Cost-of-Quality Improvement-Relevant Cost Analysis PIM Industries, Inc., manufactures elec- tronics components. Each unit costs $30 before the final test. The final test rejects, on average, 5 percent of the 50,000 units manufactured per year. The average rejection rate of the industry is 3 percent. A consultant has determined that poor lighting is the most likely cause of this high rejec- tion rate. It would cost $100,000 to install adequate lighting in the assembly department, which would be useful for 5 years. With adequate lighting that will cost an additional $5,000 in operating cost each year, the firm expects to reduce its rejection rate to no higher than the industry average.
Required
1. Should the firm install the lighting? (show calculations)
2. What other considerations might affect this decision?
3. What is the primary role of the management accountant in this decision context?