外文翻译原文Logistics costs and controllingMaterialSource:Springer-Verlag 2009Author:TimmGudehus，HerbertKotzLogistic Costs and ControllingAbstractLogistic costs are defined differently in companies. In many cases, the reported logistic costs of companies even within the same business differ more than justified by their operations. Some companies do not count interest and depreciation on inventories as logistic costs. Others include the distribution costs of their suppliers or the purchasing costs. In some cases, even the purchase value of the procured goods is included in the logistic costs (Baumgarten et al. 1993; Gudehus and Kotzab 2004; Weber 2002). Logistic costs are defined differently in companies. In many cases, the reported logistic costs of companies even within the same business differ more than justified by their operations. Some companies do not count interest and depreciation on inventories as logistic costs. Others include the distribution costs of their suppliers or the purchasing costs. In some cases, even the purchase value of the procured goods is included in the logistic costs (Baumgarten et al. 1993; Gudehus and Kotzab 2004; Weber 2002). Another problem, which arises not only in logistics, is costing and pricing of intangible goods. Intangible goods, such as logistic services, provide immediate utility and are generally not storable. Therefore, the conventional methods of accounting, costing and pricing, which have been developed for tangible goods, are of limited value for logistics (Cooper 1992; Horvth 1999; Johnson 1987). More appropriate for the calculation of performance costs are process-related cost accounting and activity based costing. However, in logistics as well as in other areas of business, the definition and calculation of process costs differs (Bragg 2001; Hicks 2002; Horvth 1999; Pohlen and LaLonde 1994; Poist 1974). This holds especially for the performance costs of multifunctional logistic systems, for pricing of integrated performances and for the consideration of fixed costs. As long as they are defined, measured and calculated differently, logistic costs, cost rates and prices cannot be compared. Any benchmarking based on such doubtful indicators is misleading (see Sect. 4.5). Hence, reported market volumes and market shares of logistics are at best educated guesses (Baumgarten et al. 1993; Kille and Klaus 2007; Mller-Steinfahrt 1998). The situation in logistic controlling and supply chain controlling is even worse (Cooper and Kaplan 1998; Manrodt et al. 1999; Seuring 2006). Only a minority of companies records and monitors logistic costs separately and continuously (Weber 2002). Whereas in industry the total logistic costs range between 5 and 15% of turnover, in trade companies they make up between 10 and 25% of turnover (Baumgarten et al. 1993; Gudehus 1999/2007). For retailers, logistic costs can use up more than one third of the profit margin. Despite this, it is still the exception for retailers to record and monitor the logistic costs from the ramp of the suppliers to the point of sales. Logistic controlling does not only include calculation, budgeting and recording of costs, but also the monitoring of performance and quality. Controlling should consult management in the planning, set up and operation of optimal systems. To enable this, it has to determine and specify for improvements in service, performance, quality, and costs (Cooper 1992; Darkow 2001; Horvth 1999; Johnson 1987; Weber et al. 1993, 2002). Where and with what accuracy costs, performances and quality should be recorded and monitored depends on the contribution of logistics to the value creation, on the core competencies and objectives of the company, and on current projects. In logistic controlling, as in other areas, less is more: it is better to control a small number of meaningful key performance indicators (KPI) with adequate accuracy in longer time spans, than to monitor all possible performance, quality and cost data with high precision permanently without knowing the demand for these information (Manrodt et al. 1999). For controlling, not the precision of the performance and cost data, but their practical use and application are decisive. In this chapter, the logistic costs are consistently defined, the fundamental issues of logistic costing are presented, and practicable methods for the calculation of use dependent cost rates are developed. This includes a discussion of the fixed-cost dilemma of logistics, the relationship between logistic costs and performance rates and the most effective options for reducing logistic costs. Using the results of this chapter, in the following chapter cost-based prices and pricing systems for logistic performances and services are derived. Cost Accounting and Performance CostingCorresponding to the stationary or structural aspect and to the dynamic or process aspect, two different types of accounting are necessa