3,000 Product Pricing and Pront Analysis with Bottleneck Operations Hercules Steel Company produces three grades of steel: high, good, and regular grade. Each of these products (grades) has high demand in the market, and Hercules is able to sell as much as it can produce of all three. The furnace operation is a bottleneck in the process and is running at 100% of capacity. Hercules wants to improve steel operation profitability. The variable conversion cost is $14 per process hour. The fixed cost is $478,000. In addition, the cost analyst was able to determine the following information about the three products: High Grade Good Grade Regular Grade Budgeted units produced 3,000 3,000 Total process hours per unit 14 12 9 Furnace hours per unit 3 5 Unit selling price $285 $286 Direct materials cost per unit 5114 $105 $95 The Purnace operation is part of the total process for each or these three products. Thus, for example, 4 or the 14 hours required to process High Grade steel are 4 associated with the furnace. 1. Determine the unit contribution margin for each product Contribution Margin Per Unit 4 $330 High Grade Good Grade Regular Grade 2. Provide an analysis to determine the relative product profitability, assuming that the furnace is a bottleneck The furnace operation is part of the total process for each of these three products. Thus, for example, 4 of the 14 hours required to process High Grade steel are associated with the furnace. 1. Determine the unit contribution margin for each product. Contribution Margin Per Unit High Grade Good Grade Regular Grade 2. Provide an analysis to determine the relative product profitability, assuming that the furnace is a bottleneck Contribution Margin Per Furnace Hour High Grade Good Grade Regular Grade