Demski Company Has Used a Two-Stage Cost Allocation System for Many

question 124

Essay

Demski Company has used a two-stage cost allocation system for many years. In the first stage, plant overhead costs are allocated to two production departments, P1 and P2, based on machine hours. In the second stage, Demski uses direct labor hours to assign overhead costs from the production departments to individual products A andB.
Budgeted factory overhead costs for the year are $300,000. Both the budgeted and actual machine hours in P1 and P2 are 12,000 and 28,000 hours, respectively.
After attending a seminar to learn the potential benefits of adopting an activity-based costing system (ABC), Ted Demski, the president of Demski Company, is considering implementing an ABC system. Upon his request, the controller at Demski Company has compiled the following information for analysis:
Demski manufactures two types of product, A and B, for which the following information is available:
Required:
1. Determine the unit cost for each of the two products using the traditional two-stage allocation method. Round calculations to 2 decimal places.
2. Determine the unit cost for each of the two products using the proposed ABC system.
3. Compare the unit manufacturing costs for product A and product B computed in requirements 1 and 2.
(a) Why do two the cost systems differ in their total cost for each product?
(b) Why might these differences be important to the Demski Company?
Answer may vary
Feedback: 1. Unit cost for each of two products using the traditional two-stage allocation method:

---

Definitions:

Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking skills involve the ability to analyze information objectively, evaluate arguments, identify biases, and make reasoned decisions.

Incubation

A stage in the creative problem-solving process during which an individual sets the problem aside and does not consciously think about it, often leading to a solution emerging spontaneously.

Prefrontal Cortex

A region of the frontal lobe of the brain associated with decision making, cognitive behavior, personality expression, and social behavior.

Right-hemisphere Lesion

Damage to the right side of the brain, which can impact various functions such as spatial abilities, recognition of faces, and processing of visual imagery.