Chapter 23: Q2RQ (page 1305)
Explain the difference between a favorable and an unfavorable variance.
Short Answer
Answer
Favorable variance is suitable for a business entity, while unfavorable variance is not suitable for the business entity.
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Chapter 23: Q2RQ (page 1305)
Explain the difference between a favorable and an unfavorable variance.
Answer
Favorable variance is suitable for a business entity, while unfavorable variance is not suitable for the business entity.
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Question:Explain the difference between a cost standard and an efficiency standard. Give an example of each.
Question: List the variable overhead variances, and briefly describe each
Computing and journalizing standard cost variances
Middleton manufactures coffee mugs that it sells to other companies for customizing with their own logos. Middleton prepares flexible budgets and uses a standard cost system to control manufacturing costs. The standard unit cost of a coffee mug is based on static budget volume of 59,800 coffee mugs per month:
Direct Materials (0.2 lbs. @ \(0.25 per lb.) \) 0.05 Direct Labor (3 minutes @ \(0.14 per minute) 0.42 Manufacturing Overhead: Variable (3 minutes @ \)0.06 per minute) \( 0.18 Fixed (3 minutes @ \)0.13 per minute) 0.39 0.57 Total Cost per Coffee Mug \( 1.04 |
Actual cost and production information for July 2018 follows:
a. There were no beginning or ending inventory balances. All expenditures were on account.
b. Actual production and sales were 62,500 coffee mugs.
c. Actual direct materials usage was 11,000 lbs. at an actual cost of \)0.17 per lb.
d. Actual direct labor usage of 197,000 minutes at a cost of \(33,490.
e. Actual overhead cost was \)10,835 variable and \(29,965 fixed.
f. Selling and administrative costs were \)130,000.
Requirements
1. Compute the cost and efficiency variances for direct materials and direct labor.
2. Journalize the purchase and usage of direct materials and the assignment of direct
labor, including the related variances.
3. For manufacturing overhead, compute the variable overhead cost and efficiency variances and the fixed overhead cost and volume variances.
4. Journalize the actual manufacturing overhead and the allocated manufacturing overhead. Journalize the movement of all production from Work in Process Inventory. Journalize the adjusting of the Manufacturing Overhead account.
5. Middleton intentionally hired more highly skilled workers during July. How did this decision affect the cost variances? Overall, was the decision wise?
Question:Use the following information to prepare a standard cost income statement for Mitchell Company for 2018.
Cost of Goods Sold (at standard) \( 366,000
Direct Labor Efficiency Variance \) 19,500 F
Sales Revenue (at standard) 570,000
Variable Overhead Efficiency Variance 3,300 U
Direct Materials Cost Variance 7,200 U
Fixed Overhead Volume Variance 12,500 F
Direct Materials Efficiency Variance 2,700 U
Selling and Administrative Expenses 71,000
Direct Labor Cost Variance 42,000 U
Variable Overhead Cost Variance 1,700 F
Fixed Overhead Cost Variance 2,100 F
Drew Castello, general manager of Sunflower Manufacturing, was frustrated. He wanted the budgeted results, and his staff was not getting them to him fast enough. Drew decided to pay a visit to the accounting office, where Jeff Hollingsworth was supposed to be working on the reports. Jeff had recently been hired to update the accounting system and speed up the reporting process.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 taking so long?鈥 Drew asked. 鈥淲hen am I going to get the variance reports?鈥 Jeff sighed and attempted to explain the problem. 鈥淪ome of the variances appear to be way off. We either have a serious problem in production, or there is an error in the spreadsheet. I want to recheck the spreadsheet before I distribute the report.鈥 Drew pulled up a chair, and the two men went through the spreadsheet together. The formulas in the spreadsheet were correct and showed a large unfavorable direct labor efficiency variance. It was time for Drew and Jeff to do some investigating.
After looking at the time records, Jeff pointed out that it was unusual that every employee in the production area recorded exactly eight hours each day in direct labor. Did they not take breaks? Was no one ever five minutes late getting back from lunch? What about clean颅up time between jobs or at the end of the day?
Drew began to observe the production laborers and noticed several disturbing items. One employee was routinely late for work, but his time card always showed him clocked in on time. Another employee took 10颅 to 15颅minute breaks every hour, averaging about 1 hours each day, but still reported eight hours of direct labor each day. Yet another employee often took an extra 30 minutes for lunch, but his time card showed him clocked in on time. No one in the production area ever reported any 鈥渄own time鈥 when they were not working on a specific job, even though they all took breaks and completed other tasks such as doing clean颅up and attending department meetings.
Requirements
1. How might the observed behaviors cause an unfavorable direct labor efficiency variance?
2. How might an employee鈥檚 time card show the employee on the job and working when the team member was not present?
3. Why would the employees鈥 activities be considered fraudulent?
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