Hartman Company's Lucas plant manufactures thermostatic controls. Plant management has experienced fluctuating monthly overhead costs and wants to estimate overhead costs accurately to plan its operations and its financial needs. Interviews with plant personnel and studies reported in trade publications suggest that overhead in this industry tends to vary with labor-hours. A member of the controller's staff proposed that the behavior pattern of these overhead costs be determined to improve cost estimation. Another staff member suggested that a good starting place for determining cost behavior patterns is to analyze historical data. Following this suggestion, monthly data were gathered on labor-hours and overhead costs for the past two years. No major changes in operations occurred over this period of time. The data are shown in the following table. Month Labor-Hours Overhead Costs 251,730 $2,742,120 238,630 2,375,680 193,500 2,400,600 271,750 2,590,950 324,250 3,072, 270 291,130 2,618,620 271,750 2,480,690 251,750 2,746,010 232,125 2,821,800 343,900 3,438,160 186,130 2,315,790 232,080 2,551,130 383,000 3,604,170 376,750 3,405, 240 291,120 3,016,950 396,130 3,638,790 356,750 3,554,350 323,950 3,192,070 389,575 3,482,170 317,380 3,219,970 343,640 3,495,880 337,070 3,207,710 383,010 3,601,080 376,450 3,637,100 Required: a. Use the high-low estimation method to estimate the overhead cost behavior (fixed and variable portions components of cost) for the Lucas plant. c. Using Excel, compute regression coefficients to describe the overhead cost equation. d. Use the results of your regression analysis to develop an estimate of overhead costs assuming 450,000 labor-hours will be worked next month. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required A Required C Required D Use the high-low estimation method to estimate the overhead cost behavior (fixed and variable portions components of cost) for the Lucas plant. (Round variable cost per unit to 2 decimal places.) Overhead costs = $ 1,143,171 + $ 6.30 per LH Labor hours Required A Required C > Required: a. Use the high-low estimation method to estimate the overhead cost behavior (fixed and variable portions components of cost) for the Lucas plant. c. Using Excel, compute regression coefficients to describe the overhead cost equation. d. Use the results of your regression analysis to develop an estimate of overhead costs assuming 450,000 labor-hours will be worked next month. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required A Required c Required D Using Excel, compute regression coefficients to describe the overhead cost equation. (Round your answers to 2 decimal places.) Coefficients Intercept (Fixed Costs) Cost per Labor Hour Required: a. Use the high-low estimation method to estimate the overhead cost behavior (fixed and variable portions components of cost) for the Lucas plant. c. Using Excel, compute regression coefficients to describe the overhead cost equation. d. Use the results of your regression analysis to develop an estimate of overhead costs assuming 450,000 labor-hours will be worked next month. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required A Required C Required D Use the results of your regression analysis to develop an estimate of overhead costs assuming 450,000 labor-hours will be worked next month. (Round "fixed cost" to whole dollar amount. Round cost per labor hour to 2 decimal places.) Overhead Cost
