Question

Alternative Production Procedures and Operating Leverage Assume Sharpie, a brand of Newell Brands, is planning to introduce a new executive pen that can be manufactured using either a capital-intensive method or a labor-intensive method. The predicted manufacturing costs for each method are as follows: Capital Intensive Labor Intensive Direct materials per unit $ 10.00 $ 12.00 Direct labor per unit $ 4.00 $ 12.00 Variable manufacturing overhead per unit $ 5.00 $ 2.00 Fixed manufacturing overhead per year $ 1,800,000 $ 500,000 Sharpies market research department has recommended an introductory unit sales price of $100. The incremental selling costs are predicted to be $250,000 per year, plus $4 per unit sold. (a) Determine the annual break-even point in units if Sharpie uses the: Note: Round both answers UP to the nearest whole number.

Answer 1

Answer:

For Capital Incentive manufacturing method = 26,623 Units

For Labor Incentive manufacturing method = 10,714 Units

Explanation:

We are asked to find out the annual break - even point in units if Sharpie uses the Capital Intensive Method and Labour intensive Method.

Solution:

1. For Capital Intensive Method:

Direct Materials = 10

Direct Labor  = 4

Variable MOH  = 5

Variable Selling =  4

Total Variable Cost = T = 23  

Selling Price = P = 100

Contribution Margin = M = P-T = 77

Fixed Overhead:

Fixed MOH = 1800000

Fixed Selling costs = 250000

Total Fixed Costs  = 2050000

Break Even Point in Units = Total Fixed Cost / M  = 26623

2. For Labor Intensive Method:

Direct Materials = 12

Direct Labor  = 12

Variable MOH  = 2

Variable Selling =  4

Total Variable Cost = T = 30

Selling Price = P = 100

Contribution Margin = M = P-T = 70

Fixed Overhead:

Fixed MOH = 500000

Fixed Selling costs = 250000

Total Fixed Costs  = 750000

Break Even Point in Units = Total Fixed Cost / M  = 10714