Cost Accounting (15th Edition)
Cost Accounting (15th Edition)
15th Edition
ISBN: 9780133428704
Author: Charles T. Horngren, Srikant M. Datar, Madhav V. Rajan
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 7, Problem 7.33P

Material-cost variances, use of variances for performance evaluation. Katharine Johnson is the owner of Best Bikes, a company that produces high-quality cross-country bicycles. Best Bikes participates in a supply chain that consists of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and elite bicycle shops. For several years Best Bikes has purchased titanium from suppliers in the supply chain. Best Bikes uses titanium for the bicycle frames because it is stronger and lighter than other metals and therefore increases the quality of the bicycle. Earlier this year, Best Bikes hired Michael Bentfield, a recent graduate from State University, as purchasing manager. Michael believed that he could reduce costs if he purchased titanium from an online marketplace at a lower price.

Best Bikes established the following standards based upon the company’s experience with previous suppliers. The standards are as follows:

Cost of titanium $18 per pound
Titanium used per bicycle 8 lbs.

Actual results for the first month using the online supplier of titanium are as follows:

Bicycles produced 400
Titanium purchased 5,200 lb. for $88,400
Titanium used in production 4,700 lb.
  1. 1. Compute the direct materials price and efficiency variances.

Required

  1. 2. What factors can explain the variances identified in requirement 1? Could any other variances be affected?
  2. 3. Was switching suppliers a good idea for Best Bikes? Explain why or why not.
  3. 4. Should Michael Bentfield’s performance evaluation be based solely on price variances? Should the production manager’s evaluation be based solely on efficiency variances? Why is it important for Katharine Johnson to understand the causes of a variance before she evaluates performance?
  4. 5. Other than performance evaluation what reasons are there for calculating variances?
  5. 6. What future problems could result from Best Bikes’ decision to buy a lower quality of titanium from the online marketplace?
Blurred answer
Students have asked these similar questions
Value engineering, target pricing, and locked-in costs. Sylvan Creations designs, manufactures, and sells modern wood sculptures. Sandra Johnson is an artist for the company. Johnson has spent much of the past month working on the design of an intricate abstract piece. Jim Chase, product development manager, likes the design. However, he wants to make sure that the sculpture can be priced competitively. Ellen Cooper, Sylvan’s cost accountant, presents Chase with the following cost data for the expected production of 75 sculptures:
Coastal Cycles makes three models of electric bicycles: E20, E35, and E60. The models differ by the size of the battery and the quality of the components. The bicycles are produced in two departments. The Assembly Department purchases components from vendors and assembles them into bicycles. The models E20 and E35 are complete and ready for sale after completing the assembly process. The model E60 undergoes further process in Customization Department, which is actually just a small area in the same building as the Assembly Department.   Conversion costs in both the Assembly Department and Customization Department are based on the number of units produced. There are never any work-in-process inventories. Data for production in November are shown in the following table.       Total   E20   E35   E60   Units produced   13,000     5,000     4,500     3,500     Materials cost $ 9,820,000   $ 2,500,000   $ 3,420,000   $ 3,900,000   Conversion costs                         Assembly…
Coastal Cycles makes three models of electric bicycles: E20, E35, and E60. The models differ by the size of the battery and the quality of the components. The bicycles are produced in two departments. The Assembly Department purchases components from vendors and assembles them into bicycles. The models E20 and E35 are complete and ready for sale after completing the assembly process. The model E60 undergoes further process in Customization Department, which is actually just a small area in the same building as the Assembly Department.   Conversion costs in both the Assembly Department and Customization Department are based on the number of units produced. There are never any work-in-process inventories. Data for production in November are shown in the following table.       Total   E20   E35   E60   Units produced   11,500     4,500     4,000     3,000     Materials cost $ 8,590,000   $ 2,250,000   $ 3,040,000   $ 3,300,000   Conversion costs                         Assembly…
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Accounting
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, accounting and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Accounting
ISBN:9781259964947
Author:Libby
Publisher:MCG
Text book image
Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:9781337272094
Author:WARREN, Carl S., Reeve, James M., Duchac, Jonathan E.
Publisher:Cengage Learning,
Text book image
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting
ISBN:9781337619202
Author:Hall, James A.
Publisher:Cengage Learning,
Text book image
Horngren's Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis...
Accounting
ISBN:9780134475585
Author:Srikant M. Datar, Madhav V. Rajan
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Intermediate Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:9781259722660
Author:J. David Spiceland, Mark W. Nelson, Wayne M Thomas
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:9781259726705
Author:John J Wild, Ken W. Shaw, Barbara Chiappetta Fundamental Accounting Principles
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
What is variance analysis?; Author: Corporate finance institute;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMTa1lZu7Qw;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY