Case 4B-6 (Algo) Step-Down Method versus Direct Method (L04-10, L04-11) "This is really an odd situation." said Jim Carter, general manager of Highland Publishing Company. "We get most of the jobs we bid on that require a lot of press time in the Printing Department, yet profits on those jobs are never as high as they ought to be. On the other hand, we lose most of the jobs we bid on that require a lot of time in the Binding Department. I would be inclined to think that the problem is with our overhead rates, but we're already computing separate overhead rates for each department. So what else could be wrong? Highland Publishing Company is a large organization that offers a variety of printing and binding work. The Printing and Binding departments are supported by three service departments. The costs of these service departments are allocated to other departments in the order listed below. The Personnel cost is allocated based on number of employees. The Custodial Services cost is allocated based on square feet of space occupled and the Maintenance cost is allocated based on machine-hours. Machine- Hours Direct Labor- Hours Department Personnel Custodial Services Maintenance Printing Binding Total Labor- Hours 16,000 9,000 14,000 30,700 104,000 173,200 Square Feet of Space Occupied 12,800 3,000 10,400 40,600 20,900 87,700 Number of 25 41 64 100 303 533 163,000 49,000 212,000 17,000 76,000 93,000 Budgeted overhead costs in each department for the current year are shown below: Personnel Custodial Services Maintenance Printing Binding Total budgeted cost $ 300,000 65,300 93, 100 414,000 166,000 $1,038.400 Because of its simplicity, the company has always used the direct method to allocate service department costs to the two operating Because of its simplicity, the company has always used the direct method to allocate service department costs to the two operating departments Required: 1. Using the step-down method, allocate the service department costs to the consuming departments. Then compute predetermined overhead rates in the two operating departments. Use machine-hours as the allocation base in the Printing Department and direct labor-hours as the allocation base in the Binding Department 2. Repeat (1) above, this time using the direct method. Again compute predetermined overhead rates in the Printing and Binding departments 3. Assume that during the current year the company bids on a job that requires machine and labor time as follows: Printing Department Binding Department Total hours Machine Hours 2,700 500 3,200 Direct Labor-Hours 1,400 13,200 14,600 a. Determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the company used the overhead rates developed in (1) above. Then determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the company used the overhead rates developed in (2) above. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Reg 1 Reg 2 Req 3A Using the step-down method, allocate the service department costs to the consuming departments. Then compute predetermined overhead rates in the two operating departments. Use machine-hours as the allocation base in the Printing Department and direct labor- hours as the allocation base in the Binding Department. (Please enter allocations from a department as negative and allocations to a department as positive. The line should add across to zero. Do not round Intermediate calculations. Round "Predetermined overhead rate" to 2 decimal places and rest of the answers to the nearest whole dollar amount.) Show less Total hours 3,200 14,600 a. Determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the company used the overhead rates above. Then determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the company used the over developed in (2) above. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Reg 1 Reg 2 Req 3A Repeat requirement 1 above, this time using the direct method. Again compute predetermined overhead rates in the Printi Binding departments. (Please enter allocations from a department as negative and allocations to a department as positive. should add across to zero. Do not round intermediate calculations. Round "Predetermined overhead rate to 2 decimal plac the answers to the nearest whole dollar amount.) Personnel Custodial Services $ 300,000 $ 65,300 Maintenance Printing Binding $ 93,100 $ 414,000 $ 166,000 Departmental costs before allocations Allocations: Personnel costs Custodial services costs Maintenance costs Total costs after allocations Predetermined overhead rate 300,000 65,300 93,100 414,000 166,000 Printing Department Binding Department Total hours 500 3,200 13,200 14,600 a. Determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the company used the overhe above. Then determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the company used t developed in (2) above. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Reg 1 Req 2 Req Determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the company used the overhead rates in requirement 1 above. Then determine the amount of overhead cost that would be assigned to the job if the com the overhead rates developed in requirement 2. (Round your intermediate calculations to 2 decimal places and fina to the nearest whole dollar amount.) SH Total Overhead Cost Step-down method Direct method