Make or Buy

Bobs Auto manufactures cars and currently uses only 50% of its manufacturing facility to make 30,000 cars per year. Bob could rent the unused portion of its plant and receive $3,000 a month. Alternatively, the company could utilize more of its facility by producing its own tires. It currently purchases tires at $30 per set of four. If Bob produces the tires, it would incur $12 per set for direct materials, $10 for direct labor, and $24 for overhead (30% is avoidable).

Should the company make or buy the tires?

Division A of Gwinnett Company, produces wedges. Division Zs manager has discretion in pricing and other decisions. Division Z is expected to generate a minimum required rate of return of at least 18% on its operating assets. The division has average operating assets of $900,000. The wedges are sold for $8 each. Variable costs are $3 per wedges, and fixed costs total $390,000 per year. The division has a capacity of 120,000 wedges each year.

• How many wedges must Division Z sell each year to generate the desired rate of return on its assets? Number of wedges: ___________
• Assume that Division Zs current ROI equals the minimum required rate of 18%. The divisional manager wants to increase the selling price per wedge by 5%. Market studies indicate that an increase in the selling price would cause sales to drop by 15,000 units each year. However, operating assets could be reduced by $65,000 due to decreased needs for accounts receivable and inventory. Compute the new ROI if these changes are made. ROI: __________
• Refer to the original data (i.e. used for question A.). Assume again that the Divisions current ROI equals the required rate of 18%. Rather than increase the selling price, the sales manager want to reduce the selling price by 10%. Market studies indicate that this would fill the plant to capacity. In order to carry the greater level of sales, however, operating assets would increase by $28,000. Compute ROI if these changes are made.