An operating cycle is the period of time from the moment raw materials are purchased to when cash is received from customers. This financial ratio measures the performance of working capital management. An increase in the duration of the operating cycle results in more working capital needed. Conversely, a decline of this ratio indicates less working capital needed.
The formula for determining the operating cycle in days is expressed as follows:
Operating Cycle = Production Cycle + Days of Sales Outstanding
or
Operating Cycle = Days of Sales in Inventory + Days of Sales Outstanding
In turn, the days of sales in inventory (DSI) is calculated as follows:
DSI = | Average Inventory | ×T |
COGS |
where Average Inventory is the average balance of the Inventory Account during an accounting period, COGS is the cost of goods sold, and T is the number of days in the accounting period (e.g., if a business prepares financial statements annually, T=365).
The formula for days of sales outstanding (DSO) is as follows:
DSO = | Average Accounts Receivable | ×T |
Credit Sales |
where Average Accounts Receivable is the average balance in Accounts Receivable during an accounting period.
The deeper decomposition of the operating cycle is shown in the figure below.
As we can see, days of sales in inventory can be broken down into three components:
We can also calculate them as follows:
Raw Materials Holding Period = | Average Raw Materials | ×T |
COGS |
Work in Progress Period = | Average Work in Progress | ×T |
COGS |
Finished Goods Holding Period = | Average Finished Goods | ×T |
COGS |
The duration of the operating cycle is given in the figure below.
where
Please note! If the credit policy of a business prohibits any sales of goods on credit, the duration of the operating cycle is equal to the duration of the production cycle or days of sales in inventory.
Information about inventory and accounts receivable of Total SAR in 20X8 financial year is as follows:
US$
The revenue of Total SAR in 20X8 financial year is $5,475,000. All sales were made on credit. The cost of goods sold is $3,285,000 for the same period.
We have to calculate the days of sales in inventory and days of sales outstanding to find the duration of the operating cycle. Let’s put the data available in the formulas mentioned above.
Average Inventory = | $580,000 + $500,000 | = $540,000 |
2 |
Average Accounts Receivable = | $730,000 + $770,000 | = $750,000 |
2 |
DSI = | $540,000 | × 365 = 60 days |
$3,285,000 |
DSO = | $750,000 | × 365 = 50 days |
$5,475,000 |
Thus, the duration of the operating cycle of Total SAR is 110 days.
We can also break down the production cycle of Total SAR.
Average Raw Materials = | $130,000 +$140,000 | = $135,000 |
2 |
Average Work in Progress = | $240,000 + $210,000 | = $225,000 |
2 |
Average Finished Goods = | $210,000 + $150,000 | = $180,000 |
2 |
Raw Materials Holding Period = | $135,000 | × 365 = 15 days |
$3,285,000 |
Work in Progress Period = | $225,000 | × 365 = 25 days |
$3,285,000 |
Finished Goods Holding Period = | $180,000 | × 365 = 20 days |
$3,285,000 |
These calculations confirm that the production cycle of Total SAR is 60 days (15+25+20).