In: Finance
A company has the following product information:
Buy Product Produce Semi-Automated Produce Fully Automated
Fixed cost ------- $150,000 $200,000
Variable cost $20.00 $18.00 $15.00
What should the company do regarding this product, purchase, produce semi-automated or produce fully automated?
At what volume would the company be indifferent to buying the product or producing it semi-automated?
(A) The decision of the company would depend on the number of products that the company wants to produce.
Comparing BUY product and Semi Automated :
Semiautomated has a fixed cost of $150,000. Also, the variable cost if $2 less than buy product.
No. of product needed to break even = $150,000 / $2 = 75,000 units.
Thus, if the need is of less than 75,000 units the company should produce. If more they shoul semi automate.
Similarly comparing BUY vs Full automated
= Fixed cost / difference in variable cost = $200,000 / $5 = 40,000 units
Thus, if the total producton is below 40,000 units the company should buy and if more than that they should fully automate.
Decision summary :
Between 0 to 40,000 ---------------------- Buy Product
Above 40,000 ------------------------------- Produce Fully automated.
Semiautomated production shall not be used.
(B) as calculated above, they would be indifferent at 75,000 units.