In: Accounting
Mr. Baker would like to explore options to improve the financial performance of the vortex manipulator product line. He has looked into two possible alternatives: improving automation and eliminating excess capacity. The company’s standard discount rate for investments is 15%, and additional information regarding costs are below.
Per Unit Production Costs |
Vortex Manipulators |
Sales (units) |
1,000 |
Selling Price |
$ 1,200.00 each |
Direct Materials per Unit |
$ 290.00 |
Direct Labor per Unit |
340.00 |
Manufacturing Overhead per Unit |
270.00 |
Total Variable Expenses per unit |
$ 900.00 |
Contribution Margin Ratio |
25.00% |
Project 1: Automation
The process of producing the vortex manipulators could be automated to reduce labor costs. The additional equipment for the automation will cost $250,000 and has a useful life of 5 years with a salvage value of $25,000. If the automation is implemented, labor costs for the Vortex Manipulators would be reduced by 20%.
Project 2: Reducing Capacity
The equipment to produce vortex manipulators has a total capacity of 1,500 units even though only 1,000 are currently being produced. If the total capacity were reduced to 1,000 units, the excess equipment could be sold for immediately for $140,000. This would also reduce the annual depreciation by $50,000 and decrease efficiency such that both labor cost would increase by $10 per unit and overhead by $30 per unit.
What is the net present value of each project?
Project 1 |
Now |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Initial Investment |
||||||
Annual Cost Savings |
||||||
Salvage Value |
||||||
Net Cash Inflows (Outflows) |
||||||
Discount Rate |
1.00000 |
0.86957 |
0.75614 |
0.65752 |
0.57175 |
0.49718 |
Present Value of Cash Flows |
Project 1 |
Now |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Initial Investment |
||||||
Annual Cost Savings |
||||||
Salvage Value |
||||||
Net Cash Inflows (Outflows) |
||||||
Discount Rate |
1.00000 |
0.86957 |
0.75614 |
0.65752 |
0.57175 |
0.49718 |
Present Value of Cash Flows |
Option 1 |
Option 2 |
|
Net Present Value |
Gallifrey Gadgets, Inc. has the capital and ability to implement both, either, or none of these options. Which should they choose to implement and why?