Question: A manufacturing company with a single product has the following sales and production results over three financial periods:
Period 1 Period 2 Period 3
000 units 000 units 000 units
Sales 50 60 40
Production 70 40 60
The selling price per unit has remained at £1 0, and direct material and direct labour costs per unit at £5. All manufacturing overheads are absorbed into product cost at predetermined rates per unit of output. Any under/over absorbed balances are transferred to profit and loss in the period in which they arise. Variable manufacturing overhead absorption was predetermined at a rate of £1 per unit in each period. Fixed manufacturing overheads were expected to be £180,000 per period. Normal capacity is 60,000 units of output per period, Manufacturing overheads actually incurred were as follows:
Period 1 Period 2 Period 3
£000 £000 £000
Variable 68 45 60
Fixed 180 180 180
Assume that no further overheads are incurred (i.e., other than manufacturing overheads).
Required: (a) Calculate the expected break-even point per period.
(b) Calculate the profit/loss that arose in each of the three periods.
(c) Reconcile your answers to (a) and (b) above, clearly demonst rating, explaining fully the reasons for, and commenting briefly upon, any differences encountered.