In order to Identify the costs incurred in carrying out a range of work to customer specification in its factory, a company has a job costing system. This system identifies costs directly with a job where this is possible and reasonable. In addition, production overhead costs are absorbed into the cost of jobs at the end of each month, customer rate per direct labour hour for each of the two production departments.
One of the jobs carried out in the factory during the month just ended was Job 123. The following information has been collected relating specifically to this job:
400 kg of Material Y were issued from stores to Department A. 76 direct labour hours were worked in Department A at a basic wage of $4.50 per hour. Six of these hours were classified as overtime at a premium of 50%.
300 kg of Material Z were issued from stores to Department B. Department B returned 30 kg of Material Z to the storeroom being excess to requirements for the job. 10 direct labour hours were worked in Department B at a basic wage of $4.0 per hour. 30 of these hours were classified as overtime at a premium of 50%. All overtime worked in Department B in the month is a result of the request of a customer for early completion of another job which had been originally scheduled for completion in the month following.
Department B discovered defects in some of the work, which was returned to Department A for rectification. Three labour hours were worked in Department A on rectification (these are additional to the 76 direct labour hours in Department A noted above). Such rectification is regarded as a normal part of the work carried out generally in the department.
Department B damaged 5 kg of Material Z which then had to be disposed of Such losses of material are not expected to occur.
Materials are priced at the end of each month on a weighted average basis. Relevant information of material stock movements during the month, for materials Y and Z, is as follows:
* This includes, in Department B, the scrapped Material Z. This was the only material scrapped in the month.
All direct labour in Department A is paid a basic wage of $4.50 per hour, and in Department B $4.00 per hour. Department A direct labour includes a total of 20 hours spent on rectification work.
Required:
1. Prepare a list of the costs that should be assigned to Job 123. Provide an explanation of your treatment of each item.
2. Discuss briefly how information concerning the cost of individual jobs can be used.