Basic flexible budgeting Centron, Inc., has the following budgeted production costs: Direct materials $0.40 per unit Direct labor 1.80 per unit Variable factory overhead 2.20 per unit Fixed factory overhead Supervision $24,000 Maintenance 18,000 Other 12,000 The company normally manufactures between 20,000 and 25,000 units each quarter. Should output exceed 25,000 units, maintenance and other fixed costs are expected to increase by $6,000 and $4,500, respectively. During the recent quarter ended March 31, Centron produced 25,500 units and incurred the following costs: Direct Materials $10,710 Direct Labor 47,175 Variable factory overhead 51,940 Fixed factory overhead Supervision 24,500 Maintenance 23,700 Other 16,800 Total production costs $174,825

Instructions:

a. Prepare a flexible budget for 20,000, 22,500, and 25,000 units of activity.

b. Was Centron's experience in the quarter cited better or worse than anticipated? Prepare an appropriate performance report and explain your answer.

c. Explain the benefit of using flexible budgets (as opposed to static budgets) in the measurement of performance.