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RR manufactures radar systems. It has just completed the manufacture of its firs

ID: 467742 • Letter: R

Question

RR manufactures radar systems. It has just completed the manufacture of its first newly designed system, RS-32. Manufacturing data for the RS-32 follow:

Direct material cost

$ 88000

per unit of RS-32

Direct manufacturing labor time for first unit

3800

direct manufacturing labor-hours

Learning curve for manufacturing labor time per radar system

85% cumaulative average

Direct manufacturing labor cost

$23

per direct manufacturing labor-hour

Variable manufacturing overhead cost

$12

per direct manufacturing labor-hour

Using the formula for an 85% learning curve, b = IN 0.85/IN 2 = -0.162519/0.693147= -0.234465

Requirement

Calculate the total variable costs of producing 2, 4, and 8 units.

Direct material cost

$ 88000

per unit of RS-32

Direct manufacturing labor time for first unit

3800

direct manufacturing labor-hours

Learning curve for manufacturing labor time per radar system

85% cumaulative average

Direct manufacturing labor cost

$23

per direct manufacturing labor-hour

Variable manufacturing overhead cost

$12

per direct manufacturing labor-hour

Explanation / Answer

In this case, Learning curve is used to calculate manufacturing time for producing units

tn= t1*n^(lnr/ln2)

ln0.85/ln2 = -0.234465

Manufacturing time for producing 2nd unit

t2 = 3800* 2^(-0.234465)

= 3,230 hours

Total variable cost of producing 2 units

Material cost =88000*2 =$176000

Labor cost=3800*23 + 3230*23 =$161690

Overhead cost =3800*12 + 3230*12 =$84360

Total variable cost = 176000 + 161690 + 84360

= $422,050

In similar fashion , we can calculate total variable costs of producing 4 and 8 units

For 4 units

Material cost =88000*4 =$352000

Labor cost=(3800 + 3230 + 2937 + 2746)*23 =$292,399

Overhead cost =(3800 + 3230 + 2937 + 2746)*12 =$152556

Total variable cost = 352000 + 292399 + 152556 =$796,955