Deals with attempts to control critical material costs through the piecemeal introduction of a standard costing system. Some of the aspects dealt with are: 1) comparative cost analysis of alternative sources of imported raw materials; 2) purchase performance analysis through comparison of the actuals with the budgets on the chosen alternative; 3) use of "plant Cost Card" to budget the detailed cost elements on imported plant and machinery, and subsequent comparison of actuals incurred on a monthly basis with the budgets, till the machinery is ready for production; and 4) variance analysis of manufacturing costs.