A. C. Tech Manufacturing Appliances manufactures three sizes of kitchen appliances: small, medium, and large. Product information is provided below. Small Medium Large Unit selling price $430 $610 $1,210 Unit costs: Variable manufacturing (270) (280) (530) Fixed manufacturing (40) (170) (270) Fixed selling and administrative (70) (75) (140) Unit profit $50 $85 $270 Demand in units 150 170 150 Machine-hours per unit 60 60 150 The maximum machine-hours available are 6,500 per week. Which of the three product models should be produced first if management incorporates a short-run profit-maximizing strategy?

A. C. Tech Manufacturing Appliances

Product Models to produce first, if management incorporates a short-run profit-maximizing strategy:

Small Medium Large

Selling price $430 $610 $1,210

Variable cost $270 $280 $530

Contribution $160 $330 $680

Fixed Costs:

Fixed manufacturing $40 $170 $270

Fixed selling & admin $70 $75 $140

Unit Profit $50 $85 $270

Demand in units 150 170 150

Total profit $7,500 $14,450 $40,500

Machine hours/unit 60 60 150

Total machine hours required 9,000 10,200 22,500

Unit profit per machine hour $0.83 $1.42 $1.80

If management incorporates a short-run profit maximizing strategy, given maximum machine hours available, it should first produce the large model.

Explanation:

The large model offers better contribution per unit, better profit per unit and in total, and most importantly better profit per unit of hour (major constraint).

In making a limiting factor decision, the choice goes to the product model that produces more profit under the limiting constraint.