Question

In: Accounting

1. Why is a predetermined overhead rate useful in "applying" overhead costs in a manufacturing environment?...

1. Why is a predetermined overhead rate useful in "applying" overhead costs in a manufacturing environment? Can you think of any "downside" of using a predetermined overhead to apply/allocate overhead costs to jobs/departments?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-determined_overhead_rate (Links to an external site.)

Solutions

Expert Solution

The predetermined overhead rate is computed at the beginning of each period by dividing estimated total manufacturing overheads by the estimated volume of the allocation base, e.g. direct labor hours, machine hours, direct materials cost etc.

Example :

Estimated toral manufacturing overhead = $ 100,000.

Estimated direct labor hours = 10,000

Actual direct labor hours = 11,000

Actual overheads incurred = $ 112,000

Predetermined overhead rate = $ 100,000 / 10,000 = $ 10 per DLH

Applied overhead = 11,000 x $ 10 = $ 110,000

Overheads underapplied = $ 112,000 - $ 110,000 = $ 2,000.

Downsides to using a predetermined overhead rate :

a. Not very suitable for service industries.

b. Selecting the most suitable allocation base or cost driver may be difficult.

c. Estimations of manufacturing overheads may be unrealistic.

d. Estimation of the volume of cost driver consumed may also be inaccurate.

e. Distorted cost information can lead to erroneous pricing decisions.


Related Solutions

What are the manufacturing overhead costs? Assigned costs to products using a predetermined overhead rate using...
What are the manufacturing overhead costs? Assigned costs to products using a predetermined overhead rate using a standard costing system, as discussed, job costing, and manufacturing activity-based costing. Assume manufacturing overhead costs are often called overhead costs applied to products going through the Assembly department. The journal entry reflect manufacturing overhead costs applied to products going through the Finishing department is as follows: Transferred-In Costs The costs associated with manufacturing should transfer from the work-in-process inventory account for the production...
1. The Sydney Company uses a predetermined overhead rate in applying overhead to production orders on...
1. The Sydney Company uses a predetermined overhead rate in applying overhead to production orders on a direct labor cost basis in department a and on a machine hour basis in department B. At the beginning of the year, the company made the following estimates. DEPT A DEPT B direct labor cost 77,0000 57,000 factory overhead 143,000 65,500 direct labor hours 7,800 10,000 Machine hours 3,900 16,200 A. what predetermined Overhead rate would be used in department A? B.what predetermined...
Calculating the Predetermined Overhead Rate, Applying Overhead to Production, Reconciling Overhead at the End of the...
Calculating the Predetermined Overhead Rate, Applying Overhead to Production, Reconciling Overhead at the End of the Year, Adjusting Cost of Goods Sold for Under- and Overapplied Overhead At the beginning of the year, Horvath Company estimated the following: Overhead $240,000 Direct labor hours 80,000 Horvath uses normal costing and applies overhead on the basis of direct labor hours. For the month of January, direct labor hours were 8,450. By the end of the year, Horvath showed the following actual amounts:...
The MoonStar Corporation uses a “predetermined overhead rate”to apply manufacturing overhead costs the each department....
The MoonStar Corporation uses a “predetermined overhead rate” to apply manufacturing overhead costs the each department. For the Department A, the company uses “labor cost” as allocation base and for the Department B, uses “machine-hours” as allocation base.             At the beginning of the year, the Corporation made the following estimates:Dept. ADept. BDirect labor cost$60,000$40,000Manufacturing overhead$90,000$45,000Direct labor-hours6,0009,000Machine-hours2,00015,000Question: Please compute the “predetermined overhead rates” for Dept. A and for Dept. B
Marvel Company uses a predetermined overhead rate in applying overhead to production orders on a labor...
Marvel Company uses a predetermined overhead rate in applying overhead to production orders on a labor cost basis in Department A and on a machine-hours basis in Department B. At the beginning of the most recently completed year, the company made the following estimates: Dept. A Dept. B Direct labor cost $56,000 $33,000 Factory overhead $67,200 $45,000 Direct labor-hours 8,000 9,000 Machine-hours 4,000 15,000 What predetermined overhead rate would be used in Department A and Department B, respectively? A- 83%...
1. The predetermined manufacturing overhead rate is $18 per machine hour based on an estimated manufacturing...
1. The predetermined manufacturing overhead rate is $18 per machine hour based on an estimated manufacturing overhead of 180,000 and 10,000 machine hours. For the year the actual overhead was 200,000 and machine hours were 11,000. How much manufacturing overhead was applied during the year? a. 198,000 b. 200,000 c. none of the above 2. Overapplied manufacturing overhead that is not material is adjusted by which entry? a. debit manufacturing overhead and credit misc exp b. debit cash and credit...
What are the three categories of manufacturing costs? Why must a company use predetermined overhead rates...
What are the three categories of manufacturing costs? Why must a company use predetermined overhead rates when using job order costing?
Osborn Manufacturing uses a predetermined overhead rate of $18.30 per direct labor-hour. This predetermined rate was...
Osborn Manufacturing uses a predetermined overhead rate of $18.30 per direct labor-hour. This predetermined rate was based on a cost formula that estimates $221,430 of total manufacturing overhead for an estimated activity level of 12,100 direct labor-hours.      The company incurred actual total manufacturing overhead costs of $217,000 and 11,600 total direct labor-hours during the period.     Required: 1. Determine the amount of underapplied or overapplied manufacturing overhead for the period.            2. Assuming that the entire amount of the...
Osborn Manufacturing uses a predetermined overhead rate of $20.20 per direct labor-hour. This predetermined rate was...
Osborn Manufacturing uses a predetermined overhead rate of $20.20 per direct labor-hour. This predetermined rate was based on a cost formula that estimates $282,800 of total manufacturing overhead for an estimated activity level of 14,000 direct labor-hours. The company actually incurred $279,000 of manufacturing overhead and 13,500 direct labor-hours during the period. Required: 1. Determine the amount of underapplied or overapplied manufacturing overhead for the period. 2. Assume that the company's underapplied or overapplied overhead is closed to Cost of...
Question 1: Maguire Corp used a predetermined overhead rate based on: Estimated total fixed manufacturing overhead...
Question 1: Maguire Corp used a predetermined overhead rate based on: Estimated total fixed manufacturing overhead -  $50,000 Estimated direct labor hours - 8,000 hrs The company's actual costs were: Actual fixed manufacturing overhead - $55,000 Actual total direct labor hours - 9,000 hrs The predetermined overhead rate is closest to: A): $6.18 B) $5.55 C) $6.88 D): $6.25 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question 2: Brian Corp applied manufacturing overhead based on direct labor hours. Information regarding labor and manufacturing overhead is provided below:...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT