LockTite (LT) has introduced a just-in-time production process and is considering the adoption of lean accounting principles to support its new production philosophy. The company has two product lines: mechanical devices and electronic devices. Two individual products are made in each line. The company's traditional cost accounting system allocates all plant-level overhead costs to individual products. Product-line overhead costs are traced directly to product lines, and then allocated to the two individual products in each line. Equipment costs are directly traced to products. The latest accounting report using traditional cost accounting methods included the following information (in thousands of dollars).

LT has determined that each of the two product lines represents a distinct value stream. It has also determined that $120,000 of the allocated plant-level overhead costs represents occupancy costs. Product A occupies 20% of the plant's square footage, Product B occupies 20%, Product C occupies 30%, and Product D occupies 15%. The remaining square footage is occupied by plant administrative functions or is not being used. Finally, LT has decided that direct material should be expensed in the period it is purchased, rather than when the material is used. According to purchasing records, direct material purchase costs during the period were:

Required
1. What are the cost objects in LT's lean accounting system? Which of LT's costs would be excluded when computing operating income for these cost objects?
2. Compute operating income for the cost objects identified in requirement 1 using lean accounting principles. Why does operating income differ from the operating income computed using traditional cost accounting methods?

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Mechanical Device Electronic Devices Product A Product B Product C Sales Direct materials (based on quantity used) Direct manufacturing labour Equipment costs Allocated product-line overhead Allocated plant-level overhead Operating income Product D S450 75 60 100 $900 250 200 150 90 110 50 $100 100 75 125 60 35 $105 125 S 45 $140 Mechanical Devices Electronic Devices Product A $190 Product B Product C Product D Direct materials (purchases) $125 $250 S90