Advanced: Detailed variance analysis (including revision variances) plus an explanation of the meaning of operating statement variances
Question:
Advanced: Detailed variance analysis (including revision variances) plus an explanation of the meaning of operating statement variances Tungach Ltd make and sell a single product. Demand for the product exceeds the expected production capacity of Tungach Ltd. The holding of stocks of the finished product is avoided if possible because the physical nature of the product is such that it deteriorates quickly and stocks may become unsaleable.
A standard marginal cost system is in operation. Feedback reporting takes planning and operational variances into consideration.
The management accountant has produced the following operating statement for period 9:
(ii) A permanent change in the product specifica¬ tion was implemented from period 7 onwards. It was estimated that this change would require 20% additional material per product unit. The current efficient price of the material has settled at £7.50 per kilo.
(iii) Actual direct material used during period 9 was 7800 kilos at £7.90 per kilo. Any residual variances are due to operational problems.
(iv) The original standard wage rate overestimated the degree of trade union pressure during negotiations and was £0.20 higher than the rate subsequently agreed. Tungach Ltd made a short-term operational decision to pay the workforce at £4.60 per hour during periods 7 to 9 in an attempt to minimise the drop in efficiency likely because of the product speci¬ fication change. Management succeeded in extending the production capacity during period 9 and the total labour hours paid for were 9200 hours. These included 150 hours of idle time.
(v) Budgeted production and sales quantity (period 9) 4000 units Actual sales quantity (period 9) 4100 units Actual production quantity (period 9) 4400 units (vi) Stocks of finished goods are valued at the current efficient standard cost.
Required:
(a) Prepare detailed figures showing how the material and labour variances in the operating statement have been calculated. (8 marks)
(b) Prepare detailed figures showing how the sales volume variance has been calculated for each causal factor shown in the operating statement. (6 marks)
(c) Prepare a report to the management of Tungach Ltd explaining the meaning and relevance of the figures given in the operating statement for period 9. The report should contain specific comments for any two of the sales volume variance causal factors and any two of the ‘other variances’. The comments should suggest possible reasons for each variance, the management member likely to be answerable for each variance and possible corrective action.
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