual cost difference.
Use the relevant chapters alongside your own master data and reports. Record what you expected, what SAP calculated, and which settings explain the difference. This gives your team a repeatable way to build knowledge.
Browse the ERPCorp SAP books collection.
Apply the Learning to Your SAP Environment
ERPCorp provides SAP Finance and Controlling consulting to help teams review Product Costing design, improve cost transparency, and explain production results.
If your team needs help connecting configuration, postings, and reporting, discuss your Product Costing requirements with ERPCorp.