Hershey's Adapting Operations
Background Hershey company has made several strategic acquisitions to improve its organic and healthy offerings, including acquiring Dagoba Organic Chocolates and Amplify Snack Brands. Hershey’s use of sustainably sourced cocoa beans has increased from roughly 50% to 75% of all cocoa beans used in production. It is targeting 100% in 2 years.
Multiple Choice Questions 1. Hershey’s Mixing Department began the month with a work in process inventory of $100,000. During the month it assigned the following costs: Direct Materials: $135,000 Direct Labor: $50,000 Overhead (30% of Direct Labor): $15,000 During the month, inventory of $220,000 was transferred to the next department. Calculate the ending balance of work in process inventory for the Mixing Department. a. $120,000 b. $20,000 c. $80,000 d. $85,000
Multiple Choice Questions 2. Assume that Hershey’s Mixing department completed 125,000 units and has an ending work in process inventory of 25,000 units that are 100% complete with respect to their direct materials costs and are 60% complete with respect to its conversion costs. At the end of the period, what are the equivalent units of production (EUP) with respect to conversion (assume weighted average method)? a. 140,000 EUP b. 150,000 EUP c. 190,000 EUP d. 110,000 EUP
Discussion Questions 3. Hershey Co. has a limited number of product lines, and production runs result in a high volume of product. Production is not specifically dependent upon any single customer order. Knowing these facts, discuss whether Hershey Co. is a job order or process operation. 4. Hershey increased their utilization of sustainably sourced cocoa beans used in production from below 50% to 75%. The article also states that Hershey Co. has committed to increasing their sustainably sourced cocoa beans to 100% by 2020. Discuss difficulties the company may face in increasing their use of sustainable sourced cocoa beans to 100%.