Case Study - Labor standards, Managerial Accounting

Assignment Help:
Case Study

Labor standards
Geeta & Company has experienced increased production costs. The primary area of concern identified by management is direct labor. The company is considering adopting a standard cost system to help control labor and other costs. Useful historical data are not available because detailed production records have not been maintained.
To establish labor standards, Geeta & Company has retained an engineering consulting firm. After a complete study of the work process, the consultants recommended a labor standard of one unit of production every 30 minutes, or 16 units per day for each worker. The consultants further advised that Geeta''s wage rates were below the prevailing rate of Rs per hour.
`Geeta''s production vice-president thought that this labor standard was too tight, and from experience with the labor force, believed that a labor standard of 40 minutes per unit or 12 units per day for each worker would be more reasonable. he president of Geeta & Company believed the standard should be set at a high level to motivate the workers and to provide adequate information for control and reasonable cost comparison. After much discussion, management decided to use a dual standard. The labor standard of one unit every 30 minutes, recommended by the consulting firm, would be employed in the plant as a motivation device, while a cost standard of 40 minutes per unit would be used in reporting. Management also concluded that the workers would not be informed of the cost standard used for reporting purposes. The production vice-president conducted several sessions prior to implementation in the plant, informing the workers of the new standard cost system and answering questions. The new standards were not related to incentive pay but were introduced when wages were increased to Rs7 per hour.
The standard cost system was implemented on January 1, 19--. At the end of six months of operation, these statistics on labor performance were presented to executive management:


January February March April May June
Production (units) 5,100 5,000 4,700 4,500 4,300 4,400
Direct labor hours 3,000 2,900 2,900 3,000 3,000 3,100
Quantity Variances:
Variance based on labor standard
(one unit each 30 minutes) Rs3150 U* Rs2,800 U Rs3,850 U Rs5,250 U Rs5,950 U Rs6,300 U
Variance based on cost standard
(one unit each 40 minutes) Rs2,800 F Rs3,033 F Rs1,633 F -0- Rs933 U Rs1,167 U



*U = Unfavorable; F = Favorable
Materials quality, labor mix, and plant facilities and conditions have not changed to a significant extent during the six month period.




1 Describe the impact of different types of standards on motivations, and specifically, the likely effect on motivation of adopting the labor standard recommended for Geeta & Company by the engineering firm.

2Please advise the company in reviewing the standards.





Related Discussions:- Case Study - Labor standards

Definition of cost reduction, Definition of Cost reduction Cost reducti...

Definition of Cost reduction Cost reduction is planned positive approach to reducing expenditure. Cost reduction exercises are planned campaigns to cut expenditure. It is a con

Explain discretionary fixed costs and semi variable costs, Discretionary fi...

Discretionary fixed costs and Semi variable costs Discretionary fixed costs are those which are incurred as a result of management discretion. These costs have two importan

Budget, advantage and disadvantage of incremental budget

advantage and disadvantage of incremental budget

Explain out of pocket cost, Explain Out of pocket cost A cost which wil...

Explain Out of pocket cost A cost which will have to be paid to outsides as against cross such as depreciation, which do not require any cash payment this cost is relevant in t

Illustration of graphic analysis , Illustration of Graphic Analysis Th...

Illustration of Graphic Analysis The four steps of cost-volume-profit analysis can be employed to graph and study any cost-volume relationship. Suppose that you have been aske

Economies or diseconomies of scale , Economies or Diseconomies of Scale ...

Economies or Diseconomies of Scale The costs of a value activity are often subject to economies or diseconomies of scale. Economies of scale occur from the capability to perfo

Decision making, Trinco Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago-T&T) has been negotiating a ...

Trinco Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago-T&T) has been negotiating a contract with a potential customer in Jamaica. Before the negotiations started the Jamaican company agreed to pay $10,000

State the price determination under the market condition, State the price d...

State the price determination under the market condition The price determination under the following market condition is as follows: 1) Pure competition: in this situation

direct materials price and efficiency variances, Welcome to the Fall 2011 ...

Welcome to the Fall 2011 version of the comprehensive assignment prepared specifically for Accounting 294. Made up of 3 parts this assignment is meant to fulfil a number of obje

What are selling and distribution expenses, What are Selling and distributi...

What are Selling and distribution expenses? Selling and distribution expenses incurred for the marketing of a commodity, for securing orders for the articles, dispatching goods

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd