Alexander Corporation Produces Flat-Screen Computer Monitors

question 27

Essay

Alexander Corporation produces flat-screen computer monitors. Consider the following selected costs that arose during the current year:
1. Direct materials used: $3,640,000
2. Plant rent, utilities, and taxes: $1,229,000
3. New technology design engineering: $2,040,000
4. Materials receiving: $318,000
5. Manufacturing-run/set-up charges: $115,000
6. Equipment depreciation: $92,000
7. General management salaries: $1,564,000
Required:
A. A batch-level activity is performed for each batch of products rather than for each unit. In contrast, a facility-level activity is required for an entire process to occur. Examples of the latter, which support the organization as a whole, include plant maintenance and property taxes.
A. Briefly distinguish between batch-level and facility-level activities.
B. Determine the cost of the firm's unit-level, batch-level, product-sustaining, and facility-level activities.
B. Unit-level: $3,640,000 (1)
Batch-level: $318,000 (4) + $115,000 (5) = $433,000
Product-sustaining: $2,040,000 (3)
Facility-level: $1,229,000 (2) + $92,000 (6) + $1,564,000 (7) = $2,885,000

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Definitions:

ABC System

Activity-Based Costing; a method of assigning overhead and indirect costs to specific products or projects, based on their usage of activities.

Single-Base Allocation

A cost allocation method where overhead costs are distributed based on a single criterion or cost driver.

Cost Difference

The variance between the actual cost and the standard or expected cost of an item or activity.

ABC System

Activity-Based Costing System, a method of assigning overhead and indirect costs to specific products and services based on their consumption of resources.