MiniTek manufactures private-label small electronic products, such as alarm clocks, calculators, kitchen timers, stop watches, and automatic pencil sharpeners. Some of the products are sold as a set, and others are sold individually. Products are studied as to their sales potential, and then cost estimates are made. The engineering Department develops production plans, and then cost estimates are made. The Engineering Department develops product introductions. Only two products introduced by the company have been discontinued.   One of the products currently sold is a mini-alarm clock. The clock has four alarms and can be programmed to sound at various times and for varying lengths of time. The company has experienced a great deal of difficulty in making circuit boards for the clocks. The production process has never operated smoothly. The production is unprofitable at the present time, primarily because of warranty repairs and product recalls. Two models of the clocks were recalled, for example, because they sometimes cause an electrical shock when the alarms were being shut off. The Engineering Department is attempting to revise the manufacturing process, but the revision will take another 6 months at least.   The clocks were very popular when they were introduced, and since they are private label, the company has not suffered much from the recalls. Presently, the company has a very large order for several items from Kmart Stores. The order includes 5,000 of the multi-alarm clocks. When the company suggested that Kmart purchase the clock from another manufacturer, Kmart threatened to rescind the entire order unless the clock were included.   The company has therefore investigated the possibility of having another company make the clocks for them. The clocks were bid for the Kmart order based on an estimated $6.90 cost to manufacture: Circuit Board, 1 each @ $2.00            $2.00 Plastic Case, 1 each @ $0.80              0.08 Alarms, 4 @ $0.15 each                      0.60 Labor, 15minutes @ 12/hour             3.00 Overhead, $2.00 per labor hour         0.50   MiniTek could purchase the clocks to fill the Kmart order at $10 from Trans-Tech Asia, a Korean manufacturer with a very good quality record, Trans-Tech has offered to reduce the price to $7.50 after MiniTek has been a customer for 6 months, placing an order of at least 1,000 units per month. If MiniTek becomes a “preferred customer” by purchasing 15,000 units per year, the price would be reduced still further to $4.50.   Omega Products, a local manufacturing, has also offered to make clocks for MiniTek. They have offered to sell $5,000 clocks for $5 each. However, Omega Products has been in business for only 6 months. They have experienced significant turnover in their labor force, and the local press has reported that the owner may face tax evasion charges soon. The owner of Omega Products is an electronic engineer, however, and the quality of the clocks is likely to be good.   If MiniTek decides to purchase the clocks from either Trans-Tech or Omega, all the costs to manufacture could be avoided, except a total of $5,000 in overhead costs for machine depreciation. The machinery is fairly new and has no alternative use.   Instructions Answer the following questions   What is the difference in profit under each of the alternatives if the clocks are to be sold for $14.50 each to Kmart? What are the most important nonfinancial factors that MiniTek should consider when making this decision? What do you think MiniTek should do in regard to the Kmart order? What should it do in regard to continuing to manufacture the multi-alarm clocks? Be prepared to defend your answer.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
10th Edition
ISBN:9781259964947
Author:Libby
Publisher:Libby
Chapter1: Financial Statements And Business Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1Q
icon
Related questions
Question

MiniTek manufactures private-label small electronic products, such as alarm clocks, calculators, kitchen timers, stop watches, and automatic pencil sharpeners. Some of the products are sold as a set, and others are sold individually. Products are studied as to their sales potential, and then cost estimates are made. The engineering Department develops production plans, and then cost estimates are made. The Engineering Department develops product introductions. Only two products introduced by the company have been discontinued.

 

One of the products currently sold is a mini-alarm clock. The clock has four alarms and can be programmed to sound at various times and for varying lengths of time. The company has experienced a great deal of difficulty in making circuit boards for the clocks. The production process has never operated smoothly. The production is unprofitable at the present time, primarily because of warranty repairs and product recalls. Two models of the clocks were recalled, for example, because they sometimes cause an electrical shock when the alarms were being shut off. The Engineering Department is attempting to revise the manufacturing process, but the revision will take another 6 months at least.

 

The clocks were very popular when they were introduced, and since they are private label, the company has not suffered much from the recalls. Presently, the company has a very large order for several items from Kmart Stores. The order includes 5,000 of the multi-alarm clocks. When the company suggested that Kmart purchase the clock from another manufacturer, Kmart threatened to rescind the entire order unless the clock were included.

 

The company has therefore investigated the possibility of having another company make the clocks for them. The clocks were bid for the Kmart order based on an estimated $6.90 cost to manufacture:

Circuit Board, 1 each @ $2.00            $2.00

Plastic Case, 1 each @ $0.80              0.08

Alarms, 4 @ $0.15 each                      0.60

Labor, 15minutes @ 12/hour             3.00

Overhead, $2.00 per labor hour         0.50

 

MiniTek could purchase the clocks to fill the Kmart order at $10 from Trans-Tech Asia, a Korean manufacturer with a very good quality record, Trans-Tech has offered to reduce the price to $7.50 after MiniTek has been a customer for 6 months, placing an order of at least 1,000 units per month. If MiniTek becomes a “preferred customer” by purchasing 15,000 units per year, the price would be reduced still further to $4.50.

 

Omega Products, a local manufacturing, has also offered to make clocks for MiniTek. They have offered to sell $5,000 clocks for $5 each. However, Omega Products has been in business for only 6 months. They have experienced significant turnover in their labor force, and the local press has reported that the owner may face tax evasion charges soon. The owner of Omega Products is an electronic engineer, however, and the quality of the clocks is likely to be good.

 

If MiniTek decides to purchase the clocks from either Trans-Tech or Omega, all the costs to manufacture could be avoided, except a total of $5,000 in overhead costs for machine depreciation. The machinery is fairly new and has no alternative use.

 

Instructions

Answer the following questions

 

  1. What is the difference in profit under each of the alternatives if the clocks are to be sold for $14.50 each to Kmart?
  2. What are the most important nonfinancial factors that MiniTek should consider when making this decision?
  3. What do you think MiniTek should do in regard to the Kmart order? What should it do in regard to continuing to manufacture the multi-alarm clocks? Be prepared to defend your answer.

 

 

 

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 4 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Discontinuing operations for a product or a service line
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, accounting and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259964947
Author:
Libby
Publisher:
MCG
Accounting
Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337272094
Author:
WARREN, Carl S., Reeve, James M., Duchac, Jonathan E.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337619202
Author:
Hall, James A.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
Horngren's Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis…
Horngren's Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis…
Accounting
ISBN:
9780134475585
Author:
Srikant M. Datar, Madhav V. Rajan
Publisher:
PEARSON
Intermediate Accounting
Intermediate Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259722660
Author:
J. David Spiceland, Mark W. Nelson, Wayne M Thomas
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259726705
Author:
John J Wild, Ken W. Shaw, Barbara Chiappetta Fundamental Accounting Principles
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education