Manche produces two products from different quantities of the same resources using a just-in-time (JIT) production system. The selling price and resource requirements of each of the products are shown below:

Product C L
Unit Selling Price (GH¢) 130 160
Resources per Unit:
Direct Labour (GH¢8 per hour) 3 hours 5 hours
Material A (GH¢3 per kg) 5 kg 4 kg
Material B (GH¢7 per litre) 2 litres 1 litre
Machine Hours (GH¢10 per hour) 3 hours 4 hours
Fixed Overhead (GH¢8 per hour) 1 hour 1 hour

Market research shows that the maximum demand for products C and L during August 2024 is 500 units and 800 units respectively. This does not include an order that Manche has agreed with a commercial customer for the supply of 250 units of C and 350 units of L at selling prices of GH¢100 and GH¢135 per unit, respectively. Failure by Manche to deliver the order in full by the end of August will cause Manche to incur a GH¢5,000 financial penalty.

At a recent meeting between the Purchasing Manager and Production Manager to discuss the production plans of C and L for August, the following resource restrictions for the year were identified:

  • Direct Labour Hours: 90,000 hours
  • Machine Hours: 90,000 hours

The resource restrictions were evenly distributed throughout the year.

Required:

i) Prepare the optimum production plan for August 2024 using relevant computations. 
ii) Determine the contribution from adopting this plan. 
iii) Using relevant computations, show whether Manche should complete the order from the commercial customer assuming any excess labour hours for not making the contract can be used to produce 300 units of product ‘F’ with a contribution of GH¢55 per unit.

i) Optimum Production Plan

Identifying the Limiting Factor

  • Monthly available labour hours: 90,000 ÷ 12 = 7,500 hours
  • Monthly available machine hours: 90,000 ÷ 12 = 7,500 hours
Product Labour Hours Required
C (750 × 3) 2,250
L (1,150 × 5) 5,750
Total Required 8,000
Available 7,500
Shortage 500

Labour hours are the limiting factor.

Product Contribution (GH¢/unit) Labour Constraint (Hours/unit) Contribution per Labour Hour (GH¢/hour) Ranking
C 47 3 15.67 1st
L 61 5 12.20 2nd

Since C has the highest contribution per labour hour, it is given priority in production.

Production Order Quantity Labour Hours Used
C (Contract Order) 250 750
L (Contract Order) 350 1,750
C (Remaining Demand) 500 1,500
L (Remaining Demand) 700 Remaining Labour Hours (3,500)

Total Labour Hours Used: 7,500 hours

ii) Contribution from the Adopted Plan

Product Quantity Produced Contribution per Unit (GH¢) Total Contribution (GH¢)
C (500 units) 500 47 23,500
L (700 units) 700 61 42,700
Total Contribution 66,200

iii) Should Manche Complete the Order?

Labour Hours Available 7,500
Hours Used for C and L Production 5,500
Excess Labour Hours 2,000
  • Contribution from Commercial Order (C & L):
Product Quantity Contribution per Unit (GH¢) Total Contribution (GH¢)
C (500 units) 500 47 23,500
L (800 units) 800 61 48,800
Total Contribution from C & L 72,300
  • Alternative Use of Labour Hours (Product F):
Product Quantity Produced Contribution per Unit (GH¢) Total Contribution (GH¢)
F 300 55 16,500
  • Financial Impact of Not Completing the Order:
Contribution from C & L 72,300
Minus Penalty for Order Default (5,000)
Net Contribution if Order is Rejected 67,300
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