Cost Controls Report
Monitor budget performance with focus on labor hours and material costs across all production projects.
Accessing the Report
Reports > Production > Cost Controls
Report Columns
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| PID | Project ID (linked to project) |
| Client | Client name (Last, First format) |
| PM | Assigned Project Manager |
| Lead | Lead Carpenter assigned |
| % Compl. | Project completion percentage |
| Hours Used / Scope | Actual hours vs. estimated hours |
| Hours Used % | Percentage of labor budget consumed |
| Total Est. Material Cost | Budgeted material costs |
| Current PO Cost | Total from purchase orders |
| Material Cost % | PO costs as percentage of budget |
Available Filters
Access filters by clicking Show Filters button:
| Filter | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager | Filter by assigned PM |
| Lead Carpenter | Filter by lead |
| Project Start Date | Start/end date range |
| Opportunity Type | Project category |
| Production Stage | Current production stage |
Quick Year Filters
Click year buttons to quickly set date range:
- Previous year
- Current year
- Next year
Clear Filters
Click Clear All Filters to reset all selections.
Reading the Report
Hours Analysis
The Hours Used / Scope column shows:
Actual Hours Worked / Total Estimated Hours
Example: 45.5 / 60.0 means 45.5 hours used of 60 estimated.
The Hours Used % shows this as a percentage:
Hours Used % = (Actual Hours ÷ Estimated Hours) × 100
Material Analysis
The Material Cost % shows purchase order costs vs. budget:
Material Cost % = (PO Costs ÷ Estimated Material Cost) × 100
Visual Indicators
Red text appears when:
- Hours Used % exceeds 100%
- Material Cost % exceeds 100%
This highlights projects running over budget.
Sorting
Click any column header to sort:
- Click once for ascending
- Click again for descending
- Sorted column is indicated visually
Key Metrics Explained
% Complete
Based on project progress tracking:
- Updated by project manager
- Reflects physical completion
- May differ from cost-based completion
Hours Used %
Labor budget consumption:
- Under 100%: On or under labor budget
- At 100%: Exactly on budget
- Over 100%: Over labor budget
Material Cost %
Material budget consumption:
- Compares actual POs to estimated materials
- Doesn't include materials not yet ordered
- May show under 100% if POs pending
Export Options
Click Export CSV to download:
- All visible columns
- Filtered results only
- For spreadsheet analysis
Common Use Cases
- Weekly production meeting: Review over-budget projects
- Project manager oversight: Check PM's portfolio status
- Lead carpenter review: Monitor crew performance
- Early warning system: Catch budget issues early
Analysis Tips
Healthy Patterns
- Hours Used % roughly equals % Complete
- Material Cost % tracks with project progress
- Consistent patterns across similar projects
Warning Signs
- Hours Used % significantly ahead of % Complete
- Material Cost % spiking unexpectedly
- Projects at 50% complete but 80% of hours used
Actions for Over-Budget Projects
- Review daily logs for issues
- Check for scope creep
- Verify time is logged correctly
- Discuss with PM and lead
- Consider change order if scope increased
Tips
- Review at least weekly during production
- Sort by Hours Used % to find problem projects quickly
- Compare similar project types for benchmarking
- Use with Daily Log Report for detail investigation
Related Reports
- WIP Report - Full financial analysis
- Daily Log Report - Daily activity details
- Labor by Type - Labor breakdown