Zouar Computer Corporation currently manufactures the disk drives that it uses in its computers. The costs to produce 5,000 of these disk drives last year were as follows: Cost per drive
Direct materials $12
Direct labor 2
Variable manufacturing overhead 5
Fixed manufacturing overhead 7
Total $26
Kidal Electronics has offered to provide Zouar with all of its disk drive needs for $27 per drive. If Zouar accepts this offer, Zouar will be able to use the freed up space to generate an additional $40,000 of income each year to produce more of its computer keyboards. Only $3 per drive of the fixed manufacturing overhead cost above could be avoided. Direct labor is an avoidable cost in this decision. Based on this information, would Zouar be financially better off making the drives or buying the drives and by how much?
a. $15,000 better to buy.
b. $20,000 better to buy.
c. $35,000 better to buy.
d. $60,000 better to make.

Speedy auto repairs uses a job-order costing system. the company’s direct materials consist of replacement parts installed in customer vehicles, and its direct labor consists of the mechanics’ hourly wages. speedy’s overhead costs include various items, such as the shop manager’s salary, depreciation of equipment, utilities, insurance, and magazine subscriptions and refreshments for the waiting room. the company applies all of its overhead costs to jobs based on direct labor-hours. at the beginning of the year, it made the following estimates: direct labor-hours required to support estimated output 20,000 fixed overhead cost $ 350,000 variable overhead cost per direct labor-hour $ 1.00 required: 1. compute the predetermined overhead rate. 2. during the year, mr. wilkes brought in his vehicle to replace his brakes, spark plugs, and tires. the following information was available with respect to his job: direct materials $ 590 direct labor cost $ 109 direct labor-hours used 6