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HARTSELL MANUFACTURING has discovered that a small fitting it now manufactures a

ID: 2466187 • Letter: H

Question

HARTSELL MANUFACTURING has discovered that a small fitting it now manufactures at a cost of $1.00 per unit could be bought elsewhere for $0.82 per unit. HARTSELL MANUFACTURING has fixed costs of $0.20 per unit that cannot be eliminated by buying this unit. HARTSELL MANUFACTURING needs 460,000 of these units each year.

If HARTSELL MANUFACTURING decides to buy rather than produce the small fitting, it can devote the machinery and labor to making a timing unit it now buys from another company. HARTSELL MANUFACTURING uses approximately 500 of these units each year. The cost of the unit is $12.66. To aid in the production of this unit, HARTSELL MANUFACTURING would need to purchase a new machine at a cost of $2,345, and the cost of producing the units would be $9.90 a unit.

Given the information above:

(a) Without considering the possibility of making the timing unit, evaluate whether HARTSELL MANUFACTURING should buy or continue to make the small fitting.

(b) (1) What is HARTSELL MANUFACTURING’ opportunity cost if it chooses to buy the small fitting and start manufacturing the timing unit? (2) Would it be wise for HARTSELL MANUFACTURING to buy the fitting and manufacture the timing unit? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

a.

Evaluation of Make or buy proposal Without considering the possibility of making the timing unit:

Make

Buy

Variable Manufacturing Cost (460000* (1-0.20)

$368,000

Fixed Manufacturing Cost (460000*0.20)

$ 92,000

$ 92,000

Cost of Purchase (460000*0.82)

$377,200

Total Costs

$460,000

$469,200

Total Cost under Make option is lower, hence we should make the product.

b (1)

Calculation of opportunity cost if it chooses to buy the small fitting and start manufacturing the timing unit:

Saving in Cost of timing unit = 500 units * (12.66-9.9)

$    1,380

Less: Cost of new machine

$    2,345

Opportunity cost (loss)

$      965

b (2)

Evaluation of Make or buy proposal considering the possibility of making the timing unit:

Make

Buy

Variable Manufacturing Cost (460000* (1-0.20)

$368,000

Fixed Manufacturing Cost (460000*0.20)

$ 92,000

$ 92,000

Cost of Purchase (460000*0.82)

$377,200

Opportunity Cost

$      965

Total Costs

$460,000

$470,165

Total Cost under Make option is lower, hence we should make the product. .Hence it would not be wise for HARTSELL MANUFACTURING to buy the fitting and manufacture the timing unit

a.

Evaluation of Make or buy proposal Without considering the possibility of making the timing unit:

Make

Buy

Variable Manufacturing Cost (460000* (1-0.20)

$368,000

Fixed Manufacturing Cost (460000*0.20)

$ 92,000

$ 92,000

Cost of Purchase (460000*0.82)

$377,200

Total Costs

$460,000

$469,200

Total Cost under Make option is lower, hence we should make the product.

b (1)

Calculation of opportunity cost if it chooses to buy the small fitting and start manufacturing the timing unit:

Saving in Cost of timing unit = 500 units * (12.66-9.9)

$    1,380

Less: Cost of new machine

$    2,345

Opportunity cost (loss)

$      965

b (2)

Evaluation of Make or buy proposal considering the possibility of making the timing unit:

Make

Buy

Variable Manufacturing Cost (460000* (1-0.20)

$368,000

Fixed Manufacturing Cost (460000*0.20)

$ 92,000

$ 92,000

Cost of Purchase (460000*0.82)

$377,200

Opportunity Cost

$      965

Total Costs

$460,000

$470,165

Total Cost under Make option is lower, hence we should make the product. .Hence it would not be wise for HARTSELL MANUFACTURING to buy the fitting and manufacture the timing unit