Question

Problem 4.34 Product-Costing Accuracy, Corporate Strategy, ABC Autotech Manufacturing is engaged in the production of replacement parts for automobiles. One plant specializes in the production of two parts: Part #127 and Part #234, Part #127 pro- duced the highest volume of activity, and for many years it was the only part produced by the plant. Five years ago, Part #234 was added. Part #234 was more difficult to manufacture and required special tooling and setups. Profits increased for the first three years after the addition of the new product. In the last two years, however, the plant faced intense competition, and its sales of Part #127 dropped. In fact, the plant showed a small loss in the most recent reporting period. Much of the competition was from foreign sources, and the plant manager was convinced that the foreign producers were guilty of selling the part below the cost of producing it. The following conversation between Patty Goodson, plant manager, and Joseph Fielding, divisional marketing manager, reflects the concerns of the division about the future of the plant and its products. JOSEPH: You know, Patty, the divisional manager is real concerned about the plant's trend. He indicated that in this budgetary environment, we can't afford to carry plants that don't show a profit. We shut one down just last month because it couldn't handle the competition.

There is no 1 or 2, only 3-5

Answer 1

As the overhead cost per unit of Part #127 is less as per Activity Based Costing by approx $6.10 per unit which will bring down our production cost to approx $15 which will make feasible for us to sell the part at the market competitive price of $20. As per Activity Based costing our production price of Part #234 will increase by approx $31 which will make it non feasible to sell this product even after increasing selling price by 25%.