Response to the following problem:
Harmon Company purchases sails and produces sailboats. It currently produces 1,200 sailboats per year, operating at normal capacity, which is about 80% of full capacity.
Harmon purchases sails at $260 each, but the company is considering using the excess capacity to manufacture the sails instead. The manufacturing cost per sail would be $100 for materials, $80 for direct labor, and $100 for overhead. The $100 overhead is based on $72,000 of annual fixed overhead that is allocated using normal capacity.
The president of Harmon has come to you for advice. "It would cost me $280 to make the sails," she says, "but only $260 to buy them. Should I continue buying them, or have I missed something?"
Instructions:
(a) Prepare a per unit analysis of the differential costs. Briefly explain whether Harmon should make or buy the sales.
(b) If Harmon suddenly finds an opportunity to rent out the unused capacity of its factory for $80,000 per year, would your answer to part (a) change? Briefly explain.
(c) Identify three qualitative factors that should be considered by Harmon in this make or buy decision. (CGA adapted).