Accounting Costs - SunAir Boat Case
The following table shows details of SunAir Boat Builder's molding department's direct cost and overhead variances:
SunAir Boat Builders, Inc.
Detailed Cost Comparison (per boat hull)
Unit Cost per Unit Cost Actual Price Usage Amount Standard Actual Variance Quantity Variance Materials Glass Cloth (sq. ft.) 120 $
Glass Mix (lbs.) 40 $
Unit Cost per Unit Cost Actual Rate Efficiency Amount Standard Actual Variance Quantity Variance Direct Labor Mixing (hrs.) 0.5 $
Molding (hrs.) 1.0 $
Cost (hull) 1 $
The variances observed in the table above can be traced directly to the complexities of the mixing and molding procedure. Production of boat hulls, by its very nature, requires "a great deal of expertise, or 'eyeball'" according to the case study. The following are listed as factors which can affect this process: "too much or too little catalyst...too much or too little heat...failure to allow proper time for curing... [and]...spending too much time on adjustments to mixing or molding equipment." Therefore, care has to be taken to make sure that both materials (glass cloth and mix) and supervision...
Unfortunately, variances did arise between the standard and actual costs.
In the materials category, more glass cloth (126 vs. 120 square feet) and mix (44 vs. 40 pounds) had to be used than expected. Also in the category of materials, although the cost per square foot of the glass cloth went down slightly (to $1.80 per square foot), the cost of the glass mix went up (to $4.09 per pound). In the labor category, although mixing took about as long as expected (.5 hours.), molding took.12 hours more time. In addition, the amount paid to labor for mixing rose to $21.37 from $20.25. And finally, the overhead costs were higher, having increased from $24.30 per boat to $25.91.
Question Two
Considering the business situation of SunAir, the setting of standard costs was the right choice to make. The nature of their product line dictated a seasonal production schedule. And in an effort to enhance "credibility with the bankers," improve general operations and possibly expand operations to include other sizes of boat to the product line, a well founded cost accounting system was vital. The company then decided to institute a standard cost system "to help control costs and to provide…
