The management of Biggs Company is considering a proposal to install a third production department within its existing factory building. With the company€™s present production setup, 200,000 pounds per year of direct materials pass through Department I to produce 100,000 pounds each of Materials A and B.

Material A then passes through Department II to yield 100,000 pounds of Product C. One hundred thousand pounds of Material B are presently being sold €˜€˜as is€™€™ at a price of $20.25 per pound.

The costs for Biggs Company are as follows:

The proposed Department III would process Material B into Product D. One pound of Material B yields one pound of Product D. Any quantity of Product D can be sold for $30 per pound. Costs under this proposal are as follows:

If sales and production levels are expected to remain constant in the foreseeable future, if these cost estimates are expected to be true, and if there are no foreseeable alternative uses for the available factory space, should Biggs Company produce Product D? Show calculations to support youranswer.

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Department I (Materials A and B)* Department II (Product C) (Material B)" Prior Department Costs. Direct Materials. Direct Labor. Variable Overhead. $33.25 $33.25 21.00 12.00 7.00 3.00 5.00 Fixed Overhead: Direct (Total = $675,000).. 2.25 2.25 $33.25 $52.50 $33.25 *Cost per pound.