t a recent board meeting, the president and CEO got into a heated argument about whether to shut down the firm’s plan in Miami. The Miami plant currently loses $60,000 monthly. The president of the firm argued that the Miami plant should continue to operate, at least until a buyer is found for the production facility. The president’s argument was based on the fact that the Miami plant’s fixed costs are $68,000 per month. The CEO exploded over this point, castigating the president for considering fixed costs in making the shutdown decision. According to the CEO, “Everyone knows fixed costs don’t matter!” a. Should the Miami plant be closed or continue to operate at a loss in the short run? b. How would you explain to the incorrect party that he is wrong?
Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
Cost Volume Profit (CVP) analysis is a cost accounting method that analyses the effect of fluctuating cost and volume on the operating profit. Also known as break-even analysis, CVP determines the break-even point for varying volumes of sales and cost structures. This information helps the managers make economic decisions on a short-term basis. CVP analysis is based on many assumptions. Sales price, variable costs, and fixed costs per unit are assumed to be constant. The analysis also assumes that all units produced are sold and costs get impacted due to changes in activities. All costs incurred by the company like administrative, manufacturing, and selling costs are identified as either fixed or variable.
Marginal Costing
Marginal cost is defined as the change in the total cost which takes place when one additional unit of a product is manufactured. The marginal cost is influenced only by the variations which generally occur in the variable costs because the fixed costs remain the same irrespective of the output produced. The concept of marginal cost is used for product pricing when the customers want the lowest possible price for a certain number of orders. There is no accounting entry for marginal cost and it is only used by the management for taking effective decisions.
At a recent board meeting, the president and CEO got into a heated argument about whether to shut down the firm’s plan in Miami. The Miami plant currently loses $60,000 monthly. The president of the firm argued that the Miami plant should continue to operate, at least until a buyer is found for the production facility. The president’s argument was based on the fact that the Miami plant’s fixed costs are $68,000 per month. The CEO exploded over this point, castigating the president for considering fixed costs in making the shutdown decision. According to the CEO, “Everyone knows fixed costs don’t matter!”
a. Should the Miami plant be closed or continue to operate at a loss in the short run?
b. How would you explain to the incorrect party that he is wrong?
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