E23-18 Defining the benefits of setting cost standards and calculating materials and labor variances Murry, Inc. produced 1.000 units of the company's product in 2018. The standard quantity of direct materials was three yards of cloth per unit at a standard cost of $1.35 per vard. The accounting records showed that 2,500 yards of cloth were used and the company paid $1.40 per vard. Standard time was two direct labor hours per unit at a standard rate of $10.00 per direct labor hour. Employees worked 1,700 hours and were paid $9.50 per hour. Requirements 1. What are the benefits of setting cost standards? 2. Calculate the direct materials cost variance and the direct materials efficiency vari ance as well as the direct labor cost and efficiency variances