MA – L2 – Q23 – Advanced Variance Analysis

Tamale Chemicals, based in Tamale, has the following standard cost for producing 9 litres of GreenLube:

  • 5 litres of Material X at GH₵0.70 per litre
  • 5 litres of Material Y at GH₵0.92 per litre.

There are no inventories of materials, and all material price variances relate to materials used. Actual results showed that 100,000 litres of materials were used during a particular period as follows:

  • 45,000 litres of Material X: cost GH₵36,000
  • 55,000 litres of Material Y: cost GH₵53,350

During the period, 92,070 litres of GreenLube were produced.

Required:
Calculate the total materials cost variance and analyse it into its price, usage, yield, and mix components.

Materials price variances GH₵ GH₵
45,000 litres of Material X should cost (× GH₵0.70) 31,500
They did cost 36,000
Material X price variance 4,500 (A)
55,000 litres of Material Y should cost (× GH₵0.92) 50,600
They did cost 53,350
Material Y price variance 2,750 (A)
Total material price variances 7,250 (A)

Materials usage variance
Standard usage per 9 litres of GreenLube = 10 litres (5X + 5Y)
Standard usage for 92,070 litres = (92,070 / 9) × 10 = 102,300 litres
Actual usage = 100,000 litres
Usage variance in litres = 102,300 – 100,000 = 2,300 litres (F)
Standard weighted average cost per litre = [(5 × GH₵0.70) + (5 × GH₵0.92)] / 10 = GH₵0.81
Usage variance in GH₵ = 2,300 × GH₵0.81 = GH₵1,863 (F)

Materials mix variance
Standard mix for 100,000 litres = 50,000 litres X, 50,000 litres Y
Actual mix = 45,000 litres X, 55,000 litres Y

Material Actual usage (litres) Standard mix (litres) Mix variance (litres) Standard price (GH₵) Mix variance (GH₵)
X 45,000 50,000 5,000 (F) 0.70 3,500 (F)
Y 55,000 50,000 5,000 (A) 0.92 4,600 (A)
Total 100,000 100,000 1,100 (A)

Materials yield variance
Standard yield = 100,000 / 10 = 10,000 batches of 9 litres
Actual yield = 92,070 / 9 = 10,230 batches
Yield variance in batches = 10,230 – 10,000 = 230 (A)
Standard cost per batch = GH₵8.10 (10 litres × GH₵0.81)
Yield variance in GH₵ = 230 × GH₵8.10 = GH₵1,863 (A)

Total materials cost variance
Standard cost for 92,070 litres = (92,070 / 9) × [(5 × GH₵0.70) + (5 × GH₵0.92)] = GH₵82,863
Actual cost = GH₵36,000 + GH₵53,350 = GH₵89,350
Total materials cost variance = GH₵82,863 – GH₵89,350 = GH₵6,487 (A)

Summary

Variance GH₵
Materials price variances 7,250 (A)
Materials yield variance 1,863 (A)
Materials mix variance 1,100 (A)
Materials usage variance 1,863 (F)
Total materials cost variance 6,487 (A)