Measuring the Effects of Decisions on Standard Cost Variances $($Comprehensive$)$

The following five unrelated situations affect one or more standard cost variances for materials, labor $($assembly$),$ and overhead. For each of the situations, compute the amount of the effect for one month on each variance listed. Indicate whether the effect is favorable or unfavorable. Assume that the standards are not changed in response to these situations.

Note: Round your answers to two decimal places.

$1.$ Sally Smith, a production worker, announced her intent to resign to accept another job paying $$1\mathrm{.}75$ more per hour. To keep Sally, the production manager agreed to raise her salary from $$12$ to $$14$ per hour. Sally works an average of $280$ regular hours per month.

Effect on labor rate variance $Answer Answer

$2.$ At the beginning of the month, a supplier of a component used in our product notified us that, because of a minor design improvement, the price will be increased by $10\%$ above the current standard price of $$125$ per unit. As a result of the improved design, we expect the number of defective components to decrease by $80$ units per month. On average, $1,920$ units of the component are purchased each month. Defective units are identified prior to use and are not returnable.

Effect on materials price variance $Answer Answer

Effect on materials quantity variance $Answer Answer

$3.$ In an effort to meet a deadline on a rush order in Department A$,$ the plant manager reassigned several higher$-$skilled workers from Department B$,$ for a total of $576$ labor hours. The average salary of the Department B workers was $$2\mathrm{.}15$ more than the standard $$11\mathrm{.}00$ per hour rate of the Department A workers. Since they were not accustomed to the work, the average Department B worker was able to produce only $24$ units per hour instead of the standard $36$ units per hour. $($Consider only the effect on Department A labor variances.$)$

Effect on labor rate variance $Answer Answer

Effect on labor efficiency variance $Answer Answer

$4.$ Robbie Wallace is an inspector who earns a base salary of $$3,200$ per month plus a piece rate of $40$ cents per bundle inspected. His company accounts for inspection costs as manufacturing overhead. Because of a payroll department error in June, Robbie was paid $$2,400$ plus a piece rate of $60$ cents per bundle. He received gross wages totaling $$3,360.$

Hint: Robbie$$s compensation has both paid $$2,400$ plus a piece rate of $60$ cents per bundle. He received gross wages totaling $$3,360.$

Hint: Robbie$$s compensation has both fixed and variable components.

Effect on variable overhead spending variance $Answer Answer

Effect on fixed overhead budget variance $Answer Answer

$5.$ The materials purchasing manager purchased $8,000$ units of component K$2$X from a new source at a price $$20$ below the standard unit price of $$200.$ These components turned out to be of extremely poor quality with defects occurring at three times the standard rate of $6\%.$ The higher rate of defects reduced the output of workers $($who earn $$12$ per hour$)$ from $20$ units per hour to $16$ units per hour on the units containing the discount components. Each finished unit contains one K$2$X component. To appease the workers $($who were irate at having to work with inferior components$),$ the production manager agreed to pay the workers an additional $$0\mathrm{.}50$ for each of the components $($good and bad$)$ in the discount batch. Variable manufacturing overhead is applied at the rate of $$6\mathrm{.}00$ per direct labor hour. The defective units also caused a $25$ hour increase in total machine hours. The actual cost of electricity to run the machines is $$2\mathrm{.}00$ per hour.

Effect on materials price variance $Answer Answer

Effect on materials quantity variance $Answer Answer

Effect on labor rate variance $Answer Answer

Effect on labor efficiency variance $Answer Answer

Effect on variable overhead spending variance $Answer Answer

Effect on variable overhead efficiency variance $Answer Answer