The starting point in preparing a comprehensive budget for a manufacturing company
limited by its ability to produce and not by its ability to sell is
Merriweather Corporation is a manufacturer of tables sold to schools, restaurants, hotels,
and other institutions. The table tops are manufactured by Merriweather, but the table
legs are purchased from an outside supplier. The Assembly Department takes a
manufactured table top and attaches the four purchased table legs. It takes 20 minutes of
labor to assemble a table. The company follows a policy of producing enough tables to
insure that 40% of next month’s sales are in the finished goods inventory. Merriweather
also purchases sufficient raw materials (legs) to insure that raw materials (legs) inventory
is 60% of the following month’s scheduled production needs. Merriweather’s sales budget
in units for the next quarter is as follows: (CMA adapted)