The following refers to units processed by a breakfast cereal maker in August. Compute the total equivalent units of production with respect to conversion for August using the weighted-average inventory method. Units of Product Percent of Conversion Added Beginning Work in Process 287,000 60 % Units started 582,000 100 % Units completed 655,600 100 % Ending Work in Process 213,400 40 %

Activity-based costing (abc) is not truly a cost collection mechanism as much as it is an inventory valuation method. the main purpose for implementing an activity-based cost system is to try to overcome some of the cost distortions that occur in traditional costing from product differences when there are variations in size and complexity. however, one of the disadvantages of utilizing abc is that the additional information gathering necessary to implement costing with that level of detail might be beyond the reach of some companies with resource or financial constraints. with this in mind, what kinds of industries or companies do you think would benefit most from using activity-based costing and why? in designing or modifying an accounting system to capture appropriate costs for abc, what considerations do you think would need to be made?