Downhill Boards (DB), a producer of snow boards, is evaluating a new process for applying the finish to its snow boards. Durable Finish Company (DFC) has offered to apply the finish for $170,000 in fixed costs and a unit variable cost of $0.65. Downhill Boards currently incurs a fixed annual cost of $125,000 and has a variable cost of $0.90 per unit. Annual demand for the snow boards is 160,000.
(a) Calculate the annual cost of the current process used at Downhill Boards.
(b) Calculate the annual cost if Durable Finish Company applies the finish.
(c) Find the indifference point for these two alternatives.
(d) How much of a change in demand is needed to justify outsourcing the process?