Mastery Problem: Process Cost Systems

Grainy Goodness Company

Grainy Goodness Company manufactures granola cereal by a series of three processes, beginning materials such as oats, sweeteners, and nuts being introduced in the Mixing Department. From the Mixing Department, the materials pass through the Baking and Packaging departments, emerging as boxed granola cereal ready for shipment to retail outlets. Direct materials are added at the beginning of each process, and conversion costs are incurred evenly throughout production in each department.

During March, the President and sole stockholder, Jonathan Groat, reviewed the Cost of Production Report for the Mixing Department. He is concerned that the Mixing Department may not be operating efficiently, and asks for your help.

Cost of Production

Jonathan has noticed that his production manager has omitted some of the data on the Cost of Production. Determine the missing information. If there is no amount or an amount is zero, enter "0". Round your per-unit computations to the nearest cent, if required.

Grainy Goodness Company
Cost of Production Report-Mixing Department
For the Month Ended March 31
Unit Information
Units charged to production:
Inventory in process, March 1			2,000
Received from materials storeroom			38,000
Total units accounted for by the Mixing Department			40,000
Units to be assigned costs:
		Equivalent Units
	Whole Units	Direct Materials	Conversion
Inventory in process, March 1 (35% completed)	2,000	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_1	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_2
Started and completed in March	35,000	35,000	35,000
Transferred to Baking Department in March	37,000	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_3	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_4
Inventory in process, March 31 (80% completed)	3,000	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_5	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_6
Total units to be assigned costs	40,000	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_7	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_8
Cost Information
Cost per equivalent unit:
		Direct Materials	Conversion
Total costs for March in Mixing Department		$40,660	$36,765
Total equivalent units		fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_9	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_10
Cost per equivalent unit		$fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_11	$fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_12
Costs assigned to production:
	Direct Materials	Conversion	Total
Inventory in process, March 1	$2,200	$525	$2,725
Costs incurred in March			77,425
Total costs accounted for by the Mixing Department			$80,150
Cost allocated to completed and partially completed units:
Inventory in process, March 1-balance			$2,725
To complete inventory in process, March 1	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_13	1,235	1,235
Cost of completed March 1 work in process			$3,960
Started and completed in March	37,450	33,250	70,700
Transferred to Baking Department in March			$fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_14
Inventory in process, March 31	3,210	2,280	fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_15
Total costs assigned by the Mixing Department			$fill in the blank 346bd2069f91015_16

February Cost Analysis

Determine the cost per unit of direct materials and for conversion for the month of February using the completed data on the Cost of Production. Round your per-unit computations to the nearest cent, if required.

Cost Analysis for February - Mixing Department
	Amount	Equivalent Units	Cost per Unit
Direct Materials in inventory in process, March 1	$fill in the blank 324a98ffbff802c_1	fill in the blank 324a98ffbff802c_2	$fill in the blank 324a98ffbff802c_3
Conversion costs in inventory in process, March 1	fill in the blank 324a98ffbff802c_4	fill in the blank 324a98ffbff802c_5	fill in the blank 324a98ffbff802c_6
		Total cost per unit	$fill in the blank 324a98ffbff802c_7

March Cost Analysis

Determine the cost per unit of direct materials and for conversion for the month of March using the completed data on the Cost of Production. Round your per-unit computations to the nearest cent, if required.

Cost Analysis for March- Mixing Department
	Amount	Equivalent Units	Cost per Unit
Costs for March: Direct Materials	$fill in the blank cf432ffeffe8020_1	fill in the blank cf432ffeffe8020_2	$fill in the blank cf432ffeffe8020_3
Costs for March: Conversion	fill in the blank cf432ffeffe8020_4	fill in the blank cf432ffeffe8020_5	fill in the blank cf432ffeffe8020_6
		Total cost per unit	$fill in the blank cf432ffeffe8020_7

Mixing Dept. Evaluation

After reviewing your work on the February Cost Analysis and March Cost Analysis, assist Jonathan Groat in evaluating the Mixing Departments performance by answering the following questions:

In March, was the Mixing Departments total cost per unit higher or lower than in February?

HigherLowerNo difference

For which component was the cost per unit for March higher than in February?

Conversion costsDirect material costsBoth were higher for MarchNeither were higher for March

What is most probably your recommendation to Jonathan Groat given your computations?

Investigate a detailed breakdown of conversion costs to determine the source of the higher per-unit cost.Investigate a detailed breakdown of direct materials cost to determine the source of the higher per-unit cost.Look into creating higher incentives for administrative staff in order to create more effective reporting procedures.Pay higher commissions to salespeople to spur sales.

Journal

On March 31, using the data provided on the Cost of Production, journalize the entry to move the appropriate amount of cost from the Mixing Department to the Baking Department. If an amount box does not require an entry, leave it blank.

Mar. 31	Factory Overhead-MixingFactory Overhead-BakingFactory Overhead-PackagingWork in Process-BakingWork in Process-Mixing	- Select -	- Select -
	Factory Overhead-MixingFactory Overhead-BakingFactory Overhead-PackagingWork in Process-BakingWork in Process-Mixing	- Select -	- Select -