Method for determining the contribuition margin of products with prices and direct costs per unit variability: an application in a plastic products factory

Abstract

The aim is to present a method to determine the contribution margin of products that have marked direct costs per unit and prices variability. To achieve this goal, is proposed a three-step method built from the integration of Management Accounting and Operations Research techniques, emphasizing the Monte Carlo simulation. The method is applied from a didactic example which uses real data achieved through a research carried out in a plastic products industry that employ recycled material. Finally, it is concluded that the method is effective in the treatment of variability in prices and direct costs per unit in order to determine the products contribution margin.