A Manufacturing Firm Is Considering Whether to Produce or Outsource

Essay

A manufacturing firm is considering whether to produce or outsource the production of a new product. If they produce the item themselves, they will incur a fixed cost of $950,000 per year, but if they outsource overseas there will be a $1.5 million cost per year. The advantage of outsourcing overseas is the variable cost of 95¢ per unit, which is a fraction of their $43/unit cost in their own union shop. Regardless of where these devices are made, they will sell for $98 each. What is the break-even quantity for each alternative? Solve this problem graphically and algebraically.