Allocation of Fixed Production Overhead

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 22 views

Introduction

As a leading manufacturer and retailer of products A and B, Sancress Products Ltd has assembled the following information to provide insight into the application of fixed production overhead on a direct labor basis for the year commencing 1 July 2000. This discussion will delve into the details of how fixed production overhead is applied, its impact on the company's operations, and the implications for product pricing and profitability.

Fixed Production Overhead

Fixed production overhead refers to the costs that are incurred by a company to maintain its production facilities and operations, regardless of the level of production activity. These costs can include items such as rent, utilities, insurance, and maintenance expenses. In the context of Sancress Products Ltd, fixed production overhead is applied on a direct labor basis, meaning that the costs are allocated to products based on the amount of direct labor hours used in their production.

Direct Labor Hours

Direct labor hours refer to the hours worked by employees who are directly involved in the production process. In the case of Sancress Products Ltd, direct labor hours are measured by the number of hours worked by employees in the production department. The company uses a system of time clocks and payroll records to track direct labor hours, which are then used to allocate fixed production overhead costs to products.

Allocation of Fixed Production Overhead

The allocation of fixed production overhead to products is a critical aspect of Sancress Products Ltd's cost accounting system. The company uses a formula to allocate overhead costs to products based on the number of direct labor hours used in their production. The formula is as follows:

Overhead Cost per Direct Labor Hour = Total Fixed Production Overhead / Total Direct Labor Hours

Product Overhead Cost = Overhead Cost per Direct Labor Hour x Number of Direct Labor Hours Used

Example

To illustrate the allocation of fixed production overhead, let's consider an example. Suppose Sancress Products Ltd has a total fixed production overhead of $100,000 for the year, and a total direct labor hours of 10,000 hours. The company produces two products, A and B, which require 2,000 and 3,000 direct labor hours, respectively.

Using the formula above, the overhead cost per direct labor hour would be:

Overhead Cost per Direct Labor Hour = $100,000 / 10,000 hours = $10 per hour

The product overhead costs would be:

Product A Overhead Cost = $10 per hour x 2,000 hours = $20,000 Product B Overhead Cost = $10 per hour x 3,000 hours = $30,000

Implications for Product Pricing and Profitability

The allocation of fixed production overhead to products has significant implications for product pricing and profitability. By allocating overhead costs to products based on direct labor hours, Sancress Products Ltd can ensure that the costs are accurately reflected in the product prices. This, in turn, can help the company to maintain profitability and competitiveness in the market.

However, the allocation of overhead costs can also have a negative impact on product profitability if the costs are not accurately reflected in the product prices. For example, if the company fails to pass on the overhead costs to customers, it may experience a decline in profitability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the application of fixed production overhead on a direct labor basis is a critical aspect of Sancress Products Ltd's cost accounting system. By allocating overhead costs to products based on direct labor hours, the company can ensure that the costs are accurately reflected in the product prices and maintain profitability and competitiveness in the market.

Recommendations

Based on the analysis above, the following recommendations are made:

Regular Review of Overhead Costs: Sancress Products Ltd should regularly review its overhead costs to ensure that they are accurately reflected in the product prices.
Accurate Allocation of Overhead Costs: The company should ensure that overhead costs are accurately allocated to products based on direct labor hours.
Product Pricing Strategy: Sancress Products Ltd should develop a product pricing strategy that takes into account the allocation of overhead costs to products.

Future Research Directions

Future research directions in this area could include:

Development of a More Accurate Allocation Method: Researchers could explore the development of a more accurate allocation method for overhead costs, such as activity-based costing.
Analysis of the Impact of Overhead Costs on Product Pricing: Researchers could analyze the impact of overhead costs on product pricing and profitability.
Development of a Product Pricing Model: Researchers could develop a product pricing model that takes into account the allocation of overhead costs to products.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Limited Data: The study is based on limited data, which may not be representative of the company's operations.
Simplification of the Allocation Method: The study simplifies the allocation method for overhead costs, which may not accurately reflect the company's operations.
Lack of Consideration of Other Costs: The study does not consider other costs, such as variable costs, which may impact product pricing and profitability.

Conclusion

Q: What is fixed production overhead?

A: Fixed production overhead refers to the costs that are incurred by a company to maintain its production facilities and operations, regardless of the level of production activity. These costs can include items such as rent, utilities, insurance, and maintenance expenses.

Q: Why is fixed production overhead applied on a direct labor basis?

A: Fixed production overhead is applied on a direct labor basis because it is a common method of allocating overhead costs to products. This method assumes that the overhead costs are directly related to the direct labor hours used in the production process.

Q: How is fixed production overhead allocated to products?

A: Fixed production overhead is allocated to products based on the number of direct labor hours used in their production. The formula for allocating overhead costs is as follows:

Overhead Cost per Direct Labor Hour = Total Fixed Production Overhead / Total Direct Labor Hours

Product Overhead Cost = Overhead Cost per Direct Labor Hour x Number of Direct Labor Hours Used

Q: What are the implications of fixed production overhead on product pricing and profitability?

A: The allocation of fixed production overhead to products has significant implications for product pricing and profitability. By allocating overhead costs to products based on direct labor hours, companies can ensure that the costs are accurately reflected in the product prices. This, in turn, can help the company to maintain profitability and competitiveness in the market.

Q: What are the limitations of the direct labor hour method of allocating fixed production overhead?

A: The direct labor hour method of allocating fixed production overhead has several limitations, including:

Simplification of the allocation method: The direct labor hour method simplifies the allocation of overhead costs, which may not accurately reflect the company's operations.
Lack of consideration of other costs: The direct labor hour method does not consider other costs, such as variable costs, which may impact product pricing and profitability.
Limited data: The direct labor hour method is based on limited data, which may not be representative of the company's operations.

Q: What are some alternative methods of allocating fixed production overhead?

A: Some alternative methods of allocating fixed production overhead include:

Activity-based costing: This method allocates overhead costs to products based on the activities performed in the production process.
Machine-based costing: This method allocates overhead costs to products based on the machine hours used in the production process.
Hybrid costing: This method combines elements of activity-based costing and machine-based costing to allocate overhead costs to products.

Q: How can companies ensure that fixed production overhead is accurately allocated to products?

A: Companies can ensure that fixed production overhead is accurately allocated to products by:

Regularly reviewing overhead costs: Companies should regularly review their overhead costs to ensure that they are accurately reflected in the product prices.
Using a more accurate allocation method: Companies should consider using a more accurate allocation method, such as activity-based costing, to allocate overhead costs to products.
Considering other costs: Companies should consider other costs, such as variable costs, when allocating overhead costs to products.

Q: What are the benefits of accurately allocating fixed production overhead to products?

A: The benefits of accurately allocating fixed production overhead to products include:

Improved product pricing: Accurate allocation of overhead costs can help companies to set product prices that reflect the true costs of production.
Increased profitability: Accurate allocation of overhead costs can help companies to maintain profitability and competitiveness in the market.
Better decision-making: Accurate allocation of overhead costs can provide companies with better information to make informed decisions about product pricing and profitability.