INCENTIVE TO OVERPRODUCE INVENTORY
The absorption of fixed overhead costs as part of the cost of
inventory on the balance sheet presents ethical challenges because
it provides the opportunity to manipulate reported income. This
classic case is based on an actual company’s experience.*
Brandolino Company uses an actual-cost system to apply all
production costs to units produced. The plant has a maximum
production capacity of 40 million units but during year 1 it
produced and sold only 10 million units. There were no beginning or
ending inventories. The company’s absorption-costing income
statement for year 1 follows:
BRANDOLINO COMPANY
Income Statement
For Year 1
Sales (10,000,000 units at $6)
$ 60,000,000
Cost of goods sold:
Direct costs (material and labor) (10,000,000 at $2)
$ 20,000,000
Manufacturing overhead
48,000,000
68,000,000
Gross margin
$ (8,000,000)
Less: Selling and administrative expenses
10,000,000
Operating income (loss)
$(18,000,000)
The board of directors is upset about the $18 million loss. A
consultant approached the board with the following Page 345offer:
“I agree to become president for no fixed salary. But I insist on a
year-end bonus of 10 percent of operating income (before
considering the bonus).” The board of directors agreed to these
terms and hired the consultant as Brandolino’s new president. The
new president promptly stepped up production to an annual rate of
30 million units. Sales for year 2 remained at 10 million units.
Here is the resulting absorption-costing income statement for year
2:
BRANDOLINO COMPANY
Income Statement
For Year 2
Sales (10,000,000 units at $6)
$60,000,000
Cost of goods sold:
Costs of goods manufactured:
Direct costs (material and labor) (30,000,000 at $2)
$ 60,000,000
Manufacturing overhead
48,000,000
Total cost of goods
manufactured
$108,000,000
Less: Ending inventory:
Direct costs (material and labor) (20,000,000 at $2)
$ 40,000,000
Manufacturing overhead (20/30 × $48,000,000)
32,000,000
Total ending inventory costs
$ 72,000,000
Cost of goods sold
36,000,000
Gross margin
$24,000,000
Less: Selling and administrative expenses
10,000,000
Operating income before bonus
$14,000,000
Bonus
1,400,000
Operating income after bonus
$12,600,000
The day after the year 2 statement was verified, the president
took his check for $1,400,000 and resigned to take a job with
another corporation. He remarked, “I enjoy challenges. Now that
Brandolino Company is in the black, I’d prefer tackling another
challenging situation.” (His contract with his new employer is
similar to the one he had with Brandolino Company.)
What do you think is going on here?
How would you evaluate the company’s year 2 performance?
Using variable costing, what would operating income be for
year 1? For year 2? (Assume that all selling and administrative
costs are committed and unchanged.)
Compare those results with the absorption-costing
statements.
Comment on the ethical issues in this scenario.