Labor costs of an auto repair mechanic are seldom based on actual hours worked. Instead, this labor cost is based on an industry average of
time estimated to complete a repair job. This means a customer can pay, for example, $120 for two hours of work on a car when the actual time worked was
only one hour. Many experienced mechanics can complete repair jobs faster than the industry average. Assume that you are asked to complete such a survey
for a repair center. The survey calls for objective input, and many questions require detailed cost data and analysis. The mechanics and owners knowyou have the survey and encourage you to complete it in a way that increases the average billable hours for repair work.
Required
Write a one-page memorandum to the mechanics and owners that describes the direct labor analysis you will undertake in completing this survey.
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 21 Solutions
Connect Access Card For Fundamental Accounting Principles
- Finch Construction Company is a building contractor specializing in small commercial buildings. The company has the opportunity to accept one of two jobs; it cannot accept both because they must be performed at the same time and Finch does not have the necessary labor force for both jobs. Indeed, it will be necessary to hire a new supervisor if either job is accepted. Furthermore, additional insurance will be required if either job is accepted. The revenue and costs associated with each job follow. Cost Category Contract price Unit-level materials. Unit-level labor Unit-level overhead Supervisor's salary Rental equipment costs Depreciation on tools (zero market value) Allocated portion of company-wide facility-sustaining Insurance cost for job Required Required A B costs Required a. Assume that Finch has decided to accept one of the two jobs. Fill in the information relevant to selecti versus the other. Recommend which job to accept. one job b. Assume that Job A is no longer available.…arrow_forwardFinch Construction Company is a building contractor specializing in small commercial buildings. The company has the opportunity to accept one of two jobs; it cannot accept both because they must be performed at the same time and Finch does not have the necessary labor force for both jobs. Indeed, it will be necessary to hire a new supervisor if either job is accepted. Furthermore, additional insurance will be required if either job is accepted. The revenue and costs associated with each job follow. Cost Category Contract price Unit-level materials. Unit-level labor Unit-level overhead Supervisor's salary Rental equipment costs Depreciation on tools (zero market value) Allocated portion of company-wide facility-sustaining costs Insurance cost for job Required Assume that Finch has decided to accept one of the two jobs. Fill in the information relevant to selecti versus the other. Recommend which job to accept. Required Required A B one job b. Assume that Job A is no longer available.…arrow_forwardFanning Construction Company is a building contractor specializing in small commercial buildings. The company has the opportunity to accept one of two Jobs; it cannot accept both because they must be performed at the same time and Fanning does not have the necessary labor force for both jobs. Indeed, it will be necessary to hire a new supervisor If either job is accepted. Furthermore, additional Insurance will be required if elther job is accepted. The revenue and costs associated with each job follow. Cost Category Contract price Unit-level materials. Unit-level labor Unit-level overhead Supervisor's salary Rental equipment costs Depreciation on tools (zero market value) Allocated portion of companywide facility-sustaining costs Insurance cost for job Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required A Required a. Assume that Fanning has decided to accept one of the two Jobs. Fill in the information relevant to selecting one job versus the other. Recommend…arrow_forward
- A&R Quality Advisors is a small consulting firm offering quality audits and advising services to small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. Quality audits entail reviewing, checking, and documenting quality practices within a firm. Quality advising entails making recommendations for new or revised quality practices. Other firms in the area offer one or both of these services, although the competition for quality audit jobs is stronger than for quality advising. In addition to senior executives, A&R employees are either staff or managers. Staff employees are usually younger with less experience. Managers, who oversee the staff on jobs, are more experienced. The average hourly wage is $60 for staff and $150 for managers. (Both staff and managers are paid an annual salary; these hourly costs are based on 2,000 average annual hours worked.) Staff are expected to spend at least 90 percent of their time on billable work. Because of administrative work associated with supervising the staff and…arrow_forwardHorton Manufacturing Incorporated produces blinds and other window treatments for residential homes and offices. The owner is concerned about the maintenance costs for the production machinery because maintenance costs for the previous fiscal year were higher than he expected. The owner has asked you to assist in estimating future maintenance costs to better predict the firm's profitability. Together, you have determined that the best cost driver for maintenance costs is machine hours. The data from the previous fiscal year for maintenance costs and machine hours follow: Month Maintenance Costs Machine Hours $ 2,665 2,710 2,760 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 2,860 2,895 Maintenance cost 3,045 2,905 2,945 2,820 2,610 2,630 2,930 1,566 1,670 1,685 1,735 1,855 1,890 1,865 1,885 1,775 1,450 1,630 1,465 Required: 1. Use the high-low method to estimate the fixed and variable portions for maintenance costs. (In your calculations, round "slope (unit variable cost)" to 4 decimal places. Enter the…arrow_forwardHorton Manufacturing Incorporated produces blinds and other window treatments for residential homes and offices. The owner is concerned about the maintenance costs for the production machinery because maintenance costs for the previous fiscal year were higher than he expected. The owner has asked you to assist in estimating future maintenance costs to better predict the firm's profitability. Together, you have determined that the best cost driver for maintenance costs is machine hours. The data from the previous fiscal year for maintenance costs and machine hours follow: Month Maintenance Costs Machine Hours $ 2,695 2,740 2,790 2,890 2,925 3,025 2,935 1 2 3 4 56789012 10 11 2,975 2,850 2,640 2,660 2,960 Maintenance cost 1,620 1,730 1,745 1,795 1,790 1,890 1,810 1,845 1,835 1,480 1,690 1,495 Required: 1. Use the high-low method to estimate the fixed and variable portions for maintenance costs. (In your calculations, round "slope (uni variable cost)" to 4 decimal places. Enter the "slope…arrow_forward
- Classify the above cost as either, direct materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, selling expense, or administrative expensearrow_forwardHorton Manufacturing Incorporated produces blinds and other window treatments for residential homes and offices. The owner is concerned about the maintenance costs for the production machinery because maintenance costs for the previous fiscal year were higher than he expected. The owner has asked you to assist in estimating future maintenance costs to better predict the firm's profitability. Together, you have determined that the best cost driver for maintenance costs is machine hours. The data from the previous fiscal year for maintenance costs and machine hours follow: Month 1 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Maintenance Costs Machine Hours $ 2,665 2,710 2,760 2,860 2,895 3,045 2,905 2,945 2,820 2,610 2,630 2,930 Maintenance cost 1,566 1,670 1,685 1,735 1,855 1,890 1,865 1,885 1,775 1,450 1,630 1,465 Required: 1. Use the high-low method to estimate the fixed and variable portions for maintenance costs. (In your calculations, round "slope (unit variable cost)" to 4 decimal places. Enter the…arrow_forwardAs part of his cost-reduction efforts, Fletch is interested in reducing labor costs. He asks you to evaluate the financial impact of a proposal involving an alternative labor contract for manual finishing labor (MAN-5). Under the proposed contract, the company would guarantee a 40-hour workweek for these employees. The hourly wage under the guaranteed 40-hour workweek would be $14 instead of $15. Based on the number of MAN-5 employees that the company plans to employ, this means that the company is committed to paying its MAN-5 employees for 1,600 hours each month, even if there is not enough work to keep them busy. If the number of MAN-5 labor hours per month is higher than 1,600 hours, MAN-5 employees will receive time-and-a-half overtime pay. MACH-2 labor hours will not be impacted. To fulfil Fletch’s request, first, insert a new worksheet at the end of the Excel template and set up a new direct labor budget (only for MAN-5). Then, answer the following questions: a. Calculate the…arrow_forward
- A customer has expressed interest in having CH build a moderate, 3,000 quare-foot home on a vacant lot, which does no have utilities. Based on the engineering estimates above, what will such a house cost to build?arrow_forwardVishnuarrow_forwardSeveral important assumptions underlie CVP analysis. Assumptions often help simplify and focus our analysis of sales and costs. A common application of CVP analysis is as a tool to forecast sales, costs, and income. Required Assume that you are actively searching for a job. Prepare a half-page report identifying (1) three assumptions relating to your expected revenue (salary) and (2) three assumptions relating to your expected costs for the first year of your new job. Be prepared to discuss your assumptions in class.arrow_forward
- Principles of Accounting Volume 2AccountingISBN:9781947172609Author:OpenStaxPublisher:OpenStax CollegeCornerstones of Cost Management (Cornerstones Ser...AccountingISBN:9781305970663Author:Don R. Hansen, Maryanne M. MowenPublisher:Cengage Learning