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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how a range of factors affect product costing in industry.

      Key learning points

      1. Product costs go beyond materials - they include labour, overhead, and other expenses.
      2. Costs are influenced by internal factors and external factors.
      3. Businesses set prices by managing expenses.

      Keywords

      • Economies of scale - as production increases, the cost per unit decreases

      • Overhead - the ongoing cost of running a business

      • Automation - use of technology to perform tasks

      Common misconception

      The cost of a product only concerns raw materials.

      Other factors like labour, overhead, distribution, and economies of scale affect the cost of a product.

      Teacher tip

      This lesson is a good opportunity to introduce maths in D&T questions that are related to costing e.g. percentages. Calculators are permitted.

      Equipment

      Calculator (optional)

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      A design is a statement that outlines the requirements of a product.

      Correct Answer: brief

      Q2.
      What is the main purpose of market research?

      To guess what customers want
      Correct answer: To gather information about customer needs and preferences
      To create advertising campaigns
      To reduce production costs

      Q3.
      Which of the following materials would not be suitable for a child’s lunchbox?

      BPA-free plastic
      Stainless steel
      Correct answer: Glass
      Soft fabric

      Q4.
      A company sells a product for £30, and the cost to make it is £18. How much profit do they make per unit?

      £10
      Correct answer: £12
      £14
      £16

      Q5.
      Which of the following is NOT a cost businesses need to consider?

      Raw materials
      Wages for workers
      Correct answer: The customer’s personal budget
      Rent for the factory

      Q6.
      Why do businesses set different prices for similar products?

      Some businesses just like charging more money.
      Correct answer: Prices depend on costs, competition, and customer demand.
      Expensive products are always better quality.
      Businesses guess how much people will pay.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      A business sets its price by considering the cost of materials, labour, overhead, and ...

      Competitor pricing
      Correct answer: Marketing and distribution
      The CEO’s salary
      Government regulations

      Q2.
      Which of the following is an example of a direct cost?

      Electricity for the factory
      Correct answer: Worker wages for producing goods
      Office supplies for management
      Advertising costs

      Q3.
      Which of the following are linked to external costing factors?

      Employee productivity
      Material quality
      Correct answer: Supply chain disruptions

      Q4.
      Put the following steps of product costing in the correct order:

      1 - Add direct costs (materials, labour)
      2 - Calculate the overhead costs (e.g. rent, utilities)
      3 - Set the price based on total costs and market factors
      4 - Add profit margin to the final price

      Q5.
      When a business produces more units of a product, it can lower the cost per unit due to __________.

      Correct answer: Economies of scale
      Profit margin
      Customer loyalty

      Q6.
      How does automation typically affect the costs of producing a product?

      It increases direct labour costs but lowers material costs.
      Correct answer: It reduces the need for labour and can lower production costs overall.
      It increases the price of materials.
      It has no impact on production costs.

      To help you plan your 11 design and technology lesson on: Costing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...