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Industrial Solutions, Inc. Activity Industrial Solutions, Inc., manufactures thr

ID: 2540037 • Letter: I

Question

Industrial Solutions, Inc. Activity

Industrial Solutions, Inc., manufactures three types of containers – a drum, a bin, and a box – that are used in the chemical industry. The company uses a just-in-time production system for these containers. As a result, it holds no inventory.

Industrial Solutions, Inc.’s accountants have provided detailed cost information for three containers (also in the accompanying spreadsheet).

Drums

Bins

Boxes

Units produced and sold annually

5,000

4,500

3,000

Sales

$745,000

$495,000

$297,000

Variable costs:

Direct materials

255,500

85,500

72,000

Direct labor

18,000

40,500

36,000

Variable manufacturing overhead

6,750

9,000

18,750

Variable selling and administrative

3,750

13,500

11,250

Contribution margin

$461,000

$346,500

$159,000

Fixed costs:

Advertising, traceable

145,250

54,000

29,250

Depreciation on special equipment

40,000

33,750

39,000

Salaries of product-line managers

79,750

67,500

49,500

Allocated common fixed expenses*

45,000

90,000

62,250

Net operating income (loss)

$151,000

$101,250

$(21,000)

*Allocated based on sales dollars

Case 1 – Add or Drop a Product Line

Management is concerned about the continued losses shown by the box containers and wants a recommendation as to whether the line should be discontinued. The special equipment used to produce the boxes can be sold immediately for its book value.

Required:

1. Indicate whether each item listed below is relevant or irrelevant in this situation.

a. Sales revenue

b. Direct materials

c. Direct labor

d. Variable manufacturing overhead

e. Depreciation – special equipment

f. Book value – special equipment

g. Disposable value – special equipment

h.Variable selling and administrative expense

i. Advertising expense

j. Salaries of product-line managers

k. Common fixed expenses

2. Should production and sale of the box containers be discontinued? Explain. Show computations to support your answer.

3. Recast the above data in a format that would be more usable to management in assessing the long-run profitability of the various product lines. (segment margin format – Ch. 5.)

Case 2 – Make or Buy

Harcor Industries has offered to sell drums to Industrial Solutions, Inc. for $75.00 per unit. Cost per unit to ship the drums from Harcor to Industrial Solutions would be $3.00. Assume that there will be no layoffs for any product-line managers unless a major recession. The special equipment used to produce the drums has a no resale value of and does not wear out.

Required:

1. Indicate whether each item listed below is relevant or irrelevant in this situation.

a. Sales revenue

b. Direct materials

c. Direct labor

d. Variable manufacturing overhead

e. Depreciation – special equipment

f. Book value – special equipment

g. Disposable value – special equipment

h. Variable selling and administrative expense

i. Advertising expense

j. Salaries of product-line managers

k. Common fixed expenses

l. Purchase price from supplier

m. Additional shipping costs

2. Should Industrial Solutions, Inc. outsource the drums? By what amount would its operating income change if the drums were outsourced?

3. What is the most that Industrial Solutions, Inc. should be willing to pay to outsource the drums? By how much would Harcor need to reduce their selling price to make outsourcing attractive to Industrial Solutions, Inc.?

4. Suppose that if the drums are purchased, Industrial Solutions, Inc., could use the freed capacity to manufacture the new container. The segment margin of the new container would be $125,500. Should Industrial Solutions accept this offer?

5. What are some qualitative concerns of accepting Harcor’s offer?

Drums

Bins

Boxes

Units produced and sold annually

5,000

4,500

3,000

Sales

$745,000

$495,000

$297,000

Variable costs:

Direct materials

255,500

85,500

72,000

Direct labor

18,000

40,500

36,000

Variable manufacturing overhead

6,750

9,000

18,750

Variable selling and administrative

3,750

13,500

11,250

Contribution margin

$461,000

$346,500

$159,000

Fixed costs:

Advertising, traceable

145,250

54,000

29,250

Depreciation on special equipment

40,000

33,750

39,000

Salaries of product-line managers

79,750

67,500

49,500

Allocated common fixed expenses*

45,000

90,000

62,250

Net operating income (loss)

$151,000

$101,250

$(21,000)

*Allocated based on sales dollars

Explanation / Answer

Case 1 all parts have been answered.

Items

Relevant / Irrelevant

Sales revenue

Relevant as it effects the revenue

Direct materials

Relevant as it move directly with production

Direct labour

Relevant as it move directly with production

Variable manufacturing overhead

Relevant as it move directly with production

Depreciation Special equipment

Irrelevant as depreciation is a fixed expense

Book value special equipment

Irrelevant as it does not affect the financial performance

Disposable value equipment

Irrelevant as it does not affect the financial performance

Variable selling and administrative expenses

Relevant as it is directly dependent on the number of units sold

Advertising expenses

Irrelevant as it is generally a fixed cost

salaries of product line manager

Relevant as it is directly dependent on the number of units sold

Common fixed expenses

Irrelevant as it is a fixed expense

Part 2:

No, the company should not discontinue the production and sales of boxes as the contribution from sale of boxes is $159000. It is despite the fact that the sale of boxes is eventually incurring a loss of $21000. This is due to the fact that the fixed expenses will continue as it is thus, the contribution is the main aspect which is to be considered while assessing the desirability of a production line.

Contribution

159000

Less: Product line manager salary

49500

Yardstick to determine the desirability of boxes production and sales

109500

It is only the relevant costs which have been deducted from the amount of contribution as the irrelevant costs are not to be considered in deciding whether to continue or discontinue a production line.   

Part 3:                                                                                  

Drums

Bins

Boxes

(A): Sales

745000

495000

297000

Variable costs

Direct materials

255500

85500

72000

Direct labour

18000

40500

36000

Variable manufacturing overhead

6750

9000

18750

Variable selling and administrative

3750

13500

11250

(B): Total variable cost

284000

148500

138000

Contribution (A-B)

461000

346500

159000

Less: Relevant fixed costs

Salaries of product line managers

79750

67500

49500

Profit before irrelevant costs

381250

279000

109500

Items

Relevant / Irrelevant

Sales revenue

Relevant as it effects the revenue

Direct materials

Relevant as it move directly with production

Direct labour

Relevant as it move directly with production

Variable manufacturing overhead

Relevant as it move directly with production

Depreciation Special equipment

Irrelevant as depreciation is a fixed expense

Book value special equipment

Irrelevant as it does not affect the financial performance

Disposable value equipment

Irrelevant as it does not affect the financial performance

Variable selling and administrative expenses

Relevant as it is directly dependent on the number of units sold

Advertising expenses

Irrelevant as it is generally a fixed cost

salaries of product line manager

Relevant as it is directly dependent on the number of units sold

Common fixed expenses

Irrelevant as it is a fixed expense