Question

You oversee the production facility of CC Compounders Ltd. CC Compounders Ltd manufactures compound which is being used in various extrusion processes. You are preparing for a management meeting. One of the points on the agenda is the explanation of the variance between actual production cost and standard production cost and to decide on action plans to address the reasons for the variance.

The following is the standard cost per 1 ton of compound:

Per Unit    Price Standard Cost per ton (R)

Material:

AC1032 Powder    175kg    R 3.75/kg 656.25

Labour

Mixing Department    1.5 Hours    R125/hour    187.50

Overheads:

Overheads are allocated based on actual labour hours.    175.00/hour    262.50

Total standard cost per unit 1,106.25

Budgeted fixed costs amounts to R175,000 per month.

The cost clerk provided you with the following actual information for the month.

   Per Unit    Price Total cost

Material: AC1032 Powder 185    R3.50/kg    809,375

Labour 2    R126.50/hour    316,250

Overheads    365,219

Fixed Costs    169,000

Production for the month was 1,250 units of compound.

Required:

1. Use standard cost variance analysis to analyse and explain the manufacturing variance. (Show all your calculations as method marks are being awarded)

2. Identify the two most important areas for management to focus on. Support your suggestion with reference to the relevant variance in point 1.

Answer 1

Material cost variance: standard cost- actual cost

Mcv per unit= (175*3.75) - ( 185* 3.5) = 8.75 per unit

Total MCV = 1250* 8.75 = -10937.5

Labour Cost variance= standard cost- actual cist

= (125*1.5) - ( 126.5*2) = -65.5 per unit

Total labour cost= 1250* -65.5 = -81875

Overhead variance= ( 1250*262.5)-365219 = -37094

Fixed overhead variance = 175000- 169000 = 6000

Total manufacturing variance = -10937.5-81875-37094+6000 = -102032

B. Company should focus on material usage variance and labour usage variances as material usage is more per unit and if labour usage is as per budget it will reduce both labour cost variance and overhead variance as well. As overheqd is directly linked eith labour hrs used.