XYZ Industries manufactures electronic testing equipment. XYZ also installs the equipment at customers' sites and ensures that it functions smoothly. Additional information on the Manufacturing and Installation departments is as follows (capacities are expressed in terms of the number of units of electronic testing equipment):
Equipment Equipment
Manufactured Installed
Annual capacity 400 units per year 300 units per year
Equipment manufactured and installed 300 units per year 300 units per year
XYZ manufactures only 300 units per year because the Installation Department has only enough capacity to install 300 units. The equipment sells for $40,000 per unit (installed) and has direct materials costs of $15,000. All costs other than direct materials costs are fixed. The following requirements refer only to the preceding data. There is no connection between the requirements.
REQUIRED
1. XYZ's engineers have found a way to reduce equipment manufacturing time. The new method would cost an additional $50 per unit and would allow XYZ to manufacture 20 additional units a year. Should XYZ implement the new method? Show your calculations.
2. XYZ's designers have proposed a change in direct materials that would increase direct materials costs by $2,000 per unit. This change would enable XYZ to install 320 units of equipment each year. If XYZ makes the change, it will implement the new design on all equipments sold. Should XYZ use the new design? Show your calculations.
3. A new installation technique has been developed that will enable XYZ's engineers to install 10 additional units of equipment a year. The new method will increase installation costs by $50,000 each year. Should XYZ implement the new technique? Show your calculations.
4. XYZ is considering how to motivate workers to improve their productivity (output per hour). One proposal is to evaluate and compensate workers in the Manufacturing and Installation departments on the basis of their productivities. Do you think the new proposal is a good idea? Explains briefly.