INCENTIVE TO OVERPRODUCE INVENTORY

The absorption of fixed overhead costs as part of the cost of inventory on the balance sheet presents ethical challenges because it provides the opportunity to manipulate reported income. This classic case is based on an actual companys experience.*

Brandolino Company uses an actual-cost system to apply all production costs to units produced. The plant has a maximum production capacity of 40 million units but during year 1 it produced and sold only 10 million units. There were no beginning or ending inventories. The companys absorption-costing income statement for year 1 follows:

BRANDOLINO COMPANY

Income Statement

For Year 1

Sales (10,000,000 units at $6)

$ 60,000,000

Cost of goods sold:

Direct costs (material and labor) (10,000,000 at $2)

$20,000,000

Manufacturing overhead

48,000,000

68,000,000

Gross margin

$ (8,000,000)

Less: Selling and administrative expenses

10,000,000

Operating income (loss)

$(18,000,000)

The board of directors is upset about the $18 million loss. A consultant approached the board with the following Page 345offer: I agree to become president for no fixed salary. But I insist on a year-end bonus of 10 percent of operating income (before considering the bonus). The board of directors agreed to these terms and hired the consultant as Brandolinos new president. The new president promptly stepped up production to an annual rate of 30 million units. Sales for year 2 remained at 10 million units. Here is the resulting absorption-costing income statement for year 2:

BRANDOLINO COMPANY

Income Statement

For Year 2

Sales (10,000,000 units at $6)

$60,000,000

Cost of goods sold:

Costs of goods manufactured:

Direct costs (material and labor) (30,000,000 at $2)

$60,000,000

Manufacturing overhead

48,000,000

Total cost of goods

manufactured

$108,000,000

Less: Ending inventory:

Direct costs (material and labor) (20,000,000 at $2)

$40,000,000

Manufacturing overhead (20/30 $48,000,000)

32,000,000

Total ending inventory costs

$72,000,000

Cost of goods sold

36,000,000

Gross margin

$24,000,000

Less: Selling and administrative expenses

10,000,000

Operating income before bonus

$14,000,000

Bonus

1,400,000

Operating income after bonus

$12,600,000

The day after the year 2 statement was verified, the president took his check for $1,400,000 and resigned to take a job with another corporation. He remarked, I enjoy challenges. Now that Brandolino Company is in the black, Id prefer tackling another challenging situation. (His contract with his new employer is similar to the one he had with Brandolino Company.)

What do you think is going on here?

How would you evaluate the companys year 2 performance?

Using variable costing, what would operating income be for year 1? For year 2? (Assume that all selling and administrative costs are committed and unchanged.)

Compare those results with the absorption-costing statements.

Comment on the ethical issues in this scenario.