Variable Costing: A Tool For Management: Chapter Seven

Variable Costing:
A Tool for Management
Chapter Seven
McGrawHill/Irwin Copyright2008,TheMcGrawHillCompanies,Inc.
7-2
Learning Objective 1
Explain how variable

costing differs from
absorption costing and
compute unit product
costs under each method.
7-3
Overview of Absorption
and Variable Costing
Absorption Variable
Costing Costing
Direct Materials
Product
Product Direct Labor
Costs
Costs Variable Manufacturing Overhead
Fixed Manufacturing Overhead

Period
Period Variable Selling and Administrative Expenses
Costs
Costs Fixed Selling and Administrative Expenses
7-4
Quick Check
Which
Which method
method will
will produce
produce the
the highest
highest values
values for
for
work
work in
in process
process and
and finished
finished goods
goods inventories?
inventories?
a.
a. Absorption
Absorption costing.
costing.
b.
b. Variable
Variable costing.
costing.
c.
c. They
They produce
produce the
the same
same values
values for
for these
these
inventories.
inventories.
d.
d. ItIt depends.
depends. .. ..
7-5
Unit Cost Computations
Harvey Company produces a single product

with the following information available:
Number
Number ofofunits
unitsproduced
produced annually
annually 25,000
25,000
Variable
Variable costs
costsper
per unit:
unit:
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor,
labor,
and
and variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10
Selling
Selling &&administrative
administrative expenses
expenses $$ 33
Fixed
Fixed costs
costsper
per year:
year:
Manufacturing
Manufacturing overhead
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
expenses $$100,000
100,000
7-6
Unit product cost is determined as follows:

Absorption
Absorption Variable
Variable
Costing
Costing Costing
Costing
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor,
labor,
and
and variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10 $$ 10
10
Fixed
Fixed mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead
($150,000
($150,00025,000
25,000units)
units) 66 --
Unit
Unitproduct
productcost
cost $$ 16
16 $$ 10
10
Under absorption costing, selling and

administrative expenses are
always treated as period expenses and
deducted from revenue as incurred.
7-7
Prepare income
statements using both
variable and absorption
costing.
7-8
Income Comparison of
Absorption and Variable Costing
Lets assume the following additional

information for Harvey Company.
20,000 units were sold during the year at a price of
$30 each.
There were no units in beginning inventory.
Now, lets compute net operating

income using both absorption
and variable costing.
7-9
Absorption Costing
Absorption
AbsorptionCosting
Costing
Sales
Sales(20,000
(20,000$30)
$30) $$600,000
600,000
Less
Lesscost
costof
ofgoods
goodssold:
sold:
Beginning
Beginninginventory
inventory $$ --
Add
AddCOGM
COGM(25,000
(25,000 $16)
$16) 400,000
400,000
Goods
Goodsavailable
available for
forsale
sale 400,000
400,000
Ending
Endinginventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000 $16)
$16) 80,000
80,000 320,000
320,000
Gross
Grossmargin
margin 280,000
280,000
Less
Lessselling
selling&&admin.
admin.exp.
exp.
Variable
Variable (20,000
(20,000$3)
$3) $$ 60,000
60,000
Fixed
Fixed 100,000
100,000 160,000
160,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$120,000
120,000
7-10
Variable Costing
Variable
manufacturing
Variable
VariableCosting
Costing
costs only.
Sales
Sales(20,000
(20,000$30)
$30) $$600,000
600,000
Less
Lessvariable
variableexpenses:
expenses:
Beginning
Beginninginventory
inventory $$ --
Add
All fixed
AddCOGM
COGM(25,000
(25,000$10)
$10) 250,000
250,000 manufacturing
Goods
Goodsavailable
availableforforsale
sale 250,000
250,000
Less overhead is
Lessending
endinginventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000$10)
$10) 50,000
50,000
Variable expensed.
Variablecost
costofofgoods
goodssold
sold 200,000
200,000
Variable
Variableselling
selling&&administrative
administrative
expenses
expenses(20,000
(20,000$3)$3) 60,000
60,000 260,000
260,000
Contribution
Contributionmargin
margin 340,000
340,000
Less
Lessfixed
fixedexpenses:
expenses:
Manufacturing
Manufacturingoverhead
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
Selling&&administrative
administrativeexpenses
expenses 100,000
100,000 250,000
250,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$ 90,000
90,000
7-11
Reconcile variable costing

and absorption costing net
operating incomes and
explain why the two
amounts differ.
7-12
Comparing the Two Methods
Cost
Costof
of
Goods
Goods Ending
Ending Period
Period
Sold
Sold Inventory
Inventory Expense
Expense Total
Total
Absorption
Absorptioncosting
costing
Variable
Variable mfg.
mfg.costs
costs $$200,000
200,000 $$ 50,000
50,000 $$ -- $$250,000
250,000
Fixed
Fixedmfg.
mfg.costs
costs 120,000
120,000 30,000
30,000 -- 150,000
150,000
$$320,000
320,000 $$ 80,000
80,000 $$ -- $$400,000
400,000
Variable
Variable costing
costing
Variable
Variable mfg.
mfg.costs
costs $$200,000
200,000 $$ 50,000
50,000 $$ -- $$250,000
250,000
Fixed
Fixedmfg.
mfg.costs
costs -- -- 150,000
150,000 150,000
150,000
$$200,000
200,000 $$ 50,000
50,000 $$150,000
150,000 $$400,000
400,000
7-13
We can reconcile the difference between

absorption and variable income as follows:
Variable
Variable costing
costingnet
netoperating
operatingincome
income $$ 90,000
90,000
Add:
Add:Fixed
Fixedmfg.
mfg. overhead
overheadcosts
costs
deferred
deferredin
ininventory
inventory
(5,000
(5,000units
units $6
$6per
perunit)
unit) 30,000
30,000
Absorption
Absorptioncosting
costingnet
netoperating
operatingincome
income $$ 120,000
120,000
Fixed mfg. Overhead $150,000

= = $6.00 per unit
Units produced 25,000 units
Extended Comparisons of Income Data
7-14
Harvey Company Year Two
Number
Number of ofunits
unitsproduced
produced 25,000
25,000
Number
Number of ofunits
unitssold
sold 30,000
30,000
Units
Unitsinin beginning
beginning inventory
inventory 5,000
5,000
Unit
Unitsales
salesprice
price $$ 30
30
Variable
Variable costs
costsper
per unit:
unit:
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor
labor
variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10
Selling
administrative
expenses
expenses $$ 33
Fixed
Fixed costs
costsper
per year:
year:
Manufacturing
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
administrative
expenses
expenses $$100,000
100,000
7-15
Absorption
Absorption Variable
Variable
Costing
Costing Costing
Costing
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor,
labor,
and
and variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10 $$ 10
10
Fixed
Fixed mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead
($150,000
($150,00025,000
25,000units)
units) 66 --
Unit
Unitproduct
productcost
cost $$ 16
16 $$ 10
10
Since there was no change in the variable costs

per unit, total fixed costs, or the number of
units produced, the unit costs remain unchanged.
7-16
Absorption Costing
Absorption
AbsorptionCosting
Costing
Sales
Sales(30,000
(30,000 $30)
$30) $$900,000
900,000
Less
Lesscost
costofofgoods
goodssold:
sold:
Beg.
Beg. inventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000 $16)
$16) $$ 80,000
80,000
Add
AddCOGM
COGM (25,000
(25,000 $16)
$16) 400,000
400,000
Goods
Goodsavailable
available for
forsale
sale 480,000
480,000
Less
Lessending
endinginventory
inventory -- 480,000
480,000
Gross
Grossmargin
margin 420,000
420,000
Less
Lessselling
selling &&admin.
admin. exp.
exp.
Variable
Variable (30,000
(30,000 $3)
$3) $$ 90,000
90,000
Fixed
Fixed 100,000
100,000 190,000
190,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$230,000
230,000
These are the 25,000 units
produced in the current period.
7-17
Variable Costing
Variable
manufacturing
costs only. Variable Costing
Variable Costing
Sales
Sales(30,000
(30,000 $30)
$30) $$900,000
900,000
Less
Lessvariable
variable expenses:
expenses:
Beg.
Beg. inventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000 $10)
$10) $$ 50,000
50,000
Add
AddCOGM
COGM(25,000
(25,000 $10)
$10) 250,000
250,000 All fixed
Goods
Goodsavailable
available forforsale
sale 300,000
Less
Lessending
endinginventory
inventory --
overhead is
Variable cost of goods
Variable cost of goods sold sold 300,000
300,000 expensed.
Variable
Variable selling
administrative
expenses
expenses(30,000
(30,000 $3)
$3) 90,000
90,000 390,000
390,000
Contribution
Contributionmargin
margin 510,000
510,000
Less
Lessfixed
fixedexpenses:
expenses:
Manufacturing
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
expenses 100,000
100,000 250,000
250,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$260,000
260,000
7-18
We can reconcile the difference between

absorption and variable income as follows:
Variable costing net operating income $ 260,000

Deduct: Fixed manufacturing overhead
costs released from inventory
(5,000 units $6 per unit) 30,000
Absorption costing net operating income $ 230,000
Fixed mfg. Overhead $150,000

= = $6.00 per unit
Units produced 25,000 units
7-19
Costing Method 1st Period 2nd Period Total

Absorption $ 120,000 $ 230,000 $ 350,000
Variable 90,000 260,000 350,000
7-20
Summary of Key Insights
Relation between Effect Relation between

production on variable and
and sales iniventory absorption income
Inventory Absorption
Production > Sales increases >
Variable
Inventory Absorption
Production < Sales decreases <
Variable
Absorption
Production = Sales No change =
Variable
7-21
Effect of Changes in Production
on Net Operating Income
Lets
Lets revise
revise the
the Harvey
Harvey Company
Company example.
example.
In the previous example,

25,000 units were produced each year,
but sales increased from 20,000 units in year
one to 30,000 units in year two.
In this revised example,

production will differ each year while
sales will remain constant.
7-22
Harvey Company Year One
Number
Number of ofunits
unitsproduced
produced 30,000
30,000
Number
Number of ofunits
unitssold
sold 25,000
25,000
Unit
Unitsales
salesprice
price $$ 30
30
Variable
Variable costs
costsper
perunit:
unit:
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor
labor
variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10
Selling
administrative
expenses
expenses $$ 33
Fixed
Fixed costs
costsper
per year:
year:
Manufacturing
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
administrative
expenses
expenses $$100,000
100,000
7-23
Unit Cost Computations for Year One
Absorption
Absorption Variable
Variable
Costing
Costing Costing
Costing
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor,
labor,
and
and variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10 $$ 10
10
Fixed
Fixed mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead
($150,000
($150,00030,000
30,000units)
units) 55 --
Unit
Unitproduct
productcost
cost $$ 15
15 $$ 10
10
Since
Since the
the number
number of of units
units produced
produced increased
increased
in
in this
this example,
example, while
while the
the fixed
fixed manufacturing
manufacturing overhead
overhead
remained
remained thethe same,
same, thethe absorption
absorption unit
unit cost
cost is
is less.
less.
7-24
Absorption Costing: Year One
Absorption
AbsorptionCosting
Costing
Sales
Sales(25,000
(25,000$30)
$30) $$750,000
750,000
Less
Lesscost
costofofgoods
goodssold:
sold:
Beginning
Beginninginventory
inventory $$ --
Add
AddCOGM
COGM(30,000
(30,000 $15)
$15) 450,000
450,000
Goods
Goodsavailable
available for
forsale
sale 450,000
450,000
Ending
Endinginventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000 $15)
$15) 75,000
75,000 375,000
375,000
Gross
Grossmargin
margin 375,000
375,000
Less
Lessselling
selling&&admin.
admin.exp.
exp.
Variable
Variable (25,000
(25,000$3)
$3) $$ 75,000
75,000
Fixed
Fixed 100,000
100,000 175,000
175,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$200,000
200,000
7-25
Variable Costing: Year One
Variable
manufacturing
Variable
VariableCosting
Costing
costs only.
Sales
Sales(25,000
(25,000$30)
$30) $$750,000
750,000
Less
Lessvariable
variableexpenses:
expenses:
Beginning
Beginninginventory
inventory $$ --
Add
All fixed
AddCOGM
COGM(30,000
(30,000$10)
$10) 300,000
Goods
Goodsavailable
availableforforsale
sale 300,000
300,000
Less overhead is
Lessending
endinginventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000$10)
$10) 50,000
50,000
Variable expensed.
Variablecost
costofofgoods
goodssold
sold 250,000
250,000
Variable
Variableselling
administrative
expenses
expenses(25,000
(25,000$3)
$3) 75,000
75,000 325,000
325,000
Contribution
Contributionmargin
margin 425,000
425,000
Less
Lessfixed
fixedexpenses:
expenses:
Manufacturing
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
administrativeexpenses
expenses 100,000
100,000 250,000
250,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$175,000
175,000
7-26
Harvey Company Year Two
Number
Number of ofunits
unitsproduced
produced 20,000
20,000
Number
Number of ofunits
unitssold
sold 25,000
25,000
Units
Unitsinin beginning
beginning inventory
inventory 5,000
5,000
Unit
Unitsales
salesprice
price $$ 30
30
Variable
Variable costs
costsper
per unit:
unit:
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor
labor
variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10
Selling
administrative
expenses
expenses $$ 33
Fixed
Fixed costs
costsper
per year:
year:
Manufacturing
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
administrative
expenses
expenses $$100,000
100,000
7-27
Unit Cost Computations for Year Two
Absorption
Absorption Variable
Variable
Costing
Costing Costing
Costing
Direct
Directmaterials,
materials, direct
directlabor,
labor,
and
and variable
variable mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead $$ 10
10 $$ 10
10
Fixed
Fixed mfg.
mfg. overhead
overhead
($150,000
($150,00020,000
20,000units)
units) 7.50
7.50 --
Unit
Unitproduct
productcost
cost $$ 17.50
17.50 $$ 10
10
Since
Since the
the number
number of of units
units produced
produced decreased
decreased in in the
the
second
second year,
year, while
while the
the fixed
fixed manufacturing
manufacturing overhead
overhead
remained
remained the
the same,
same, the
the absorption
absorption unit
unit cost
cost is
is now
now higher.
higher.
7-28
Absorption Costing: Year Two
Absorption
AbsorptionCosting
Costing
Sales
Sales(25,000
(25,000 $30)
$30) $$750,000
750,000
Less
Lesscost
costof
ofgoods
goodssold:
sold:
Beg.
Beg. inventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000 $15)
$15) $$ 75,000
75,000
Add
Add COGM
COGM (20,000
(20,000 $17.50)
$17.50) 350,000
350,000
Goods
Goodsavailable
available for
forsale
sale 425,000
425,000
Less
Lessending
endinginventory
inventory -- 425,000
425,000
Gross
Grossmargin
margin 325,000
325,000
Less
Lessselling
selling &&admin.
admin. exp.
exp.
Variable
Variable (25,000
(25,000 $3)
$3) $$ 75,000
75,000
Fixed
Fixed 100,000
100,000 175,000
175,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$150,000
150,000
These are the 20,000 units produced in the current
period at the higher unit cost of $17.50 each.
7-29
Variable Costing: Year Two

Variable
manufacturing
costs only. Variable Costing
Variable Costing
Sales
Sales(25,000
(25,000 $30)
$30) $$750,000
750,000
Less
Lessvariable
variable expenses:
expenses:
Beg.
Beg. inventory
inventory(5,000
(5,000 $10)
$10) $$ 50,000
50,000
Add
AddCOGM
COGM(20,000
(20,000 $10)
$10) 200,000
200,000 All fixed
Goods
Goodsavailable
available forforsale
sale 250,000
Less
Lessending
endinginventory
inventory --
overhead is
Variable cost of goods
Variable cost of goods sold sold 250,000
250,000 expensed.
Variable
Variable selling
administrative
expenses
expenses(25,000
(25,000 $3)
$3) 75,000
75,000 325,000
325,000
Contribution
Contributionmargin
margin 425,000
425,000
Less
Lessfixed
fixedexpenses:
expenses:
Manufacturing
overhead $$150,000
150,000
Selling
expenses 100,000
100,000 250,000
250,000
Net
Netoperating
operatingincome
income $$175,000
175,000
7-30
Costing Method Year One Year Two Total

Absorption $ 200,000 $ 150,000 $ 350,000
Variable 175,000 175,000 350,000
Conclusions
Net operating income is not affected by changes in
production using variable costing.
Net operating income is affected by changes in production
using absorption costing even though the number of units
sold is the same each year.
7-31
Understand the
advantages and
disadvantages of both
variable and absorption
costing.
7-32
Impact on the Manager
Opponents
Opponentsof of absorption
absorptioncosting
costingargue
argue that
that
shifting
shiftingfixed
fixedmanufacturing
manufacturingoverhead
overheadcosts
costs
between
betweenperiods
periodscan
can lead
leadto
tofaulty
faulty decisions.
decisions.
These
Theseopponents
opponentsargue
arguethat
thatvariable
variablecosting
costingincome
income
statements
statementsareareeasier
easier to
tounderstand
understandbecause
becausenet net operating
operating
income
incomeisisonly
onlyaffected
affectedbyby changes
changesin inunit
unitsales.
sales.This
This
produces
producesnetnetoperating
operatingincome
incomefigures
figuresthat
that are
are
more
moreconsistent
consistent with
withmanagers
managersexpectations.
expectations.
7-33
CVP Analysis, Decision Making
and Absorption costing
Absorption costing does not support CVP

analysis because it essentially treats fixed
manufacturing overhead as a variable cost by
assigning a per unit amount of the fixed
overhead to each unit of production.
Treating
Treatingfixed
fixedmanufacturing
manufacturingoverhead
overheadas asaa
variable
variablecost
cost can:
can:
Lead
Leadto
tofaulty
faultypricing
pricingdecisions
decisions andand keep-or-drop
keep-or-drop
decisions.
decisions.
Produce
Producepositive
positivenet
netoperating
operatingincome
incomeeven
even
when
whenthethenumber
numberof of units
unitssold
soldisisless
lessthan
thanthe
the
breakeven
breakevenpoint.
point.
7-34
Advantages of Variable Costing
and the Contribution Approach
Consistent with
CVP analysis.
Management finds Net operating income
it more useful. is closer to
net cash flow.
Consistent with standard
costs and flexible budgeting.
Advantages
Easier to estimate profitability

of products and segments.
Impact of fixed
costs on profits Profit is not affected by
emphasized. changes in inventories.
7-35
External Reporting and Income Taxes
To
Toconform
conform toto
GAAP
GAAPrequirements,
requirements,
absorption
absorptioncosting
costing must
mustbebe used
usedforfor
external
externalfinancial
financialreports
reportsininthe
the
United Under
UnderthetheTaxTax
UnitedStates.
States.
Reform
ReformAct
Actof of1986,
1986,
absorption
absorption costing
costing mustmust be
be
used
used when
when filing
filing income
income
Since
Sincetop
topexecutives
executives tax
taxreturns.
returns.
are usually evaluated based
are usually evaluated based onon
external
externalreports
reportsto
toshareholders,
shareholders,
they
theymay
mayfeel
feelthat
thatdecisions
decisions
should
shouldbe
bebased
basedonon
absorption
absorptioncost
cost income.
income.
7-36
Variable versus Absorption Costing
Fixed manufacturing
costs must be assigned Fixed manufacturing
to products to properly costs are capacity costs
match revenues and and will be incurred
costs. even if nothing is
produced.
Absorption Variable
Costing Costing
7-37
End of Chapter 7

Variable Costing: A Tool For Management: Chapter Seven

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Variable Costing:

A Tool for Management

Explain how variable

Fixed Manufacturing Overhead

Unit Cost Computations

Harvey Company produces a single product

Unit Cost Computations

Unit product cost is determined as follows:

Under absorption costing, selling and

Lets assume the following additional

Now, lets compute net operating

Reconcile variable costing

Comparing the Two Methods

Comparing the Two Methods

We can reconcile the difference between

Fixed mfg. Overhead $150,000

Harvey Company Year Two

Unit Cost Computations

Since there was no change in the variable costs

Comparing the Two Methods

We can reconcile the difference between

Variable costing net operating income $ 260,000

Fixed mfg. Overhead $150,000

Comparing the Two Methods

Costing Method 1st Period 2nd Period Total

Summary of Key Insights

Relation between Effect Relation between

In the previous example,

In this revised example,

Unit Cost Computations for Year One

Unit product cost is determined as follows:

Absorption Costing: Year One

Variable Costing: Year One

Unit Cost Computations for Year Two

Unit product cost is determined as follows:

Absorption Costing: Year Two

Variable Costing: Year Two

Comparing the Two Methods

Costing Method Year One Year Two Total

Impact on the Manager

Absorption costing does not support CVP

Easier to estimate profitability

External Reporting and Income Taxes

Variable versus Absorption Costing

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