Discussion - Example Problem of Keep or Drop Decisions
Discussion - Example Problem of Keep or Drop Decisions
Drop Decisions
The Decision to Drop a Product or Service
The decision to drop a product or a service is among the most difficult that a
manager can make.
Qualitative factors are sometimes more important than focusing solely on
income.
Let’s turn our attention to an example of dropping a product line. Clayton
Herring is thinking about dropping the mud and snow (M&S) tires. According
to the analysis in this slide, they have a negative loss on the line of P25,000.
One of the problems is that the mud and snow tires require more machine
time to make than the other tires. Consequently, they were allocated a greater
portion of fixed overhead. However, only P100,000 of M&S’s fixed costs are
avoidable, since the machines used to make the mud and snow tires are used
on several models of tires. Should the company drop the line?
Mud and Snow All Other Tires Total
Sales 1,275,000 7,500,000 8,775,000
Less: Direct Materials 600,000 2,530,000 3,130,000
Direct Labor 250,000 1,500,000 1,750,000
Variable Overhead 100,000 600,000 700,000
Contribution Margin 325,000 2,870,000 3,195,000
Less: Fixed Overhead 350,000 1,050,000 1,400,000
Net Income (25,000) 1,820,000 1,795,000
What impact will discontinuing the sale of mud and snow tires have on sales of the
remaining product lines?
Clayton Herring may lose distributors, since they cannot provide a full line of tires.