Wilkerson Case Solutions Essay Example

Wilkerson Case Solutions Paper I _ Describe in words how costs are assigned in the Willpowers current costing system. Discuss the pros and cons of this system. Wilkinson uses a simple traditional cost accounting system in which each unit of product is charged for direct material, direct labor and overhead COStS_ Material cost is based on the prices paid for component under annual purchasing agreements. Labor cost is charged to products based on the standard run times for each product. Labor rates, including fringe benefits, were $25 per hour. The overhead costs are allocated to products as a percentage f production-run direct labor cost. Currently, the overhead rate is 300% of production-run direct labor cost. The current cost accounting system is consistent with traditional costing system required for external financial reporting. Traditional costing is attractive to financial reporting because it better matches costs with revenues, All manufacturing costs are assigned to products in order to property match the costs of producing units of product with their revenues when they are sold. Financial reporting standards explicitly require companies to use traditional costing for external reporting purposes. However, traditional cost accounting methods suffer from several defects that can result in distorted costs for decision-making purposes. All manufacturing costs, even those that are not caused by any specific product, are allocated to products. Manufacturing costs that are caused by products are not assigned to products. Additionally, traditional methods tend to place too much reliance on unit-level allocation bases such as direct labor and machine-hours. This results in overcastting high-volume products and undercoating low-volume products and an lead to mistakes when making decisions. We will write a custom essay sample on Wilkerson Case Solutions specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Wilkerson Case Solutions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Wilkerson Case Solutions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Compute Activity-Based Costing product costs using 1) actual cost driver rates, and 2) capacity-based cost driver rates. Which of these approaches is appropriate for Wilkinson and why? From the results of Activity Based Costing and Capacity based costing methods, we see that Wilkinson shows a lower cost based from the BBC method. It is more appropriate for Wilkinson to use the BBC method since it shows a more realistic per unit cost based on different level of activities. This may allow them to find says to be more competitive on product pricing in the market. . What managerial actions are indicated by the activity based costing system? Prom the activity based costing system the management will be able to see the products cost structure and be able identify activities that would benefit from process improvements. When used in this way, activity-based costing is referred to as activity-based management. Management can focus on which activities to eliminate waste, decrease processing time, and/or reduce defects. The first Step in any improvement program is for the management to decide hat to improve. The products cost computed in activity-based costing can provide valuable clues concerning where there is waste and opportunity for improvement. For example, looking at the Pumps and Flow Controller, managers at Wilkinson may conclude that the company spends far more on receiving and production control, and packaging and shipping activities that adds no value to the products. As a consequence, they may target their process improvement efforts toward these areas. Improvements on these areas could enable the company to gain competitive edge on pricing these products. Describe the additional accounting effort that Wilkinson would need to do to on a regular monthly basis in order to obtain the information shown in Exhibit 4 Estimate the cost to this additional accounting. To continue to obtain the information shown in Exhibit 4 on a regular monthly basis would require much more effort from the Wilkinson accounting team. Similar to what was already done, Wilkinson will need to run a small task force on a monthly basis so that data concerning numerous activity measures are collected, checked, and entered into the system. This Avail be necessary to appropriately allocate various overhead costs to individual products instead of traditionally treating overhead as a period cost. Although the activity based costing method can provide more accurate information about individual product or services, the organization should expect to hue increased costs due to additional research efforts to collect and appropriately allocate overhead costs. We estimate that the additional effort associated With activity based costing system can increase accounting cost by approximately 25%.