ENGR 345

Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Dr. Lotfi Gaafar

The American University in Cairo

Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Introduction to Breakeven Analysis

Breakeven Analysis in the context of Production planning

addresses the decision of whether to make or buy a
product.
Making the product involves two cost elements:
Fixed costs such as machine renting cost and operation expenses
Variable costs such as raw material cost

Buying the product involves only one cost element, the

selling price. However, the price may either be constant or
variable based on the quantity.

Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Linear Breakeven Analysis

Assumptions: (1) Price is constant (p); (2) We have fixed costs; (3)
We have constant variable cost.
Buy Cost (BC) = pQ
Making is better

Cost

Make Cost (MC) = FC + vQ

Buying is better
Variable cost: vQ

Fixed Cost: FC
Savings : S = BC MC = pQ FC vQ
Breakeven: S = 0, pQ = FC + vQ
Quantity (Q)
Q
Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Linear Breakeven Analysis

A particular product sells for a price of $70. If the fixed cost are $800/month and the variable
cost per unit is $30/unit, determine the breakeven quantity. [20]

Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Nonlinear Breakeven Analysis

Assumptions: (1) Price varies with demand; (2) We have fixed costs;
(3) We have constant variable cost.
$
Make Cost (MC) = FC + vQ
Buy Cost (BC) = pQ

Break-even
output

maximum
savings

Break-even
output

Fixed Cost: FC

p = (a bQ)
Savings (S) = pQ FC vQ = (a bQ)Q FC vQ
S = aQ bQ2 (FC+vQ)
S = (a-v)Q bQ2 FC .. (1)
Set (1) equal to zero to determine breakeven.
Differentiate (1) with respect to Q and set the result equal to zero to find Q that maximizes the savings.
Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Nonlinear Breakeven Analysis

A particular product has a unit price that starts at $78 with a $0.1 discount for each unit
purchased. If the fixed cost are $800/month and the variable cost per unit is $30/unit, determine
the demand quantity that maximizes the savings of making and the breakeven quantities. [240,
17.28, 462.72]

Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Time Value of Money

Suppose a firm is considering manufacturing a new product and the
following data have been provided:
Sales price
$12.50/unit
Equipment cost
$200,000
Overhead cost
$50,000/year
Operating and maintenance cost
$25/operating hour
Production time/1000 units
100 hours
Planning horizon
5 years
Minimum attractive rate of return
15%
Determine the sales volume that would make manufacturing this
product profitable.
[10,966]
Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Time Value of Money

Consider a contractor who experiences a seasonal pattern of activity for
compressors. The manager currently owns eight compressors and suspects that
this number will not be adequate to meet the demand. The contractor realizes that
there will arise situations when more than eight compressors will be required, and
is considering purchasing an additional compressor for use during heavy demand
periods. Local equipment rental firm will rent compressors at a cost of $50/day.
Compressors can be purchased for $6000. The difference in operating and
maintenance costs between owned and rented compressors is estimated to be
$3000/year.
Letting X denote the number of days a year that more than eight compressors are
required, perform a breakeven analysis. Assume a planning horizon of 5 years,
zero salvage values, and 20% minimum attractive rate of return .

[100.128]

Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Basic Definitions
Fixed/Variable Costs - If costs change appreciably with
fluctuations in business activity, they are variable. Otherwise,
they are fixed. A widely used cost model is: Total Costs =
Fixed Costs + Variable Costs
Price is the amount of money, goods or services that must be
given up to acquire ownership or use of a product.
Recurring/Nonrecurring Costs are repetitive and occur when
an organization produces goods or services on a continuing
basis, they are recurring. Otherwise they are nonrecurring.
Variable costs are recurring since they repeat with each unit of
output.
Direct/Indirect Costs - If costs can be reasonably measured
and allocated to a specific output, they are direct. Otherwise
they are indirect.
Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis

Basic Definitions
Overhead Costs - All costs of providing goods or services other
than direct labor and direct material. Indirect costs are a subset of
overhead costs. Fixed overhead relates more to plant capacity than
production volume (variable overhead). Allocation of overhead to
specific outputs may be in proportion to:
1. Direct labor hours
2. Direct material costs
3. Machine hours
Opportunity Costs - The cost of forgoing the chance to earn
interest (or profit) on investment funds.

Engineering Economy

Breakeven Analysis