Question

Cooperative San José of southern Sonora state in Mexico makes a unique syrup using cane sugar and local herbs. The syrup is sold in small bottles and is prized as a flavoring for drinks and for use in desserts. The bottles are sold for $12 each. The first stage in the production process is carried out in the Mixing Department, which removes foreign matter from the raw materials and mixes them in the proper proportions in large vats. The company uses the weighted-average method in its process costing system.

A hastily prepared report for the Mixing Department for April appears below:

Units to be accounted for:
Work in process, April 1 (materials 90% complete; conversion 80% complete) 5,700
Started into production 34,100
Total units to be accounted for 39,800
Units accounted for as follows:
Transferred to next department 29,400
Work in process, April 30 (materials 70% complete; conversion 50% complete) 10,400
Total units accounted for 39,800

Cost Reconciliation Cost to be accounted for:

Work in process, April 1 $15,276
Cost added during the month 96,248
Total cost to be accounted for $111,524
Cost accounted for as follows:
Work in process, April 30 $20,384
Transferred to next department 91,140
Total cost accounted for $111,524

Required:

a. What were the Mixing Department's equivalent units of production for materials and conversion for April?
b. What were the Mixing Department's cost per equivalent unit for materials and conversion for April? The beginning inventory consisted of the following costs: materials, $10,545; and conversion cost, $4,731. The costs added during the month consisted of: materials, $64,649; and conversion cost, $31,599.
c. How many of the units transferred out of the Mixing Department in April were started and completed during that month?
d. The manager of the Mixing Department stated, "Materials prices jumped from about $1.65 per unit in March to $2.15 per unit in April, but due to good cost control I was able to hold our materials cost to less than $2.15 per unit for the month." Should this manager be rewarded for good cost control?

Answer 1

a. EU:

materials = 29,400 + 7,280 = 36,680

conversion = 29,400 + 5,200 = 34,600

b. cost per EU:

materials = $75,194 / 36,680 = $2.05

conversion = $36,330 / 34,600 = $1.05

c. units started and completed during April = 23,700

d. no, he didn't do anything, When a company uses the weighted average process costing method, the cost of beginning WIP is used to determine the cost per equivalent unit. On the other hand, FIFO process costing method doesn't, it only considers costs incurred during the month to calculate cost per equivalent unit.

Step-by-step explanation:

beginning WIP 5,700 $15,276

materials, $10,545

conversion cost, $4,731

units started 34,100

costs added during the month = $96,248

materials, $64,649

conversion cost, $31,599

units transferred out 29,400 $91,140

ending WIP 10,400 $20,384

materials 70% = 7,280 EU

conversion 50% = 5,200 EU

EU:

materials = 29,400 + 7,280 = 36,680

conversion = 29,400 + 5,200 = 34,600

total cost for materials = $64,649 + $10,545 = $75,194

total cost for conversion = $31,599 + $4,731 = $36,330

cost per EU:

materials = $75,194 / 36,680 = $2.05

conversion = $36,330 / 34,600 = $1.05

units started and completed during April = 29,400 - 5,700 = 23,700