Atlas managerial accounting case: Examining joint products in the international scrap metal recycling industry

Regina Anctil, Stephanie D. Grimm and Mary M. Maloney

Journal of Accounting Education, 2020, vol. 51, issue C

Abstract: The purpose of the Atlas managerial accounting case is to apply managerial accounting, economic, and international business concepts. Atlas Scrap Metal produces the joint products of steel and mixed non-ferrous material, which includes the non-ferrous metals of aluminum, copper and zinc. Atlas currently sells containers of the mixed non-ferrous material to other processors to be sorted into pure metals. The processors bid on the containers of mixed non-ferrous material based on local spot prices for the sorted non-ferrous metals, as well as on their sorting costs, which vary geographically depending on local labor and automation costs. The case requires an analysis of the costs and revenues that are relevant to the company’s decision to continue to sell mixed non-ferrous material to other processors, or to vertically integrate and process the non-ferrous metals inhouse. You are required to support the recommendations quantitatively with calculated contribution margins and by considering a revenue sensitivity analysis on commodity prices for the non-ferrous metals. The Atlas case was inspired by Adam Minter, 2013 book, Junkyard Planet.

Keywords: Joint products; International business; Relevant costs; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:joaced:v:51:y:2020:i:c:s0748575120300087

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccedu.2020.100660

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