The Brisbane Manufacturing Company produces a single model of a CD player. Each player is sold for $183 with a resulting contribution margin of $76.
Brisbane's management is considering a change in its quality control system. Currently, Brisbane spends $40,000 a year to inspect the CD players. An average of 2,000 units turn out to be defective - 1,600 of them are detected in the inspection process and are repaired for $80. If a defective CD player is not identified in the inspection process, the customer who receives it is given a full refund of the purchase price.
The proposed quality control system involves the purchase of an x-ray machine for $180,000. The machine would last for four years and would have salvage value at that time of $21,000. Brisbane would also spend $600,000 immediately to train workers to better detect and repair defective units. Annual inspection costs would increase by $25,000. This new control system would reduce the number of defective units to 390 per year. 335 of these defective units would be detected and repaired at a cost of $49 per unit. Customers who still received defective players would be given a refund equal to one-and-a-half times the purchase price.
1) Assuming a discount rate of 6%, what is the net present value if Brisbane keeps using its current system?
2) Assuming a discount rate of 6%, what is the net present value if Brisbane replaces its current system?