Standard Cost and Balance Scorecard

Shazam Corporation manufactures a single product. The standard cost per unit of product is shown below. Direct materials1 pound plastic at $7.00 per pound $ 7.00 Direct labor1.6 hours at $12.00 per hour 19.20 Variable manufacturing overhead 12.00 Fixed manufacturing overhead 4.00 Total standard cost per unit $42.20 The predetermined manufacturing overhead rate is $10 per direct labor hour ($16.00 1.6). It was computed from a master manufacturing overhead budget based on normal production of 8,000 direct labor hours (5,000 units) for the month. The master budget showed total variable costs of $60,000 ($7.50 per hour) and total fixed overhead costs of $20,000 ($2.50 per hour). Actual costs for November in producing 4,900 units were as follows. Direct materials (5,100 pounds) $ 36,720 Direct labor (7,500 hours) 93,750 Variable overhead 59,700 Fixed overhead 21,000 Total manufacturing costs $211,170 The purchasing department buys the quantities of raw materials that are expected to be used in production each month. Raw materials inventories, therefore, can be ignored.

Instructions

(a) Compute all of the materials and labor variances in November. (b) Compute the total overhead variance.

(c) Explain the similarities and differences between standards and budgets.