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Planet Light First (PLF), a producer of energy-efficient light bulbs, expects th

ID: 2451248 • Letter: P

Question

Planet Light First (PLF), a producer of energy-efficient light bulbs, expects that demand will increase markedly over the next decade. Due to the high fixed costs involved in the business, PLF has decided to evaluate its financial performance using absorption costing income. The production-volume variance is written off to cost of goods sold. The variable cost of production is $2.40 per bulb. Fixed manufacturing costs are $1,170,000 per year. Variable and fixed selling and administrative expenses are $0.20 per bulb sold and $220,000, respectively. Because its light bulbs are currently popular with environmentally conscious customers, PLF can sell the bulbs for $9.80 each. PLF is deciding among various concepts of capacity for calculating the cost of each unit produced.

Theoretical capacity 900,000 bulbs

Practical capacity      520,000 bulbs

Normal capacity        260,000 bulbs (avr expected output for next 3 years)

Master budget capacity 225,000 bulbs expected production this year

Capacity Type Capacity Fixed Mfg.   Fixed Mfg.         Variable        Inventoriable

                         Level       Overhead    Overhead Rate    Prod Cost       Cost per Unit

Theoretical        900,000 $1,170,000      $1.30                   $2.40           $3.70

Practical             520,000 $1,170,000           $2.25            $2.40             $4.65

Normal             260,000   $1,170,000           $4.50            $2.40              $6.90

Master Budget 225,000   $1,170,000         $5.20              $2.40           $7.60

Capacity Type  Capacity  Fixed Mfg.   Fixed Mfg.      Fixed Mfg.   Volume Variance

                            Level       Overhead   Overhead Rate  Overhead Rate x

                                                                                        Actual Prodcution

Theoretical 900,000         $1,170,000   $1.30                $ 390,000           $780,000 U

Practical 520,000            $1,170,000   $2.25                $ 675,000            $495,000 U

Normal 260,000              $1,170,000   $4.50               $1,350,000           $180,000 F

Master Budget 225,000 $1,170,000   $5.20                $1,560,000          $390,000 F

                   Theoretical         Practical           Normal            Master Budget

Revenue a   $2,205,000         $2,205,000       $2,205,000        $2,205,000

Less: Cost of

goods sold b 832,500             1,046,250           1,552,500         1,710,000

Production-volume

variance      780,000 U           495,000 U          (180,000) F         (390,000) F

Gross margin 592,500             663,750             832,500             885,000

Variable selling c 45,000          45,000              45,000              45,000

Fixed selling 220,000             220,000             220,000            220,000

Operating income $ 327,500 $ 398,750        $ 567,500          $ 620,000

Required:

1. If PLF sells all 300,000 bulbs produced, what would be the effect on operating income of using each type of capacity as a basis for calculating manufacturing cost per unit?

2. Compare the results of operating income at different capacity levels when 225,000 bulbs are sold and when 300,000 bulbs are sold. What conclusion can you draw from the comparison?

3. Using the original data (that is, 300,000 units produced and 225,000 units sold) if PLF had used the proration approach to allocate the production-volume variance, what would operating income have been under each level of capacity? (Assume that there is no ending work in process.)

Explanation / Answer

1) If PLF sells all 300,000 bulbs produced

Theoretical Practical           Normal Master Budget

Revenue (a) $2,940,000         $2,940,000       $2,940,000        $2,940,000

Less: Cost of

goods sold (b) 1110000 1395000 2070000 2280000

Production-volume

variance 0 0 0 0

Gross margin 1830000 1545000 870000 660000

Variable selling (c) 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000

Fixed selling 220,000             220,000             220,000            220,000

Operating income $ 15,50,00 $ 1265000        $ 590,000 $ 380,000

2. Compare the results of operating income at different capacity levels when 225,000 bulbs are sold and when 300,000 bulbs are sold.

Practical Normal Master Budget

Operating income when 300000 units are sold $ 15,50,00 $12,65,000 $ 590,000 $ 380,000

Operating income when 225000 units are sold    $ 327,500 $398,750 $ 567,500 $ 620,000

Difference $1222500 866250 22500 (240000)

What conclusion can you draw from the comparison

The conclusion drawn from the above solution that the budugeted capacity has less operating income when 300000 bulbs are sold, this is due to volume variance