A favorable direct materials price variance might lead to an unfavorable direct materials quantity variance because the company purchased inferior materials.

Direct Materials Price Variance

The difference between the actual cost of direct materials purchased and the expected (or standard) cost, impacting the overall cost of goods sold.

Direct Materials Quantity Variance

The difference between the actual quantity of materials used in production and the standard amount expected to be used, multiplied by the standard cost of those materials.

Inferior Materials

Materials of lower quality than standard, which may affect the quality of finished goods and potentially reduce manufacturing costs.