1. Production and Inventory Management
Chapter 11
Production and Inventory Management

2. Why It Is Important to Understand the Cost Relationships in Production and Inventory Management
They affect the economic efficiency (profits) of the firm.
An understanding of these relationships helps managers make more effective production decisions.
As a result, managers are better able to meet their financial objectives

3. Management Information Systems
MIS provides
Accurate and timely production and cost information on all phases of the business
Data in the proper form needed for decision making
Accounting information that will allow fast, accurate development of business financial documents
A means for efficiently and effectively monitoring and controlling business production costs

4. Cost Concepts Cost: what is given up to acquire a good or service
Opportunity cost: the return (as measured by the highest value) that is given up in a foregone use
Implicit cost: costs that do not include cash payments but need to be included in the calculation of the total cost of product

5. Cost Concepts Controllable and Uncontrollable Costs
Incremental, Avoidable, and Sunk Costs
Total Cost = Total Fixed Cost + Total Variable Costs
Total Fixed Cost (TFC)
Total Variable Cost (TVC)
Total Cost (TC)

6. The Costs of Production

7. The Contribution Concept
Contribution equals selling price/unit minus variable cost/unit
The contribution per unit is used first to pay fixed costs and later profits
Selling Price/Unit = Total Cost/Unit + Profit/Unit
Total Cost/Unit = Variable Cost/Unit + Fixed Cost/Unit
Selling Price/Unit – Variable Cost/Unit = Fixed Cost/Unit + Profit/Unit

8. Using the Contribution Concept to Establish the Selling Price of a New Product
If the contribution/unit is 40% of the selling price/unit, the selling price/unit would be:
Total
Variable Costs
Per Unit =
[1 – Contribution Margin
Percentage] ×
[Selling Price
Per Unit]
For example,
$ = [1 – 0.40] × Selling Price/ Bag
$120
0.60
= Selling Price per Bag
$ = Selling Price per Bag

9. The Shutdown Point Short-term versus Long-term Pricing
In the short term, a firm with idle capacity can take a job where the price does not cover all the total cost as long as the contribution is positive (P – AVC > 0).
If the contribution is negative (P – AVC < 0) the firm is better off shutting down.
Over the long term, all costs must be covered.

10. Break-Even Analysis
Break-even analysis helps managers find the combination of costs, output, and selling price that permits the firm to break even, with no profits and losses
Selling Price
Output
Costs

11. Calculating the Break-Even Point in Units
The break-even point is calculated from the profit equation when profit is zero.
Profit = 0 = Total Revenue – Total Cost
0 = Total Revenue – TVC/Unit – TFC0
= P × Y – VC × Y – TFC
= (P – VC) Y – TFC
TFC = (P – VC) Y
TFC
(P – VC)
Y =
= Break-Even Point in Units

12. Calculating the Break-Even Point in Dollars
TFC
BEP$ =
CMP
Where: BEP$= Break-Even Point in Dollars
TFC = Total Fixed Costs
CMP = Contribution Margin Percentage
For example,
BEP$ =
$750,000
0.40
BEP$ = $1,875,000 = The Break-Even Point in Dollars

13. Meeting a Profit as a Percentage of Sales Objective Using Break-Even Analysis
TFC
(CMP – RPP)
BEP$ =
RPP = Required Profit Percentage
For example,
BEP$ =
(0.40 – 0.10)
$750,000
= $2,500,000
(or 20,000 bags at $125 per bag)

14. Evaluating Changes in Fixed Costs Using Break-Even Analysis
Minimum Change
in Dollar Sales Needed
to Break Even for the
Change in Fixed Costs
Change in Fixed Costs =
Contribution Margin Percentage
For example,
$1.00
= $2.50 = the minimum increase in dollar sales
needed to break even for each new dollar
spent on fixed costs
0.40

15. Determining a Selling Price Using Break-Even Analysis
Selling Price/Unit = Contribution + Variable Cost/Unit
If Variable Cost/Unit is known, all that is needed is Contribution
Contribution can be determined by rearranging the terms
of the break-even equation
TFC
= Y
Contribution
TFC Y
= Contribution

16. Inventory Management Reasons to hold inventory
Matching supply with demand
Prevent stockouts
Lower purchasing costs
Reasons not to hold inventory
High maintenance cost
High protection cost
Depreciation and obsolescence
Taxes

17. Impact of Inventory on Profits
Value of Inventory = $100,000
Inventory Carrying Cost = $25,000 (25 percent)
Each $1,000 reduction
in Inventory = $250 Profits
in Inventory = $5,000 in Sales
Why It Pays to Keep Inventories Low!

18. The Basic Inventory Management Model
The total cost of inventory (TC) equals the sum of ordering costs (OC) and carrying costs (CC)
TC = CC + OC
Managers’ goal is to minimize total cost. A manager needs to determine:
Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): the number of items to buy in each order that will minimize total cost, and
Reorder Point (ROP): when to reorder to minimize the chances of stockouts

19. The Basic Inventory Model

20. Discussion Questions
Explain why an agribusiness manager needs to understand production and inventory management. Give two examples of situations in which cost management made a difference.
Describe the relationship between the firm’s accounting system and its management information system. Give a definition for each. Explain which one is most important to management.
What is opportunity cost? Is it relevant to business decision making? Explain your answer. Give an example that shows its impact.
Describe the relationship between implicit and explicit costs. Describe how they are measured. Explain their role in production and pricing decisions in an agribusiness. Describe, using an example, how failure to properly account for them can get an agribusiness into trouble.

21. Explain how agribusiness managers use avoidable and sunk costs in their decision making. Why is this decision-making process called incremental analysis? Define economic efficiency and show with an example how incremental analysis helps firms increase their economic efficiency.
Draw a simple graph showing the total cost, fixed costs, and variable costs as production increases. Explain why each line looks the way it does.
Define the term “contribution” as used in this chapter. Give an example of how it could be used to price a new product.

22. Explain why a firm would take a job that does not give it a chance to make a profit. Explain when it would not accept this opportunity. Use a numerical example to explain why it is important for managers to know the difference between the two.
Using the break-even equations, describe and explain the relationship between cost, selling price, and output. Use a numerical example to make your points.
Describe and explain the importance of good inventory management of the firm’s overall objective of maximizing its long-term profits. What is the role of supply chain management and information technology in this process? Use a numerical example to make your points