Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Practice Exam

Which expenses are included in storage costs?

1. Advertising and marketing costs

2. Material-handling costs and operating costs

3. Labor and training costs

4. Product development costs

The correct answer is: Material-handling costs and operating costs

Storage costs specifically relate to the expenses incurred in holding inventory over a period of time. This includes both material-handling costs and operating costs, which are essential components of the total expense of storage. Material-handling costs refer to the expenses associated with the physical handling and movement of goods as they are stored. This can include costs related to equipment such as forklifts, shelving, and other mechanisms used to organize and retrieve products efficiently from a storage facility. Operating costs pertain to the day-to-day expenses associated with maintaining and operating the storage facility itself. This can encompass utilities, lease or mortgage payments, maintenance of the storage infrastructure, and security measures to protect the stored goods. The other options, such as advertising and marketing costs, labor and training costs, and product development costs, are considered indirect expenses and do not typically classify under storage costs. These expenses are more related to market approach, workforce management, or innovation rather than the direct management and physical upkeep of stored inventory.