Question

A pilot run of 115 units of a new product has been completed. The processing time for selected units is as given below in the table:

Unit Number	Time (minutes)
1	1000
3	846
4	810
5	783
8	729

a) What is the estimated learning curve for this task?

2. How long should it take to produce the 50^th unit?

Answer 1

(a)

In this way, the learning curve is 90%.

Another easy way is to implement the arithmetic method given the Time for 1st, 4th, and 8th unit.

1st = 1000 minutes
4th = 810 minutes i.e. 1000 x 0.9²
8th = 729 minutes i.e. 810 x 0.9¹

So, r = 90%

The learning curve equation will be: Time (Y_x) = 1000 * Units (X)^{LN(0.9)/LN(2)}

(b)

Y₅₀ = 1000 * 50^{LN(0.9)/LN(2)}

= 551.76 minutes