When a manufacturing business receives a special order, it must decide whether to accept or reject the order based on several factors. One critical factor is the concept of contribution.
Contribution refers to the difference between the selling price of a product and its variable costs. It is an essential metric for determining how much profit a company makes from each unit sold and can be used to evaluate the profitability of a special order.
Here are some steps that a manufacturing business can take when using contribution analysis to decide on whether to accept or reject a special order:
Determine Variable Costs: The first step is to identify the variable costs associated with producing the product in question. These include direct materials, direct labor, and other variable costs such as packaging or shipping.
Calculate Contribution Margin: Once variable costs have been identified, subtract them from the selling price of the product to calculate its contribution margin per unit.
Evaluate Special Order Profitability: Compare the contribution margin per unit for the special order against regular sales volumes. If accepting the special order will result in lower contribution margins than regular sales, it may not be profitable and should be rejected.
In addition to considering contribution margin, manufacturers need to assess other factors before deciding whether to accept or reject a special order. Some of these factors may include:
Production Capacity: Manufacturers need to evaluate if they have enough production capacity available to fulfill the special order without disrupting regular production schedules.
Lead Times: If accepting a special order requires new equipment or processes, then manufacturers need to consider lead times required for procurement and installation.
Brand Image & Quality Control: Manufacturers should also consider if fulfilling this special order may affect their brand image or quality control standards negatively.
Long-Term Relationship Potential: Sometimes accepting smaller orders might make sense if it leads towards building long-term relationships with customers who might place larger orders in future
Overall, using contribution analysis alongside other relevant considerations helps manufacturing businesses make informed decisions about whether to accept or reject special orders. By weighing up all the factors involved, manufacturers can avoid taking on unprofitable business and focus on opportunities that deliver a positive impact on their bottom line.