Question

John Fleming, chief administrator for Valley View Hospital, is concerned about the costs for tests in the hospital’s lab. Charges for lab tests are consistently higher at Valley View than at other hospitals and have resulted in many complaints. Also, because of strict regulations on amounts reimbursed for lab tests, payments received from insurance companies and governmental units have not been high enough to cover lab costs.

Mr. Fleming has asked you to evaluate costs in the hospital’s lab for the past month. The following information is available:

1. Two types of tests are performed in the lab—blood tests and smears. During the past month, 650 blood tests and 2,800 smears were performed in the lab.

2. Small glass plates are used in both types of tests. During the past month, the hospital purchased 14,000 plates at a cost of $40,880. 1,800 of these plates were unused at the end of the month; no plates were on hand at the beginning of the month.

3. During the past month, 1,800 hours of labor time were recorded in the lab at a cost of $19,260.

4. The lab’s variable overhead cost last month totaled $13,320.

Valley View Hospital has never used standard costs. By searching industry literature, however, you have determined the following nationwide averages for hospital labs:

Plates: Three plates are required per lab test. These plates cost $3.00 each and are disposed of after the test is completed.

Labor: Each blood test should require 0.8 hours to complete, and each smear should require 0.40 hours to complete. The average cost of this lab time is $11.00 per hour.

Overhead: Overhead cost is based on direct labor-hours. The average rate for variable overhead is $6.90 per hour.

Required:

1. Compute a materials price variance for the plates purchased last month and a materials quantity variance for the plates used last month.

2. For labor cost in the lab:

a. Compute a labor rate variance and a labor efficiency variance.

b. In most hospitals, one-half of the workers in the lab are senior technicians and one-half are assistants. In an effort to reduce costs, Valley View Hospital employs only one-fourth senior technicians and three-fourths assistants. Would you recommend that this policy be continued?

3-a. Compute the variable overhead rate and efficiency variances.

3-b. Is there any relation between the variable overhead efficiency variance and the labor efficiency variance?

Compute a materials price variance for the plates purchased last month and a materials quantity variance for the plates used last month. (Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "F" for favorable, "U" for unfavorable, and "None" for no effect (i.e., zero variance). Input all amounts as positive values.)

	Materials price variance Materials quantity variance

For labor cost in the lab, Compute a labor rate variance and a labor efficiency variance. (Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "F" for favorable, "U" for unfavorable, and "None" for no effect (i.e., zero variance). Input all amounts as positive values.)

	Labor rate variance Labor efficiency variance

In most hospitals, one-half of the workers in the lab are senior technicians and one-half are assistants. In an effort to reduce costs, Valley View Hospital employs only one-fourth senior technicians and three-fourths assistants. Would you recommend that this policy be continued?

	Yes No

Compute the variable overhead rate and efficiency variances. (Indicate the effect of each variance by selecting "F" for favorable, "U" for unfavorable, and "None" for no effect (i.e., zero variance). Input all amounts as positive values.)

	Variable overhead rate variance Variable overhead efficiency variance

Is there any relation between the variable overhead efficiency variance and the labor efficiency variance?

yes OR no

Answer 1

1.

Material price variance = (Actual price - Standard price) * Actual quantity purchased

Material price variance = ($40,880/14,000 - $3) * 14,000

Material price variance = ($2.92 - $3) * 14,000 = $1,120 Favorable

Material quantity variance = (Standard quantity - Actual quantity used) * Standard price

Standard quantity = (650+2,800) * 3 = 10,350

Material quantity variance = (10,350 - 12,200) * $3 = $5,550 Unfavorable

2a.

Labor rate variance = (Actual rate - Standard rate) * Actual hours

Labor rate variance = ($19,260/1,800 - $11) * 1,800

Labor rate variance = ($10.7 - $11) * 1,800 = $540 Favorable

Labor efficiency variance = (Standard hours - Actual hours) * Standard rate

Standard hours = 520 (650*0.8)+1,120 (2,800*0.40) = 1,640 hours

Labor efficiency variance = (1,640 - 1,800) * $11 = $1,760 Unfavorable

2b.

No

3a.

Variable overhead rate variance = (Actual rate - Standard rate) * Actual hours

Variable overhead rate variance = ($13,320/1,800 - $6.90) * 1,800

Variable overhead rate variance = ($7.4 - $6.90) * 1,800 = $900 Unfavorable

Variable overhead efficiency variance = (Standard hours - Actual hours) * Standard rate

Variable overhead efficiency variance = (1,640 - 1,800) * $6.90 = $1,104 Unfavorable

3b.

Yes.