Mastery Problem: Variable Costing for Management Analysis Absorption vs. Variable Operating income is one of the most important items reported by a company. Depending on the decision-making needs of management, operating income can be determined using absorption costing or variable costing. Select whether the following characteristics are most often associated with absorption costing or variable costing. Required under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) Absorption Costing Often used for internal use in decision making Variable Costing Cost of goods manufactured includes only variable manufacturing costs Variable Costing Used in reports prepared for external users Absorption Costing Fixed factory overhead costs are not part of cost of goods manufactured Variable Costing Both fixed and variable factory costs are included in cost of goods sold and inventory Absorption Costing Feedback Check My Work Review the differences between absorption and variable costing, and how each type of costing is used in the organization and for management processes. Absorption Statement Absorption costing does not distinguish between variable and fixed costs. All manufacturing costs are included in the cost of goods sold. Saxon, Inc. Absorption Costing Income Statement For the Year Ended December 31 Sales $1,275,000 Cost of goods sold: Cost of goods manufactured $840,000 (126,000) Ending inventory Total cost of goods sold (714,000) Gross profit $561,000 (320,000) Selling and administrative expenses Operating income $241,000 Variable Statement Under variable costing, the cost of goods manufactured includes only variable manufacturing costs. This type of income statement includes a computation of manufacturing margin. Saxon, Inc. Variable Costing Income Statement For the Year Ended December 31 Sales $1,275,000 Variable cost of goods sold: Variable cost of goods manufactured Ending inventory $600,000 (90,000) Total variable cost of goods sold (510,000) $765,000 Manufacturing margin Variable selling and administrative expenses (255,000) Contribution margin $510,000 Fixed costs: $240,000 Fixed manufacturing costs Fixed selling and administrative expenses 65,000 Total fixed costs (305,000) Operating income $205,000 Method Comparison Review the income statements on the Absorption Statement and Variable Statement, then complete the following table. The company's sales price per unit is $75, and the number of units in ending inventory is 3,000. There was no beginning inventory. Item Amount Number of units sold Variable sales and administrative cost per unit Number of units manufactured Variable cost of goods manufactured per unit 5 Fixed manufacturing cost per unit Feedback Check My Work Review the definitions of the items in the table, and think backwards from one of the income statements to get the desired values. Manufacturing Decisions Whenever the units manufactured differ from the units sold, finished goods inventory is affected. In analyzing operating income, such increases and decreases could be misinterpreted as operating efficiencies or inefficiencies. Each decision-making situation should be carefully analyzed in deciding whether absorption or variable costing reporting would be more useful. All costs are controllable in the long run by someone within a business. For a given level of management, costs may be controllable costs or noncontrollable costs. The production manager for Saxon, Inc. is worried because the company is not showing a high enough profit. Looking at the income statements on the Absorption Statement and the Variable Statement, he notices that the operating income is higher on the absorption cost income statement. He is considering manufacturing another 10,000 units, up to the company's capacity for manufacturing, in the coming year. He reasons that this will boost operating income and satisfy the company's owner that the company is sufficiently profitable. Although the total units manufactured changes, assume that total fixed costs, unit variable costs, unit sales price, and the sales levels are the same. Complete questions (1)-(4) that follow. If the answer is zero, enter "0". 1. Use the income statements on the Absorption Statement and Variable Statement to complete the following table for the original production level. Then prepare similar income statements at a production level 10,000 units higher and add that information to the table. Assume that total fixed costs, unit variable costs, unit sales price, and the sales levels are the same at both production levels. Original Production Level-Absorption Operating Income Original Production Additional 10,000 Level-Variable Units-Absorption Additional 10,000 Units-Variable 2. What is the change in operating income from producing 10,000 additional units under absorption costing? 3. What is the change in operating income from producing 10,000 additional units under variable costing