ABC Pty Ltd produces turbines used in the production of hydro-electric generating

equipment. The turbines are sold to various engineering companies that produce hydropowered generators in Australia.

Details of the operations for the coming four months are provided in the attached excel

spread sheet.

Other information:

The company plans to purchase land for future expansion

Sales are on credit. Amounts not received in the month following the sale are

written off as bad debt immediately.

The payment for labour and purchases of materials and other costs are for cash

and paid for in the month of acquisition.

If the firm develops a cash shortage by the end of the month, sufficient cash is

borrowed to cover the shortage (including any interest payments due ). Any cash

borrowed is repaid one month later, as is the interest due.

During the process of preparing the organisation's budget, the Sales Manager is

discussing the possible outcome of the forthcoming election with the Production

Manager. She noted that if one of the major political parties wins the election and forms

the government, there is a strong possibility that alternative sources of energy such as

hydro-powered electricity may no longer be as actively supported by the new

government as is the case under the current government.

The sales manager's primary concern is that market for alternative power generation is

already volatile and subject to significant uncertainty. The production manager is also

concerned about his plans to build the new automated manufacturing facility on the

land to be purchased in May. This new manufacturing facility will enable him to

manufacture, in-house, the major two parts he is now purchasing and to significantly

automate the assembly process that is currently somewhat labour intensive. His

projection for the new facility indicates a reduction in direct material & direct labour

costs of 33% but that his fixed manufacturing overheads are likely to increase by 65%

due to the increased investment in production capacity.

QUESTION: addressing the Sales managers concerns, USING the information

provided on the cost structures identified in the budget prepared. Your answer

should also include a discussion on the impact of the production manager's intended

investment in new manufacturing capacity. Support your answer with relevant

calculations.