26 PGA

Question

Preparing a flexible budget computing standard cost variance

 

Morton Recliners manufactures leather recliners and uses flexible budgeting and a

standard cost system. Morton allocates overhead based on yards of direct materials.

The company’s performance report includes the following selected data:

                                                               Static Budget                 Actual Results

                                                              (1,000 recliners)                 (980 recliners)

Sale   (1,000 recliners  \(505 each)           \) 505,000

           (980 recliners   \(480 each)                                                 \)   470,400

Variable Manufacturing Costs:

Direct Materials (6,000 yds. @ \(8.60/yd.)        51,600

                            (6,143 yds. @ \)8.40/yd.)                                             51,601   

Direct Labor     (10,000 DLHr @ \(9.20/DLHr)   92,000

                            (9,600 DLHr @ \)9.30/DLHr)                                     89,280

Variable Overhead (6,000 yds. @ \(5.20/yd.)    31,200

                                 (6,143 yds. @ \)6.60/yd.)                                        40,544

Fixed Manufacturing Costs:

Fixed Overhead                                                   60,600                        62,600

Total Cost of Goods Sold                                                      235,400                        244,025

Gross Profit                                                       \( 269,600                      \) 226,375

 

Requirements

1. Prepare a flexible budget based on the actual number of recliners sold.

2. Compute the cost variance and the efficiency variance for direct materials and for direct labor. For manufacturing overhead, compute the variable overhead cost,variable overhead efficiency, fixed overhead cost, and fixed overhead volume variances. Round to the nearest dollar.

3. Have Morton’s managers done a good job or a poor job controlling materials, labor, and overhead costs? Why?

4. Describe how Morton’s managers can benefit from the standard cost system.

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer
  1. Gross profit = $262,966
  2. Direct material price variance and labor efficiency variance depict favourable balance.
  3. When the real prices are higher than average, Morton managers did a poor job of expense control.
  4. Based on standard costing, a manager can assess performance and, if necessary, enhance it.
1Meaning of Budget

Budgeting is the practice of planning for the future. This procedure aids managers in planning for the future and maintaining control over the organization's operations.

2Preparing a flexible budget

Particulars

Calculations

Amount

Amount

Sales unit

 

 

980 Recliners

Sales amount (A)

 

 

$494,900

Variable manufacturing cost:

 

 

 

   Direct material

 

$50,568

 

   Direct labor

 

$90,160

 

   Variable overhead

 

$30,576

$171,304

Fixed manufacturing cost

 

 

 

Fixed overhead

 

 

$60,600

Cost of goods sold (B)

 

 

$231,904

Gross profit (A-B)

 

 

$262,966

 

Working notes:

Particulars

Total

Units

Per unit

Direct materials

$51,600

1,000

$51.60

Direct labor

$92,000

1,000

$92

Variable overhead

$31,200

1,000

$31.20

3Computing cost variance and efficiency variance

Direct material price variance

DirectmaterialCostvariance=Actualmaterial×(ActualPrice-StandardPrice)=6,143×(8.40-8.60)=1,228.60FavourableDirect material efficiency variance

Directmaterialefficiencyvariance=Standardrate×(Actualunits-Standardunit)=$8.60×(6,143-6,0001,000×980)=$2,261.80Unfavourable

Labor price variance

Laborpricevariance=Actualhours×(Actualrateperhour-Standardrateperhour)=9,600×($9.30-$9.20)=960Unfavourable


Labor efficiency variance



Laborefficiencyvariance=Standardrate×(Actualhours-Standardhours)=9.3×(9,600-10,0001,000×980)=$1,860Favourable

Variable overhead spending variance

Variableoverheadspendingvariance=Actualmaterial×(Actualvariableoverhead-Standardvariableoverhead)=6,143($6.60-$5.20)=$8,600Unfavourable


Variable overhead efficiency

Variableoverheadefficiencyvariance=Standardvariable​ overheadrate×(Actualunits-Standardunits)=5.20×(6,143-6,0001,000×980)=$1,367.60UNfavourable

Fixed overhead spending variance

Fixedoverheadspendingvariance=Actualfixedoverhead-Budgetedfixedoverhead=62,600-60,600=2,000Unfavourable


Fixed overhead volume variance

Fixedoverheadvolumevariance=Budgeted​ fixedoverhead-Applied​ fixedoverheada=60,000-(60,0001,000)×980=1,200​ Unfavourable


4Explaining the job done by Morton’s manager

When the actual charges exceed the average, Morton managers have not done an excellent job of expense control. Those are not good. There are just two favorable variations: material price and labor efficiency. The managers did not make efficient use of variable overhead. Management of overhead expenses may have been improved.

5Explaining how Morton’s managers can benefit from the standard cost system

Managers can evaluate performance based on conventional costing and, if necessary, improve performance. The manager is informed of the target level using standard costing. Managers can reduce cost levels based on the target level.