Question

Andretti Company has a single product called a Dak. The company normally produces and sells 87,000 Daks each year at a selling price of $42 per unit. The company’s unit costs at this level of activity are given below:

Direct materials	$	6.50
Direct labor		9.00
Variable manufacturing overhead		3.40
Fixed manufacturing overhead		10.00	($870,000 total)
Variable selling expenses		4.70
Fixed selling expenses		5.50	($478,500 total)
Total cost per unit	$	39.10

A number of questions relating to the production and sale of Daks follow. Each question is independent.

Required:

1-a. Assume that Andretti Company has sufficient capacity to produce 108,750 Daks each year without any increase in fixed manufacturing overhead costs. The company could increase its unit sales by 25% above the present 87,000 units each year if it were willing to increase the fixed selling expenses by $140,000. What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of investing an additional $140,000 in fixed selling expenses?

1-b. Would the additional investment be justified?

2. Assume again that Andretti Company has sufficient capacity to produce 108,750 Daks each year. A customer in a foreign market wants to purchase 21,750 Daks. If Andretti accepts this order it would have to pay import duties on the Daks of $1.70 per unit and an additional $15,225 for permits and licenses. The only selling costs that would be associated with the order would be $2.70 per unit shipping cost. What is the break-even price per unit on this order?

3. The company has 800 Daks on hand that have some irregularities and are therefore considered to be "seconds." Due to the irregularities, it will be impossible to sell these units at the normal price through regular distribution channels. What is the unit cost figure that is relevant for setting a minimum selling price?

4. Due to a strike in its supplier’s plant, Andretti Company is unable to purchase more material for the production of Daks. The strike is expected to last for two months. Andretti Company has enough material on hand to operate at 25% of normal levels for the two-month period. As an alternative, Andretti could close its plant down entirely for the two months. If the plant were closed, fixed manufacturing overhead costs would continue at 35% of their normal level during the two-month period and the fixed selling expenses would be reduced by 20% during the two-month period.

a. How much total contribution margin will Andretti forgo if it closes the plant for two months?

b. How much total fixed cost will the company avoid if it closes the plant for two months?

c. What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of closing the plant for the two-month period?

Answer 1

	Contribution margin
	selling price per unit				42
	less Variable expenses
	direct materials			6.5
	direct labor			9
	Variable manufacturing overhead			3.4
	variable selling expense			4.7	23.6
	Contribution margin per unit				18.4
Req 1A	increased sales in units			(87,000*25%)		21750
	contribution margin per unit					18.4
	incremental contribution margin					400200
	less added fixed selling expense					140,000
	incremental net operarting income					260,200
1-b)	Yes
Req 2	Break even price per unit
	Variable manufacturing cost per unit			18.9
	Shipping cost			2.7
	import duties			1.7
	permits &licences			0.7
	Break even price per unit			24	answer
Req 3	Relevant unit cost		$4.70	per unit
4)	Contribution margin lost			(3625*18.4)				-66700
	fixed costs
	fixed manufacturing overhead cost				(870000*2/12)*65%		94250
	fixed selling cost				(478,500*2/12)*20%		15950	110200
	net advantage of closing the plant							43500
	87000*2/12*25%=			3625	units
	yes