Question 1

Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of the arithmetic approach over the logarithmic approach to learning curve calculations.

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Question 2

Two manufacturers have very different learning rates; one is under 70% while the other is over 80%. What factors might lead to such a gap?

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Question 3

In the logarithmic approach to learning curve calculations, you have used the formula TN = T₁. (Nᵇ). Your manager shows you a problem for which b is specified as -.18442. What learning rate does that value represent?

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Question 4

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning rate is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, estimate how long it will take to complete the third unit.

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Question 5

What cautions are in order when using learning curves?

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Question 6

What can cause a learning curve to vary from a smooth downward slope?

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Question 7

You are about to undertake manufacture of a labor-intensive electronics component. The first unit took 300 hours. You are not sure whether the learning rate is 70% or 80%. The initial phase of the contract calls for 6 of these components.
a. How much time will it take to complete all six at 70% learning?
b. How much time will it take to complete all six at 80% learning?

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Question 8

Your company is making experimental turbochargers for a new design of high-powered farm tractors. The production schedule for these new components is contained in the table below.
 $$\begin{array} { | c | c | } 
\hline \text { Month } & \text { Turbochargers } \
\hline 1 & 4 \
\hline 2 & 6 \
\hline 3 & 7 \
\hline 4 & 8 \
\hline 5 & 5 \
\hline
\end{array}$$ 
The first turbocharger, a trial unit, took 900 hours to produce. Based on your experience with similar products, the learning factor is 85%. You have 20 employees, and each employee works 160 hours per month. How many hours will be required in each month?
 In which month(s) will overtime be required to meet the production schedule?

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Question 9

Your firm has a contract to make 20 specialty lenses for night vision equipment. The first one took 40 hours. Learning is expected at the 85% rate. How long will it take to finish all 20 units?

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Question 10

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning rate is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, use the logarithmic approach to determine how long it will take to do the third unit.

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Question 11

A small manufacturer that offers "hand crafted" furniture has developed a new style of desk that they believe will be very successful in the marketplace. It is expected that the first desk will take about 60 hours of craftsmen's time to complete. They expect a 90% learning curve for this desk.
How long will it take to make the 20ᵗʰ desk?
 The firm is considering accepting an order for 25 desks. How many hours of labor will this require for all 25?

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Question 12

The Learning-Curve Coefficients table reports that for 70 percent learning, the eighth unit has a unit time value of 0.343. Verify that table entry by use of the arithmetic method.

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Question 13

In the logarithmic approach to learning curve calculations, you have used the formula TN = T₁. (Nᵇ). For a problem with a 92 percent learning rate, what is b?

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Question 14

The first unit took 79 hours; the tenth took 46 hours. What learning rate is implied by the data?

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Question 15

A certain product under development took 200 hours for the production of its 2nd unit and 180 hours for its 4th unit.
a. What is the learning rate?
b. How much time did the first unit take?
c. How much time would the production of the 10th unit take?
 (Use both the logarithmic and the Table E.3 approach. Do the two versions agree?
)

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Question 16

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning rate is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, how long will it take to do the second?
 How long will it take to do the fourth?

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Question 17

In the Learning-Curve Coefficients table for 70 percent learning, the sixth unit has a unit time value of 0.398. Verify that table entry by use of the logarithmic formula. Use five decimals in your work.

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Question 18

Explain how learning curves might be applied in a bid preparation application.

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Question 19

Explain how learning curves might be applied in a scheduling application.

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Question 20

A contractor builds large ships for the Department of Defense. A recent contract called for 12 amphibious landing platforms. It was originally estimated that the first of these would cost $1 billion and that 80 percent learning would be appropriate. In fact, the first ship cost $1.6 billion and the second $1.12 billion. What is the revised learning rate?
 What will be the total cost of the twelve ships?
 Is it higher or lower than the original estimates?
 If the defense department cuts the contract from 12 ships to 9, what happens to the average cost per ship?

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Quiz 25: Learning Curves

Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of the arithmetic approach over the logarithmic approach to learning curve calculations.

Two manufacturers have very different learning rates; one is under 70% while the other is over 80%. What factors might lead to such a gap?

In the logarithmic approach to learning curve calculations, you have used the formula TN = T₁. (Nᵇ). Your manager shows you a problem for which b is specified as -.18442. What learning rate does that value represent?

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning rate is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, estimate how long it will take to complete the third unit.

What cautions are in order when using learning curves?

What can cause a learning curve to vary from a smooth downward slope?

Your firm has a contract to make 20 specialty lenses for night vision equipment. The first one took 40 hours. Learning is expected at the 85% rate. How long will it take to finish all 20 units?

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning rate is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, use the logarithmic approach to determine how long it will take to do the third unit.

The Learning-Curve Coefficients table reports that for 70 percent learning, the eighth unit has a unit time value of 0.343. Verify that table entry by use of the arithmetic method.

In the logarithmic approach to learning curve calculations, you have used the formula TN = T₁. (Nᵇ). For a problem with a 92 percent learning rate, what is b?

The first unit took 79 hours; the tenth took 46 hours. What learning rate is implied by the data?

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning rate is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, how long will it take to do the second? How long will it take to do the fourth?

In the Learning-Curve Coefficients table for 70 percent learning, the sixth unit has a unit time value of 0.398. Verify that table entry by use of the logarithmic formula. Use five decimals in your work.

Explain how learning curves might be applied in a bid preparation application.

Explain how learning curves might be applied in a scheduling application.