CONSULTING PROJECT

Production Decisions at Harding Silicon Enterprises, Inc.

Harding Silicon Enterprises, Inc. produces less than 1% of the world’s supply of 32 MB random access

memory (RAM) chips for electronic devices. HSE’s RAM chips perform according to globally accepted

performance standards for this type of silicon chip (i.e., its chips are just like every other producers’

chips). HSE has hired you to do undertake three tasks:

1. Perform a statistical analysis of its short-run production costs to estimate its total variable cost

function, average variable cost function, and marginal cost function. HSE believes its total fixed

costs will be $6,500 per month, so you do not need to estimate TFC.

2. Recommend production levels and forecast profits for two chip price scenarios:

a. The price of 32 MB RAM chips reaches $62 per chip, and

b. The price of 32 MB RAM chips falls to $35 per chip.

3. Determine the price below which HSE should shut down operations in the short run.

HSE provides you with the following cost and output data for the past 19 months. Over this time period,

inflation has been so low that you do not need to adjust the cost data for the effects of inflation (the CPI

rose only 0.4% over the 19 month time period). Monthly output of chips is given in the second column,

which is titled “Monthly production of finished product.” Costs are reported in seven categories (some

are fixed costs and some are variable costs). HINT: Remember, cost items are part of fixed costs if the

costs do not vary with output, even though fixed cost items may vary over time.

Month

Monthly

production of

finished product

Business

licenses

& fees

Insurance

premiums

Building

lease

payment

Materials

expenses Telephone

Energy

expenses

Wage

expense

Nov-98 875 0 0 3570 9690 945 7230 12250

Dec-98 670 0 0 3570 6700 945 5115 8995

Jan-99 1675 6000 2200 3570 16295 945 12884 23106

Feb-99 1155 0 0 3570 11285 945 9240 15225

Mar-99 1845 0 0 3570 16550 945 14220 24530

Apr-99 1650 0 0 3570 16230 945 12700 21600

May-99 1955 0 0 3570 19626 945 15640 27484

Jun-99 2845 0 0 3570 27410 945 22760 39830

Jul-99 2265 0 2200 3570 20526 945 17244 31225

Aug-99 3470 0 0 3570 34176 830 25760 48564

Sep-99 3665 0 0 3570 36726 830 28720 50094

Oct-99 3750 0 0 3570 42576 830 32000 54474

Nov-99 4595 0 0 3570 48226 830 37260 66414

Dec-99 4060 0 0 3570 41095 830 33155 57840

Jan-00 3575 7200 2450 4200 34550 830 27400 50050

Feb-00 4380 0 0 4200 41800 830 34460 61320

Mar-00 5575 0 0 4200 81750 830 54600 82150

Apr-00 7870 0 0 4200 92360 830 102960 130180

May-00 6750 0 0 4200 89576 830 70000 109774

Cost Items for Harding Silicon Enterprises, Inc.1. a. Compute total variable cost (TVC) by adding the appropriate columns of cost items.

Compute average variable cost (AVC). [Remember that you are given an estimate of

HSE’s future total fixed costs ($6,500 per month).] Print out the 19 months of data on

output (Q) and total variable cost (TVC) and average variable cost (AVC).

b. Plot a scatter diagram of TVC on the vertical axis and Q on the horizontal axis. Does the

scatter diagram suggest a functional form for TVC? Explain briefly.

c. Plot a scatter diagram of AVC on the vertical axis and Q on the horizontal axis. Does the

scatter diagram suggest a functional form for AVC? Explain briefly.

d. Estimate a quadratic AVC function. Present the estimated equation and evaluate the

regression results (i.e., discuss the algebraic signs of the parameter estimates, the

significance levels, and the R

2

).

e. Evaluate the results of your regression equation in part a. Specifically discuss algebraic

signs of parameters, statistical significance, and goodness of fit.

2. a. How many chips should be produced (monthly) if world chip prices are $62 per chip?

Forecast the HSE’s profit at this output level.

b. How many chips should be produced (monthly) if world chip prices are $35 per chip?

Forecast the profit at this output level.

3. At what price should Harding shut down and produce no chips in the short run?