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Use the Following to Answer the Questions

question 215

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Use the following to answer the questions.
GE Transportation produces locomotive engines for sale in countries around the world. After looking at the total market for locomotive engines, the company found that various rail lines wanted different types of engines. Major rail lines in the U.S. and South America wanted engines to haul heavy freight. Rail lines in Sweden and Germany were interested in a cleaner, greener locomotive engine. Rail lines operated by several Eastern European countries wanted locomotive engines for running short distances between cities in their own country. GE Transportation is currently manufacturing its GE 4400 for heavy freight, its Hybrid Eco-Engine, and its Dash 9, suited for shortline transport.
Refer to Scenario 5.2. If a GE Transportation researcher analyzes monthly sales data for a four-year time frame, looking for periodic fluctuations, the researcher is doing a ____ analysis.

Definitions:

Direct Labor Rate Variance

The difference between the actual cost of labor and the expected (or standard) cost, used in budgeting and cost management.

Actual Costs

The expenses that a company has truly incurred as opposed to estimated or budgeted amounts.

Standard Costs

Predetermined costs for products or services, used as a benchmark to measure actual performance and manage budgets.

Direct Materials

Raw materials that can be directly attributed to the production of specific goods or products, unlike indirect materials which cannot be directly linked to production.