Question 1

What problems in scheduling can arise if adjustments for learning curve effects in operations are not made?

Accepted Answer

Labor and productive facilitie

Question 2

A metal works fabricator is about to release a new model of his firm's copper sculpture and fountain. The operations manager estimates that this product is subject to a 90 percent learning rate on labor only-the material bill is not affected by experience. The firm prices its work based on cost-the sum of materials plus 30 percent and labor plus 50 percent. (This allows the firm to practice a little "demand management" for its very popular works.) The first item has already been finished; the material bill was $800 and labor totaled 40 hours. The firm pays its metalworking artisans an average of $18 per hour. What should be the asking price of the first unit? The second?

Accepted Answer

Based on the pricing formula, the first

Question 3

A manager is trying to estimate the appropriate learning curve for a certain job. The manager notes that the first four units had a total time of 30 minutes. Which learning curve would yield approximately this result if the first unit took 9 minutes? (Use Table E.3 cumulative coefficient)

Accepted Answer

A)  0.70 
B)  0.75 
C)  0.80 
D)  0.85 
E)  0.90 
A)  0.70 
B)  0.75 
C)  0.80 
D)  0.85 
E)  0.90

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, how long will it take to do the second? How long will it take to do the fourth?

Accepted Answer

Use the successive doubling (a

Question 5

Learning curves are

Accepted Answer

A)  the same for all products but different for different organizations 
B)  the same for all organizations but different for different products 
C)  the same for all organizations and all products 
D)  different for different organizations and different products 
E)  appropriate in services but not in manufacturing 
A)  the same for all products but different for different organizations 
B)  the same for all organizations but different for different products 
C)  the same for all organizations and all products 
D)  different for different organizations and different products 
E)  appropriate in services but not in manufacturing

Question 6

Experience curves are the opposite of learning curves-as one rises, the other falls.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

A 100% learning curve implies that

Accepted Answer

A)  learning is taking place for all products and workers 
B)  learning is taking place at the best possible level 
C)  a 100% reduction in the direct labor time takes place each time the production is doubled 
D)  no learning is taking place 
E)  None of the above is true. 
A)  learning is taking place for all products and workers 
B)  learning is taking place at the best possible level 
C)  a 100% reduction in the direct labor time takes place each time the production is doubled 
D)  no learning is taking place 
E)  None of the above is true.

Question 8

The fourth unit of production took 80 minutes while the ninth unit of production took 50 minutes. How long did the first unit take?

Accepted Answer

T(1)=80/(4^b)=50/(9^

Question 9

A 90% learning curve implies that each time the production volume is doubled the direct time per unit is reduced to 90% of its previous value.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

A project manager bases his time and labor estimates on a learning curve of 86%. The actual learning curve turns out to be 89%. The manager, because of the decreased learning, will complete his project in more time and with more labor use.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Experience curves may be valid for industrial applications, but have no role in services such as health care procedures.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The learning curve coefficient approach may be simpler to use than the logarithmic approach, but it requires the presence of a table of learning coefficients.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Failure to consider the effects of learning can lead to __________ of labor needs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Failure to consider the effects of learning...

Question 14

A product was priced assuming an 80% learning rate. How much extra labor (in $) will be required on the 4th product if the learning rate is actually 90%? Assume that labor costs $10/hour and the first unit cost $100 to produce.

Accepted Answer

4^-.322 = .64 and 4^

Question 15

What is the basic premise underlying the learning curve?

Accepted Answer

The basic premise underlying t

Question 16

A firm that successfully pursues a steeper-than-industry-average learning curve and manages costs down may still fail if, by underestimating a strong competitor, it fails to gain the added volume necessary for the learning curve to exist.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Learning curves can be applied to a variety of purposes internal to a firm, including

Accepted Answer

A)  labor forecasting 
B)  scheduling 
C)  establishing costs 
D)  establishing budgets 
E)  all of these 
A)  labor forecasting 
B)  scheduling 
C)  establishing costs 
D)  establishing budgets 
E)  all of these

Question 18

The first unit of a product took 80 work days. The learning curve is estimated to be 90%. The time for the fourth unit will be about __________ work days and the time for the first four units will be about __________ work days. (Use Table E.3)

Accepted Answer

A)  51; 250 
B)  250; 51 
C)  65; 285 
D)  51; cannot be determined 
E)  65; cannot be determined 
A)  51; 250 
B)  250; 51 
C)  65; 285 
D)  51; cannot be determined 
E)  65; cannot be determined

Question 19

Reevaluation of learning curves is inappropriate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following statements regarding the usefulness of learning curves is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  An external use of learning curves is in supply-chain negotiations. 
B)  A strategic use of learning curves is in evaluating company and industry performance. 
C)  An internal use of learning curves is in establishing costs. 
D)  An internal use of learning curves is in labor forecasting. 
E)  A strategic use of learning curves is in establishing budgets. 
A)  An external use of learning curves is in supply-chain negotiations. 
B)  A strategic use of learning curves is in evaluating company and industry performance. 
C)  An internal use of learning curves is in establishing costs. 
D)  An internal use of learning curves is in labor forecasting. 
E)  A strategic use of learning curves is in establishing budgets.

Exam 22: Vehicle Routing and Scheduling

What problems in scheduling can arise if adjustments for learning curve effects in operations are not made?

A manager is trying to estimate the appropriate learning curve for a certain job. The manager notes that the first four units had a total time of 30 minutes. Which learning curve would yield approximately this result if the first unit took 9 minutes? (Use Table E.3 cumulative coefficient)

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?

Learning curves are

Experience curves are the opposite of learning curves-as one rises, the other falls.

A 100% learning curve implies that

The fourth unit of production took 80 minutes while the ninth unit of production took 50 minutes. How long did the first unit take?

A 90% learning curve implies that each time the production volume is doubled the direct time per unit is reduced to 90% of its previous value.

A project manager bases his time and labor estimates on a learning curve of 86%. The actual learning curve turns out to be 89%. The manager, because of the decreased learning, will complete his project in more time and with more labor use.

Experience curves may be valid for industrial applications, but have no role in services such as health care procedures.

The learning curve coefficient approach may be simpler to use than the logarithmic approach, but it requires the presence of a table of learning coefficients.

Failure to consider the effects of learning can lead to __________ of labor needs.

A product was priced assuming an 80% learning rate. How much extra labor (in $) will be required on the 4th product if the learning rate is actually 90%? Assume that labor costs $10/hour and the first unit cost $100 to produce.

What is the basic premise underlying the learning curve?

A firm that successfully pursues a steeper-than-industry-average learning curve and manages costs down may still fail if, by underestimating a strong competitor, it fails to gain the added volume necessary for the learning curve to exist.

Learning curves can be applied to a variety of purposes internal to a firm, including

The first unit of a product took 80 work days. The learning curve is estimated to be 90%. The time for the fourth unit will be about __________ work days and the time for the first four units will be about __________ work days. (Use Table E.3)

Reevaluation of learning curves is inappropriate.

Which of the following statements regarding the usefulness of learning curves is false?

Operations and Productivity

Operations Strategy in a Global Environment

Project Management

Forecasting

Design of Goods and Services

Managing Quality

Process Strategy

Location Strategies

Layout Strategies

Human Resources, Job Design, and Work Measurement

Supply-Chain Management

Inventory Management

Aggregate Planning

Material Requirements Planning Mrp and Erp

Short-Term Scheduling

Just-In-Time and Lean Options

Maintenance and Reliability

Statistical Tools for Managers

Acceptance Sampling

The Simplex Method of Linear Programming

The Modi and Vam Methods of Solving Transportation Problems

Managing Quality

Process Strategy

Supply-Chain Management

Vehicle Routing and Scheduling

Filters

A product was priced assuming an 80% learning rate. How much extra labor (in $) will be required on the 4^th product if the learning rate is actually 90%? Assume that labor costs $10/hour and the first unit cost $100 to produce.

The first unit of a product took 80 work days. The learning curve is estimated to be 90%. The time for the fourth unit will be about work days and the time for the first four units will be about work days. (Use Table E.3)