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Departmental Overhead Rates
Mariposa, Inc., produces machine tools and currently uses a plantwide overhead rate, based on machine hours. Harry Whipple, the plant manager, has heard that departmental overhead rates can offer significantly better cost assignments than can a plantwide rate.
Mariposa has the following data for its two departments for the coming year: | Department A | Department B |
Overhead costs (expected) | $864,000 | $216,000 |
Normal activity (machine hours) | 120,000 | 60,000 |
Required:
1. Compute a predetermined overhead rate for the plant as a whole based on machine hours. $fill in the blank 1 per machine hour
2. Compute predetermined overhead rates for each department using machine hours. Round your answers to one decimal place.
Department A | $fill in the blank 2 per machine hour |
Department B | $fill in the blank 3 per machine hour |
3. Suppose that a machine tool (Product X75) used 50 machine hours from Department A and 170 machine hours from Department B. A second machine tool (Product Y15) used 170 machine hours from Department A and 50 machine hours from Department B. Compute the overhead cost assigned to each product using the plantwide rate computed in Requirement 1.
| Product X75 | Product Y15 |
Plantwide: | $fill in the blank 4 | $fill in the blank 5 |
Repeat the computation using the departmental rates found in Requirement 2.
| Product X75 | Product Y15 |
Departmental: | $fill in the blank 6 | $fill in the blank 7 |
Which of the two approaches gives the fairest assignment?
DepartmentalPlantwide
4. Repeat Requirement 3 assuming the expected overhead cost for Department B is $432,000.
| Product X75 | Product Y15 |
Plantwide: | $fill in the blank 9 | $fill in the blank 10 |
Departmental: | $fill in the blank 11 | $fill in the blank 12 |
Would you recommend departmental rates over a plantwide rate?
I recommend a plantwide rate, I recommend departmental rates, It doesn't matter which is chosen