Question: The case presents five potential allocation bases for assigning the company's $300,000 in plant-administration costs. Using the five years of data presented in case Exhibit

The case presents five potential allocation bases for assigning the company's $300,000 in plant-administration costs. Using the five years of data presented in case Exhibit 4, you should hypothesize which potential base would be the best choice.

Exhibit 4

Total Amin CostEnding Inventory CostPlant PersonnelNumber of CustomersTotal Direct Labor Cost% of Plant Capacity Used
2003$300,000$90,0001221200$520,00070.00%
2002$295,000$83,0001221250$515,00075.00%
2001$285,000$58,0001191100$555,00085.00%
2000$280,000$50,000112800$540,00090.00%
1999$290,000$76,000116600$500,00095.00%


1.Determine the best allocation base for allocating plant-administration costs

2. Calculate the ABC costs for each product on a per-box basis.

3. What do these results tell you about activity-based costing versus costing based on standard volume or direct materials plus direct labor?

4. What changes, if any, should management make to Zauner’s pricing strategy?

Step by Step Solution

3.38 Rating (154 Votes )

There are 3 Steps involved in it

1 Expert Approved Answer
Step: 1 Unlock

1 The ABC Activity Based Costing is essential as it uses the cost drives in the assigning of the resources towards the existing activities that are defined through the unit cost which is a means of me... View full answer

blur-text-image
Question Has Been Solved by an Expert!

Get step-by-step solutions from verified subject matter experts

Step: 2 Unlock
Step: 3 Unlock

Students Have Also Explored These Related Accounting Questions!