Wheels, Inc. manufactures wheels for bicycles, tricycles, and scooters. For each cost given below, determine if the cost is a product cost or a period cost. If the cost is a product cost, further determine if the cost is direct materials (DM), direct labor (DL), or manufacturing overhead (MOH) and then determine if the product cost is a prime cost, conversion cost, or both. If the cost is a period cost, further determine if the cost is a selling expense or administrative expense (Admin). Cost (a) is answered as a guide.

Solution:

Cost Product Period

DM DL MOH Prime Conversion Selling Admin.

a. Metal used for rims X X

b. Sales salaries

c. Rent on factory

d. Wages of assembly

workers

e. Salary of production

supervisor

f. Depreciation on

office equipment

g. Salary of CEO

h. Delivery expense

a. Metal used for rims: Product - DM - Prime

b. Sales salaries: Period - Selling

c. Rent on factory: Product - MOH - Conversion

d. Wages of assembly workers: Product - DL - Prime - Conversion

e. Salary of production supervisor: Period - Admin

f. Depreciation on office equipment: Period

g. Salary of CEO: Period - Admin

h. Delivery expense: Period - Selling

Explanation:

- Direct materials are those materials and supplies that are consumed during the manufacture of a product, and which are directly identified with that product.

- Direct labor is production or services labor that is assigned to a specific product, cost center, or work order.

- Manufacturing overhead refers to indirect factory-related costs that are incurred when a product is manufactured.

- Period costs are not directly tied to the production process. Overhead or sales, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs are considered period costs. SG&A includes costs of the corporate office, selling, marketing, and the overall administration of company business.

- Product costs are the direct costs involved in producing a product. A manufacturer, for example, would have production costs that include: Direct labor, Raw materials, Manufacturing supplies, Overhead that's directly tied to the production facility such as electricity.

- Prime cost = direct material + direct labor

- Conversion cost = direct labor + MOH

In this exercise:

a. Metal used for rims: Product - DM - Prime

b. Sales salaries: Period - Selling

c. Rent on factory: Product - MOH - Conversion

d. Wages of assembly workers: Product - DL - Prime - Conversion

e. Salary of production supervisor: Period - Admin

f. Depreciation on office equipment: Period

g. Salary of CEO: Period - Admin

h. Delivery expense: Period - Selling