Strategic cost management highlights enhanced cost measurement systems, paving the way for management accounting to retain its relevance in todays environment. Strategic cost management consists of those actions taken by managers to concurrently reduce cost as well as enhance customer satisfaction with the aid of modified / new approaches and techniques in managing cost more effectively / strategically (Drury, 2012).

Required: a) Advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT)

1) Describe the chosen costing tool / technique. 2) Discuss how the chosen tool / technique has spearheaded strategic cost management in the area of management accounting. You should use 1 or more case example(s) to aid your discussion. 3) What are the challenges management accountants and companies face in adopting this tool / technique? Use appropriate case example (s) where applicable.