A method of assigning overhead costs to products. The first step is to analyze the cost of various activities. This approach looks like at activities (such as changing specifications for a digital painting machine or the cost of processing customer orders) as distinct parts of drudgery. These activities are then identified as cost drivers. Activity-based costing uses cost drivers to assign overhead costs to product or services. Traditionally, manufacturing companies have used the bulk number of direct labor hours as the method of allocating overhead. Activity-based revenue compels manufacturing companies to analysis what is contributing acquired surplus 20 to the price of the product beyond the usual labor and materials