Question
August Variance Analysis Natural Fragrance, Inc., began operations on January 1, 2012. The company produces a hand and body lotion in an eight-ounce bottle called
August
Variance Analysis
Natural Fragrance, Inc., began operations on January 1, 2012. The company produces a hand and body lotion in an eight-ounce bottle called Eternal Beauty. The lotion is sold wholesale in 12-bottle cases for $80 per case. There is a selling commission of $16 per case. The January direct materials, direct labor, and factory overhead costs are as follows:
Part A and Break-Even Analysis
The management of Natural Fragrance, Inc., wishes to determine the number of cases required to break even per month. The utilities cost, which is part of factory overhead, is a mixed cost. The following information was gathered from the first six months of operation regarding this cost:
2012 | Case Production | Utility Total Cost |
---|---|---|
January | 300 | $230 |
February | 600 | 263 |
March | 1,000 | 300 |
April | 900 | 292 |
May | 750 | 280 |
June | 825 | 285 |
The fixed and variable portion of the utility cost using the high-low method.
At High Point | At Low Point | |
Variable Cost per Unit | $0.10 | $0.10 |
Total Fixed Cost | $200 | $200 |
Total Cost | $300 | $230 |
The contribution margin per case.
Contribution margin per case: $46.98
The fixed costs per month, including the utility fixed cost from part (1).
Utilities Cost (from part 1) | $200 |
Facility Lease | $12,043 |
Equipment Depreciation | $3,600 |
Supplies | $600 |
Total Fixed Costs | $16,443 |
The break-even number of cases per month. 350 Cases
Part B and August Budgets
During July of the current year, the management of Natural Fragrance, Inc., asked the controller to prepare August manufacturing and income statement budgets. Demand was expected to be 1,300 cases at $80 per case for August. Inventory planning information is provided as follows:
Bookmark Title:
Finished Goods Inventory:
Cases | Cost | |
---|---|---|
Estimated finished goods inventory, August 1, 2012 | 200 | $6,000 |
Desired finished goods inventory, August 31, 2012 | 100 | 3,000 |
Materials Inventory:
Cream Base (ozs.) | Oils (ozs.) | Bottles (bottles) | |
---|---|---|---|
Estimated materials inventory, August 1, 2012 | 200 | 240 | 500 |
Desired materials inventory, August 31, 2012 | 800 | 300 | 200 |
There was negligible work in process inventory assumed for either the beginning or end of the month; thus, none was assumed. In addition, there was no change in the cost per unit or estimated units per case operating data from January.
NATURAL FREGRANCE, INC Production Budget For the Month Ended August 31, 2012 | |
Cases | |
Expected Cases to be sold | $1,300 |
Plus desired ending Inventory | $100 |
Total | $1,400 |
Less estimated beginning inventory | $200 |
Total units to be produced | $1,200 |
NATURAL FREGRANCE, INC Direct Materials Purchases Budget For the Month Ended August 31, 2012 | ||||
Case Base (ozs) | Natural Oils (ozs) | Bottles (bottles) | Total | |
Units required for production | 86,400 | 28,800 | 14,400 | |
Plus desired ending inventory | 800 | 300 | 200 | |
Less estimated beginning inventory | (200) | (240) | (500) | |
Direct Materials to be purchased | 87,000 | 28,860 | 14,100 | |
Unit Price | x $0.015 | x $0.250 | x $0.400 | |
Total direct materials to be purchased | 1,305 | 7,215 | $5,640 | $14,160 |
Cream Base: 1200 cases x 72 ozs = 86,400 ozs
Natural Oils: 1200 cases x 24 ozs = 28,800 ozs
Bottles: 1200 cases x 12 bottles = 14,400 bottles
NATURAL FREGRANCE, INC Direct Labor Budget For the Month Ended August 31, 2012 | |||
Mixing | Filling | Total | |
Hours required for production | |||
Hand and body lotion | 336 | 84 | |
Hourly rate | x $15.00 | x $12.00 | |
Total direct labor cost | $5,040 | $1,008 | $6048 |
Mixing: (1200 cases x 16.80 min.)/60 min = 336
Filling: (1200 cases x 4.20 min)/60 min = 84
NATURAL FREGRANCE, INC Factory Overhead Budget For the Month Ended August 31, 2012 | |||
Factory Overhead | Fixed | Variable | Total |
Utilities | $200 | $120 | $320 |
Facility lease | 12,043 | 12,043 | |
Equipment depreciation | 3,600 | 3,600 | |
Supplies | 600 | 600 | |
Total | $16,443 | $120 | $16,563 |
NATURAL FRAGRANCE, INC.
Budgeted Income Statement
For the Month Ended August 31, 2012
Sales $104,000
Finished Goods Inventory, August 1......... $6,000
Direct materials inventory, August 1. $263
Direct materials purchase [from part (6)] . $14160
Less direct materials inventory, August 31. _$167
Cost of direct materials for production.. $14,256
Direct labor [from part (7)] $6,048
Factory overhead [from part (8)]... $16,563 $36,867
Less finished goods inventory, August 31. $3,000
Cost of goods sold. $39,867
Gross profit $64,133
Selling expenses $20,800
Income before income taxes. $43,333
Sales: 1300 cases x $80 per case = $104,000
Direct materials inventory, August 1: (200x $0.015) + (240 x $0.250) + (500 x $0.400) = $263
Direct materials inventory, August 31: (800x $0.015) + (300 x $0.250) + (200 x $0.400) =$167
Selling expenses: 1,300 cases x $16 per case = $20,800
Part C and August Variance Analysis
During September of the current year, the controller was asked to perform variance analyses for August. The January operating data provided the standard prices, rates, times, and quantities per case. There were 1,300 actual cases produced during August, which was 100 more cases than planned at the beginning of the month. Actual data for August were as follows:
Actual Direct Materials Price per Unit | Actual Direct Materials Quantity per Case | |
---|---|---|
Cream base | $0.014 per oz. | 74 ozs. |
Natural oils | $0.27 per oz. | 26 ozs. |
Bottle (8-oz.) | $0.35 per bottle | 12.6 bottles |
Actual Direct Labor Rate | Actual Direct Labor Rate Time per Case | |
Mixing | $15.20 | 16.20 min. |
Filling | 11.70 | 4.80 min. |
Actual variable overhead | $162.00 | |
Normal volume | 1,350 cases |
The prices of the materials were different than standard due to fluctuations in market prices. The standard quantity of materials used per case was an ideal standard. The Mixing Department used a higher grade labor classification during the month, thus causing the actual labor rate to exceed standard. The Filling Department used a lower grade labor classification during the month, thus causing the actual labor rate to be less than standard.
Instructions
1. Determine and interpret the direct materials price and quantity variances for the three materials.
2. Determine and interpret the direct labor rate and time variances for the two departments.
3. Determine and interpret the factory overhead controllable variance.
4. Determine and interpret the factory overhead volume variance.
5. Why are the standard direct labor and direct materials costs in the calculations for parts (1) and (2) based on the actual 1,300-case production volume rather than the planned 1,200 cases of production used in the budgets for parts (B)?
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