You, the managerial accountant, are asked by the CFO (Mr. Smith) of WilsonWest Manufacturing (a new company) to set up a product costing system. The following are the types of expenses that will be included: Direct labor Direct materials Utilities Depreciation Maintenance Insurance on the equipment Rent on the plant Administrative salaries Rent for the office In a memo format, explain to Mr. Smith and the president what will be included in product costing. Explain what is involved in a product costing system. Explain why WilsonWest Manufacturing needs to have a product costing system. Allocate the above expenses as fixed, mixed, or variable expenses. Prepare calculations for the following, and explain your computations: Variable cost: The unit rate is $0.25, and the actual hours used for manufacturing are 15,000. Mixed cost: The unit rate is $0.25, actual hours are 10,000, and the fixed cost is $5,000 per month. Total cost: Use your calculations from above. Explain this to Mr. Smith who will prepare these calculations on a monthly basis.

