HORNGRENS COST ACCOUNTING W/ACCESS
16th Edition
ISBN: 9781323687604
Author: Datar
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 7, Problem 7.46P
Variances in the service sector. Derek Wilson operates Clean Ride Enterprises, an auto detailing company with 20 employees. Jamal Jackson has recently been hired by Wilson as a controller. Clean Ride’s previous accountant had done very little in the area of
Jackson examines past accounting records, and establishes some standards for the price and quantity of labor. While Clean Ride’s employees earn a range of hourly wages, they fall into two general categories: skilled labor, with an average wage of $20 per hour, and unskilled labor, with an average wage of $10 per hour. One standard 5-hour detailing job typically requires a combination of 3 skilled hours and 2 unskilled hours.
Actual data from last month, when 600 detailing jobs were completed, are as follows:
| Skilled (2,006 hours) | $39,117 |
| Unskilled (944 hours) | 9,292 |
| Total actual direct labor cost | $ 48,409 |
Looking over last month’s data. Jackson determines that Clean Ride’s labor price variance was $1,151 favorable, but the labor efficiency variance was $1,560 unfavorable. When Jackson presents his findings to Wilson, the latter is furious. “Do you mean to tell me that my employees wasted $1,560 worth of time last month? I’ve had enough. They had better shape up, or else!” Jackson tries to calm him down, saying that in this case the efficiency variance doesn’t necessarily mean that employees were wasting time. Jackson tells him that he is going to perform a more detailed analysis, and will get back to him with more information soon.
- 1. What is the budgeted cost of direct labor for 600 detailing jobs?
- 2. How were the $1,151 favorable price variance and the $1,560 unfavorable labor efficiency variance calculated? What was the company’s flexible-
budget variance ? - 3. What do you think Jackson meant when said that “in this case the efficiency variance doesn’t necessarily mean that employees were wasting time”?
- 4. For the 600 detailing jobs performed last month, what is the actual direct labor input mix percentage? What was the standard mix for labor?
- 5. Calculate the total direct labor mix and yield variances.
- 6. How could these variances be interpreted? Did the employees waste time? Upon further investigation, you discover that there were some unfilled vacancies last month in the unskilled labor positions that have recently been filled. How will this new information likely impact the variances going forward?
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Brandt Gardner, the owner-manager of a small firm that manufactures feed processing equipment and round-hay bailers, is unhappy with the latest report on financial performance in the Kansas City, Missouri, plant. The company had recently installed a standard cost system in the Kansas City plant with the objective of controlling manufacturing costs. The performance report for the year ended revealed that the variances for materials, labor, and variable overhead were all within the desired ranges, but the fixed overhead spending and volume variances were both significantly unfavorable. Brandt wanted an explanation of the fixed overhead variances and a recommendation.
Which do you think is more important for control of fixed overhead costs: the spending variance or the volume variance? Explain.
In the book Advanced Managerial Accounting, Robert P. Magee discusses monitoring cost variances. A cost variance is the difference between a budgeted cost and an actual cost. Magee describes the following situation:
Michael Bitner has responsibility for control of two manufacturing processes. Every week he receives a cost variance report for each of the two processes, broken down by labor costs, materials costs, and so on. One of the two processes, which we'll call process A , involves a stable, easily controlled production process with a little fluctuation in variances. Process B involves more random events: the equipment is more sensitive and prone to breakdown, the raw material prices fluctuate more, and so on.
"It seems like I'm spending more of my time with process B than with process A," says Michael Bitner. "Yet I know that the probability of an inefficiency developing and the expected costs of inefficiencies are the same for the two processes. It's just the magnitude of…
Vincent Bassani has come to the accounting department for help in interpreting
his variance report. He says that he understands that last month was not a very good
one for output, but he really thought everyone put forth good effort, so he is confused
about the existence of an unfavorable labor efficiency variance. He cites as an example
of the workers' effort their willingness to work extra hours to get full output, even when
a whole week's worth of production had to be scrapped. He knew that his materials
costs would be higher, and that overtime would make his rate variance unfavorable,
but he certainly didn't think his workers had been inefficient.
Required:
Write a short note to Vincent explaining the probable cause of the unfavorable labor efficiency variance
Chapter 7 Solutions
HORNGRENS COST ACCOUNTING W/ACCESS
Ch. 7 - What is the relationship between management by...Ch. 7 - What are two possible sources of information a...Ch. 7 - Distinguish between a favorable variance and an...Ch. 7 - What is the key difference between a static budget...Ch. 7 - Why might managers find a flexible-budget analysis...Ch. 7 - Describe the steps in developing a flexible...Ch. 7 - List four reasons for using standard costs.Ch. 7 - How might a manager gain insight into the causes...Ch. 7 - List three causes of a favorable direct materials...Ch. 7 - Describe three reasons for an unfavorable direct...
Ch. 7 - How does variance analysis help in continuous...Ch. 7 - Why might an analyst examining variances in the...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.13QCh. 7 - When inputs are substitutable, how can the direct...Ch. 7 - Benchmarking against other companies enables a...Ch. 7 - Metal Shelf Companys standard cost for raw...Ch. 7 - All of the following statements regarding...Ch. 7 - Amalgamated Manipulation Manufacturings (AMM)...Ch. 7 - Atlantic Company has a manufacturing facility in...Ch. 7 - Basix Inc. calculates direct manufacturing labor...Ch. 7 - Flexible budget. Sweeney Enterprises manufactures...Ch. 7 - Flexible budget. Bryant Companys budgeted prices...Ch. 7 - Flexible-budget preparation and analysis. Bank...Ch. 7 - Flexible budget, working backward. The Clarkson...Ch. 7 - Flexible-budget and sales volume variances....Ch. 7 - Price and efficiency variances. Sunshine Foods...Ch. 7 - Materials and manufacturing labor variances....Ch. 7 - Direct materials and direct manufacturing labor...Ch. 7 - Price and efficiency variances, journal entries....Ch. 7 - Materials and manufacturing labor variances,...Ch. 7 - Journal entries and T-accounts (continuation of...Ch. 7 - Price and efficiency variances, benchmarking....Ch. 7 - Static and flexible budgets, service sector....Ch. 7 - Flexible budget, direct materials, and direct...Ch. 7 - Variance analysis, nonmanufacturing setting. Joyce...Ch. 7 - Comprehensive variance analysis review. Ellis...Ch. 7 - Possible causes for price and efficiency...Ch. 7 - Material-cost variances, use of variances for...Ch. 7 - Direct manufacturing labor and direct materials...Ch. 7 - Direct materials efficiency, mix, and yield...Ch. 7 - Direct materials and manufacturing labor...Ch. 7 - Direct materials and manufacturing labor...Ch. 7 - Use of materials and manufacturing labor variances...Ch. 7 - Direct manufacturing labor variances: price,...Ch. 7 - Direct-cost and selling price variances. MicroDisk...Ch. 7 - Variances in the service sector. Derek Wilson...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.47P
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