In today's manufacturing industry, direct material costs can be the most significant expense, but labour cost is typically the next most significant expense of a manufacturing business, or any business, perhaps even the biggest expense. It can be devastating not to maintain a standard costing system, without which businesses cannot accurately establish the costs of their products.The Manufacturing Standard Costing Practical Handbook is aimed at all persons from the fields of controlling, production engineers and who are involved in determining standard costs for products. stress-relief management.