Consider a particular Bombardier plant. Maintaining a clean working environment is important to Bombardier. Cleaning the plant is the responsibility of the maintenance department. Two of the resources needed to clean the plant are labour and cleaning supplies. The cost driver for both resources is square metres cleaned. Plant cleaning labourers are paid the same wages regardless of the number of times the plant is cleaned. Cleaning supplies is a variable cost. The 40,000 square metre plant is thoroughly cleaned from four to eight times a month depending on the level and stage of production. For the most recent month, March, the plant was cleaned four times. The March cost of labour was $24,000 and cleaning supplies used cost $9,600. The production schedule for the next quarter (April through June) indicates that the plant will need to be cleaned five, six, and eight times, respectively.

1. Prepare a table that shows how labour cost, cleaning supplies cost, total cost, and total cost per square metre cleaned change in response to the square metres cleaned. What is the predicted total cost of plant cleaning for the next quarter?

2. Suppose Bombardier can hire an outside cleaning company to clean the plant as needed. The charge rate for cleaning is $5,900 per plant cleaning. If the outside cleaning company is hired, Bombardier can lay off the workers who are now cleaning the plant and will spend nothing for cleaning supplies. Will Bombardier save money with the outside cleaning company over the next quarter? Prepare a schedule that supports your answer.