Whirlpool Corporation conducted an activity-based costing study of its Evansville, Indiana, plant in order to identify its most profitable products. Assume that we select three representative refrigerators (out of 333): one low-, one medium-, and one high volume refrigerator. Additionally, we assume the following activity-base information for each of the three refrigerators:

Prior to conducting the study, the factory overhead allocation was based on a single machine hour rate. The machine hour rate was $150 per hour. After conducting the activity-based costing study, assume that three activities were used to allocate the factory overhead. The new activity rate information is assumed to be as follows:

a. Complete the following table, using the single machine hour rate to determine the per-unit factory overhead for each refrigerator (Column A) and the three activity based rates to determine the activity-based factory overhead per unit (Column B).
Finally, compute the percent change in per-unit allocation from the single to activity based rate methods (Column C). Round whole percents to one decimal place.

b. Why is the traditional overhead rate per machine hour greater under the single rate method than under the activity-based method?
c. Interpret Column C in your table from part(a).

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Number of Machine Hours Number of Setups 15 14 Number of Sales Orders 45 100 150 Number of Units 150 1,400 5,000 Three Representative Refrigerators Refrigerator-Low Volume Refrigerator-Medium Volume Refrigerator High Volume 30 280 1,000 Sales Order Processing Activity $50 Machining Activity Setup Activity $220 Activity rate $130 Column A Single Rate Overhead Allocation per Unit Column B ABC Overhead Allocation per Unit Column C Percent Change in Allocation (Col. B Col. A)/Col. A Product Volume Class Low Medium High