Intermediate: Joint cost apportionment and decision on further processing A company manufactures four products from an input of a raw material to process 1. Following this process, product A is processed in process 2, product B in process 3, product C in process 4 and product D in process 5.

The normal loss in process 1 is 10% of input, and there are no expected losses in the other processes. Scrap value in process 1 is £0.50 per litre. The costs incurred in process 1 are appor¬ tioned to each product according to the volume of output of each product. Production overhead is absorbed as a percentage of direct wages.

You are required to:

(a) calculate the profit or loss for each product for the month, assuming all output is sold at the normal selling price; (4 marks)

(b) suggest and evaluate an alternative production strategy which would optimize profit for the month. It should not be assumed that the output of process 1 can be changed;
(12 marks)

(c) suggest to what management should devote its attention, if it is to achieve the potential benefit indicated in (b).

Data in respect of the month of October: Process 1 2 3 4 5 Total (000) (000) (000) (000) (000) (000) Direct materials at 100 1.25 per litre 100 Direct wages Production overhead 48 12 8 4 16 88 66 Output (litres) Selling price () Estimated sales value at end of Process 1 () Product A B C D 22 000 20 000 10 000 18000 4.00 3.00 2.00 5.00 2.50 2.80 1.20 3.00