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Over the past few decades, the cost structure of manufacturing companies has shifted. In the early 1900s, direct material costs were substantial while fixed costs represented a small fraction of total manufacturing costs. However, the cost structure has reversed and now fixed costs make up the majority of total manufacturing costs. What caused this to happen? What would explain the drastic change in cost structure?

Explain how making more products that can be sold in a period can increase a company's operating income. Should this tactic be used to increase operating income? Would this happen in service companies or only manufacturing companies? Explain.

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Over the past few decades, the cost structure of manufacturing companies has shifted. In the early 1900s, direct material costs were substantial while fixed costs represented a small fraction of total manufacturing costs. However, the cost structure has reversed and now fixed costs make up the majority of total manufacturing costs. What caused this to happen? What would explain the drastic change in cost structure?

Explain how making more products that can be sold in a period can increase a company's operating income. Should this tactic be used to increase operating income? Would this happen in service companies or only manufacturing companies? Explain.

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What caused this to happen? What would explain the drastic change in cost structure?

Over the decades, we learned ways to reduce direct material costs. We learned how to make materials cheaper, and when we couldn't make them any cheaper, we found others that could. We ...

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