Operating Budget, Comprehensive Analysis

Ponderosa, Inc., produces wiring harness assemblies used in the production of semi-trailer trucks. The wiring harness assemblies are sold to various truck manufacturers around the world. Projected sales in units for the coming five months are given below.

January	10,000
February	10,600
March	13,800
April	16,000
May	18,500

The following data pertain to production policies and manufacturing specifications followed by Ponderosa:

Finished goods inventory on January 1 is 900 units. The desired ending inventory for each month is 20 percent of the next months sales.

The data on materials used are as follows:

Direct Material	Per-Unit Usage	Unit Cost
Part #K298	2	$4
Part #C30	3	7

Inventory policy dictates that sufficient materials be on hand at the beginning of the month to satisfy 30 percent of the next months production needs. This is exactly the amount of material on hand on January 1.

The direct labor used per unit of output is one and one-half hours. The average direct labor cost per hour is $20.

Overhead each month is estimated using a flexible budget formula. (Activity is measured in direct labor hours.)

	Fixed Cost Component	Variable Cost Component
Supplies	$	$1.00
Power		0.20
Maintenance	12,600	1.10
Supervision	14,000
Depreciation	45,000
Taxes	4,300
Other	86,000	1.60

Monthly selling and administrative expenses are also estimated using a flexible budgeting formula. (Activity is measured in units sold.)

	Fixed Costs	Variable Costs
Salaries	$ 88,500
Commissions		$1.40
Depreciation	25,000
Shipping		3.60
Other	137,000	1.60

The unit selling price of the wiring harness assembly is $110.

In February, the company plans to purchase land for future expansion. The land costs $68,000.

All sales and purchases are for cash. The cash balance on January 1 equals $62,700. The firm wants to have an ending cash balance of at least $25,000. If a cash shortage develops, sufficient cash is borrowed to cover the shortage and provide the desired ending balance. Any cash borrowed must be borrowed in $1,000 increments and is repaid the following month, as is the interest due. The interest rate is 12 percent per annum.

2. Production budget