Final answer:
Jordan Electronics should consider purchasing containers from Russo Container Company instead of producing them, as the total relevant cost of purchasing is less than the production cost. Additionally, if Jordan can lease out the production space, the financial benefits increase even further, reinforcing the decision to buy rather than produce the containers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Total Relevant Cost Calculation
To calculate the total relevant cost for Jordan Electronics in order to determine whether to continue making containers or to purchase them, we need to first understand which costs are avoidable should they decide to purchase instead of producing the containers.
The costs provided are:
Unit-level materials: $6,500
Unit-level labor: $6,900
Unit-level overhead: $3,800
Product-level costs*: $10,800
Allocated facility-level costs: $26,600
Since one-third of these costs can be avoided by purchasing the containers:
Avoidable costs = (1/3) × ($6,500 + $6,900 + $3,800 + $10,800 + $26,600)
Avoidable costs = (1/3) × $54,600 = $18,200
If Jordan purchases the containers, the cost would be $2.70 each for 9,200 containers:
Purchase costs = 9,200 × $2.70
Purchase costs = $24,840
Total relevant cost = Avoidable cost + Purchase costs
Total relevant cost = $18,200 + $24,840 = $43,040
The current cost of production is $54,600. Since the total relevant cost of purchasing the containers ($43,040) is less than the cost of producing them, Jordan Electronics should consider purchasing the containers from Russo Container Company.
Total Avoidable Cost with Leasing
If Jordan can lease the space used for the manufacturing process for $11,700 per month, this would add to the avoidable costs. The new avoidable costs would be:
New avoidable costs = Previous avoidable costs + Monthly lease income
New avoidable costs = $18,200 + $11,700 = $29,900
If we subtract these new avoidable costs from the total relevant cost to purchase the containers:
Total relevant cost with lease = Purchase costs - New avoidable costs
Total relevant cost with lease = $24,840 - $29,900 = -$5,060
The negative amount indicates a surplus, suggesting that not only would it be more cost-effective for Jordan to purchase the containers, but also leasing the space would yield additional financial benefit. Consequently, Jordan should definitely not continue making the containers if they can lease the space.