28 PGA

Question

Computing and journalizing standard cost variances

Moss manufactures coffee mugs that it sells to other companies for customizing with their own logos. Moss prepares flexible budgets and uses a standard cost system to control manufacturing costs. The standard unit cost of a coffee mug is based on static budget volume of 59,800 coffee mugs per month:

Direct material (0.2 lbs. @\(0.25 per lb)

 

\)0.05

Direct Labor (3 minutes @ \(0.11 per minute)

 

0.33

Manufacturing Overhead:

 

 

    Variable (3 minutes @ \)0.06 per minute) 

\(0.18

 

    Fixed (3 minutes @ \)0.13 per minute)

0.39

0.57

Total Cost per Coffee Mug

 

\(0.95

 

Actual cost and production information for July 2018 follows: 

a. There were no beginning or ending inventory balances. All expenditures were on account.

b. Actual production and sales were 62,500 coffee mugs. 

c. Actual direct materials usage was 11,000 lbs. at an actual cost of \)0.17 per lb. 

d. Actual direct labor usage was 197,000 minutes at a total cost of \(25,610. 

e. Actual overhead cost was \)10,835 variable and \(29,765 fixed. 

f. Selling and administrative costs were \)95,000.

Requirements 

1. Compute the cost and efficiency variances for direct materials and direct labor. 

2. Journalize the purchase and usage of direct materials and the assignment of direct labor, including the related variances. 

3. For manufacturing overhead, compute the variable overhead cost and efficiency variances and the fixed overhead cost and volume variances. 

4. Journalize the actual manufacturing overhead and the allocated manufacturing overhead. Journalize the movement of all production costs from Work­-in­-Process Inventory. Journalize the adjusting of the Manufacturing Overhead account. 

5. Moss intentionally hired more highly skilled workers during July. How did this decision affect the cost variances? Overall, was the decision wise?

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer
  1. Material and labor variance:

Component

Cost variance

Efficiency variance

Direct Material

$880 (F)

$375(F)

Direct Labor

$3,940(U)

$1,235(U)

 

  1. Journal entry:

Transaction 1

It include entry made for the purchase of raw material.

Transaction 2

It include entry made for allocating raw material to work-in-process.

Transaction 3

It include entry made for allocating direct labor to work-in-process

 

  1. Overhead variance:

Variable overhead cost variance

$985(F)

Variable overhead efficiency variance

$570(U)

Fixed overhead cost variance

$6,443(F)

Fixed overhead volume variance

$1,053(U)

 

  1. The manufacturing overheads are adjusted by $4,405.
  2. Decision to hire high skilled laborers is not wise.
1Definition of Variance Analysis

The variance analysis is the financial metric calculated for controlling the business organization. Under this analysis, the business entity identifies the difference between estimated activity and the level of activity achieved.

2Variance analysis

Direct material variance analysis:

Cost variance:

Direct material cost variance=(Actual cost-Standard cost)×Actual quantity=($0.17-$0.25)×11,000=$0.08×11,000=$880(F)


Efficiency variance:

Direct material efficiency variance=Actual quantity-Standard quantity×Standard cost=11,000-0.2×62,500×$0.25=11,000-12,500×$0.25=$375(F)

Direct labor variance analysis:

Cost variance:

Direct labor cost variance=Actual rate-Standard rate×Actual hours=$25,610197,000-$0.11×197,000=$0.13-$0.11×197,000=$3,940(U)

Efficiency variance:

Direct labor efficiency variance=Actual hours-Standard hours×Standard rate=197,000-62,500×3×$0.13=197,000-187,500×$0.13=9,500×0.13=$1,235(U)

3Journal entry for material

Date

Accounts and Explanation

Debit $

Credit $

1 Transaction

Raw material inventory 

$2,750

 

 

      Direct material cost variance

 

$880

 

      Account payable  

 

$1,870

 

 

 

 

2 Transaction

Work-in-process inventory  

$3,125

 

 

      Direct material efficiency variance

 

$375

 

      Raw material inventory  

 

$2,750

 

 

 

 

3 Transaction

Work-in-process  

$24,375

 

 

Direct labor efficiency variance

$1,235

 

 

      Wages payable  

 

$25,610

4Overhead variance

Variable overhead cost variance:

Variable over head cost variance=Actual over head-Standard cost×Actual quantity=$10,835-$0.06×197,000=$10,835-$11,820=$985F

Variable overhead efficiency variance:

Variable overhead efficiency variance=Actual quantity-Standard quantity×Standard cost=197,000-62,500×3×0.06=197,000-187,500×0.06=9,500×0.06=$570(U)

Fixed overhead cost variance:

Particular

Amount $

Actual fixed overhead

$29,765

Less: Budgeted fixed overhead 

(23,322)

Fixed overhead cost variance (unfavorable)

$6,443

 

Fixed overhead volume variance:

Particular

Amount $

Budgeted fixed overhead

$23,322

Less: Allocated fixed overhead  

(24,375)

Fixed overhead volume variance (favorable)

$1,053


5Journal entries

Date

Accounts and Explanation

Debit $

Credit $

Overhead incurred

Manufacturing overhead  

$40,600

 

 

      Various accounts

 

$40,600

 

 

 

 

Overhead allocated

Work-in-process inventory

$11,250

 

 

         Manufacturing overhead

 

$11,250

 

 

 

 

Movement of production cost

Finished goods inventory  

$38,750

 

 

         Work-in-process inventory

 

$38,750

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold

$38,750

 

 

      Finished goods inventory

 

$38,750

 

 

 

 

Adjusting of manufacturing overhead

Variable overhead efficiency variance 

 

 

 

Fixed overhead cost variance

6,443

 

 

      Fixed overhead volume variance

 

1,053

 

         Manufacturing overhead

 

4,405

 

      Variable overhead cost variance

 

985

6Decision of hiring highly skilled workers

The decision to hire highly skilled labor is not wise because hiring skilled labor must make labor efficiency variance favorable, but the increase the labour cost that leads to high labour cost variance, which is already unfavorable, therefore it is not wise decision.