The direct materials price variance indicates that DDC paid more for brass than they had
planned. If this is because they purchased a higher quality of brass, it may explain why they
used less brass than expected (leading to a favorable material efficiency variance). In turn, since variable manufacturing overhead is assigned based on pounds of materials used, this directly led to the favorable variable overhead efficiency variance. The purchase of a better quality of brass may also explain why it took less labor time to produce the doorknobs than expected (the favorable direct labor efficiency variance). Finally, the unfavorable direct labor price variance could imply that the workers who were hired were more experienced than expected, which could also be related to the positive direct material and direct labor efficiency variances.