The discipline that focuses on a careful study of cost data to support production planning is:

• A. Cost Accounting
• B. Cost of Production
• C. Accounting Education
• D. Auditing

Answer: (A)

Cost accounting is the discipline that focuses on a careful study of cost data to support production planning. It involves collecting and analyzing information about direct materials, direct labor, and overhead, then turning that data into reports that aid budgeting, pricing, and decision-making about how to use resources efficiently. This field helps managers forecast production needs, control costs, set standard costs, and perform variance analysis to see how actual costs compare with planned costs.

The other options describe different ideas: Cost of Production is a cost concept that sums up the expenses to manufacture goods, not a discipline; Accounting Education refers to teaching the subject, not the analysis of cost data for planning; Auditing deals with examining records for accuracy and assurance rather than guiding production decisions.