I. Introduction
This report aims to address the concerns raised by Mr. Mashaba, the maintenance manager,
regarding the accuracy of maintenance cost calculations within the budget for the coming year. Mr.
Mashaba has pointed out that using a flat rate for maintenance services does not reflect the actual
costs incurred due to the labor-intensive nature of maintenance, especially on ovens. This report will
analyze the data presented by Mr. Mashaba and provide insights into the relationship between
maintenance costs and various factors such as output, number of employees, and direct labor hours.
II. Problem Statement
The problem at hand is to accurately calculate maintenance costs for the budget, considering the
factors that contribute to these costs, such as the number of machines serviced, the number of
employees involved, and the direct labor hours required. The challenge is to develop a formula that
captures the variations in maintenance costs based on these factors to ensure a more realistic
budgeting process.
III. Descriptive Statistics
The provided data consists of several variables: Output, Number of Employees, Direct Labor Hours,
and Total Cost. Let's calculate some descriptive statistics for these variables:
• Output:
• Mean: 536.25
• Standard Deviation: 213.29
• Number of Employees:
• Mean: 36.08
• Standard Deviation: 4.67
• Direct Labor Hours:
• Mean: 5,318.92
• Standard Deviation: 1,392.55
• Total Cost:
• Mean: 75,070.42
• Standard Deviation: 21,805.21
IV. Commentary on Descriptive Statistics
From the descriptive statistics, we can observe that there is variability in all the variables. The
standard deviations are relatively high, indicating that there is significant dispersion around the
mean for each variable. This variability suggests that the relationship between maintenance costs
and the other variables might not be straightforward.
V. Scatterplots and Trend Lines
a. Relationship between Output and Total Cost:
This report aims to address the concerns raised by Mr. Mashaba, the maintenance manager,
regarding the accuracy of maintenance cost calculations within the budget for the coming year. Mr.
Mashaba has pointed out that using a flat rate for maintenance services does not reflect the actual
costs incurred due to the labor-intensive nature of maintenance, especially on ovens. This report will
analyze the data presented by Mr. Mashaba and provide insights into the relationship between
maintenance costs and various factors such as output, number of employees, and direct labor hours.
II. Problem Statement
The problem at hand is to accurately calculate maintenance costs for the budget, considering the
factors that contribute to these costs, such as the number of machines serviced, the number of
employees involved, and the direct labor hours required. The challenge is to develop a formula that
captures the variations in maintenance costs based on these factors to ensure a more realistic
budgeting process.
III. Descriptive Statistics
The provided data consists of several variables: Output, Number of Employees, Direct Labor Hours,
and Total Cost. Let's calculate some descriptive statistics for these variables:
• Output:
• Mean: 536.25
• Standard Deviation: 213.29
• Number of Employees:
• Mean: 36.08
• Standard Deviation: 4.67
• Direct Labor Hours:
• Mean: 5,318.92
• Standard Deviation: 1,392.55
• Total Cost:
• Mean: 75,070.42
• Standard Deviation: 21,805.21
IV. Commentary on Descriptive Statistics
From the descriptive statistics, we can observe that there is variability in all the variables. The
standard deviations are relatively high, indicating that there is significant dispersion around the
mean for each variable. This variability suggests that the relationship between maintenance costs
and the other variables might not be straightforward.
V. Scatterplots and Trend Lines
a. Relationship between Output and Total Cost:
