Final answer:
Outsourcing the production of circuits would reduce the company's operating costs by $4,200 per month, resulting in an increase in operating income.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the impact of outsourcing the production of circuits on the company's operating income, we need to compare the current in-house production costs with the outsourcing costs. Currently, the company produces 400 circuits per month, with variable costs of $26 per circuit and fixed costs of $5,000 per month. This gives a total monthly cost of (400 x $26) + $5,000 = $15,400. If the company outsources, the contract cost per circuit is $28, so the total monthly cost would be 400 x $28 = $11,200. The difference in costs is $15,400 minus $11,200, or $4,200.
Therefore, if the company decides to outsource the production of circuits, it would reduce its operating costs by $4,200 per month. This would result in an increase in operating income.