Concept explainers
Kagle design engineers are in the process of developing a new “green” product, one that will significantly reduce impact on the environment and yet still provide the desired customer functionality. Currently, two designs are being considered. The manager of Kagle has told the engineers that the cost for the new product cannot exceed $550 per unit (target cost). In the past, the Cost Accounting Department has given estimated costs using a unit-based system. At the request of the Engineering Department, Cost Accounting is providing both unit-and activity-based accounting information (made possible by a recent pilot study producing the activity-based data).
Unit-based system:
Variable conversion activity rate: $100 per direct labor hour
Material usage rate: $20 per part
ABC system:
Labor usage: $15 per direct labor hour
Material usage (direct materials): $20 per part
Machining: $75 per machine hour
Purchasing activity: $150 per purchase order
Setup activity: $3,000 per setup hour
Warranty activity: $500 per returned unit (usually requires extensive rework)
Customer repair cost: $25 per repair hour (average)
Required:
- 1. Select the lower-cost design using unit-based costing. Are logistical and post-purchase activities considered in this analysis?
- 2. Select the lower-cost design using ABC analysis. Explain why the analysis differs from the unit-based analysis.
- 3. What if the post-purchase cost was an environmental contaminant and amounted to $10 per unit for Design A and $40 per unit for Design B? Assume that the environmental cost is borne by society. Now which is the better design?
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Chapter 11 Solutions
Cornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Series)
- Arklan Production is upgrading its manufacturing process from a manual process to a highly automated system. Management believes that the new system will result in greater efficiencies and a better finished product. Arklan is also working on a plan to downsize staff after the implementation of the new system. Arklan has used a traditional absorption costing system to calculate unit product costs for external financial reporting. In the past, Arklan has allocated its manufacturing overhead costs using a predetermined plant-wide overhead rate based on direct labor hours. The controller realizes that the new system may require changing the overhead allocation process. Management plans to take the opportunity to reconsider other improvements to the costing system. Identify and explain three benefits of using departmental overhead rates to allocate overhead costs. Explain the difference between absorption costing and variable costing. Identify which is more suitable for internal…arrow_forwardThe Chopin Company has decided to introduce a new product. The new product can be manufactured by either a computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM) or a labor-intensive production (LIP) system. The manufacturing method will not affect the quality of the product. The estimated manufacturing costs for each of the two methods are as follows. CAM System: Direct Material = $5.0 Direct Labor (DLH) = 0.5 DLH X $12 = $6 Variable Overhead = 0.5DLHx$6 = $3 Fixed Iverhead* = $ 2,440,000 LIP System: Direct Material = $5.6 Direct Labor (DLH) = 0.8 DLH X $9 = $7.2 Variable Overhead = 0.8 DLH X $6 = $4.8 Fixed Overhead* = $1,320,000 *These costs are directly traceable to the new product line. They would not be incurred if the new product were not produced. The company’s marketing research department has recommended an introductory unit sales price of $30. Selling expenses are estimated to be $500,000 annually plus $2 for each unit sold. (Ignore income taxes.) Required 4. Describe the circumstances under…arrow_forwardData Master is a computer software consulting company. Its three major functional areas are computer programming, information systems consulting, and software training. Cynthia Moore, a pricing analyst in the Accounting Department, has been asked to develop total costs for the functional areas. These costs will be used as a guide in pricing a new contract. In computing these costs, Moore is considering three different methods of allocating overhead costs: the direct method, the step method, and the reciprocal method. Moore assembled the following data on overhead from its two service departments, the Information Systems Department and the Facilities Department. Service Departments User Departments Info Systems Facilities Computer Program Consulting $ 50,000 $110,000 600 $25,000 400 $75,000 1,100 400,000 200,000 600,000 information systems are allocated on the basis of hours of computer usage; facilities are allocated on the basis of floor space. Required: Allocate the service…arrow_forward
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- Cornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Ser...AccountingISBN:9781305970663Author:Don R. Hansen, Maryanne M. MowenPublisher:Cengage Learning