Complete Question:
Brik Products, located in Atlanta, Georgia, produces two lines of electric toothbrushes: Deluxe and Standard. Because Brik can sell all the toothbrushes it produces, the owners are expanding the plant. They are deciding which product line to emphasize. To make this decision, they assemble the following data:
Per Unit
Deluxe Toothbrush Standard Toothbrush
Sales price $94 $54
Variable expenses 22 16
Contribution margin $72 $36
Contribution margin ratio 75.5% 70.4%
After expansion, the factory will have a production capacity of 4.200 machine hours per month. The plant can manufacture either 68 Standard electric toothbrushes or 26 Deluxe electric toothbrushes per machine hour.
Requirements:
1. Identify the constraining factor for Brik Products.
2. Prepare an analysis to show which product line to emphasize.
Answer:
Brik Products
1. The constraining factor for Brik Products is the 4,200 machine hours.
2. Analysis to show which product line to emphasize:
Product Mix Analysis
Deluxe Standard
Sale price $94 $54
Variable expense 22 16
Contribution margin per unit $72 $38
Number of toothbrushes per hour 26 68
Total contribution margin per hour $1,872 $2,584
Decision: Brik Products should emphasize the production and sale of the Standard electric toothbrushes as this rakes in more contribution per the constraining factor, i.e. machine hours.
Explanation:
a) Data and Calculations:
Deluxe Standard
Sale price $94 $54
Variable expense 22 16
Contribution margin per unit 72 38 (not $36)
Contribution margin ratio 76.6% (not 75.5%) 70.4%
Number of toothbrushes per hour 26 68
Machine hours available = 4,200 hours
b) Analysis:
For Brik Products, the contribution margin per machine hour = contribution per unit x units per hour. Brik will generate a total contribution margin per product line without producing the other that is equal to the contribution margin per machine hour multiplied by total machine hours.
Assuming that Brik Products concentrates on the production of the standard electric toothbrushes alone, it will generate a total contribution margin of $10,852,800 ($2,584 x 4,200) as against the total contribution margin of $7,862,400 ($1,872 x 4,200) to be generated if only Deluxe electric toothbrushes are produced.
