Question 1

Which of the following statements comparing learning curve rates (L)to improvement rates is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A) The learning curve rate is the same as the improvement rate. 
B) The learning curve rate is a decimal value while the improvement rate is a percentage. 
C) A 90 percent learning curve corresponds to a 10 percent rate of improvement. 
D) Learning curve rates apply to labor only,while improvement rates apply to all resources. 
E) "Learning curve rates" is American usage,while "improvement rates" is British. 
A) The learning curve rate is the same as the improvement rate. 
B) The learning curve rate is a decimal value while the improvement rate is a percentage. 
C) A 90 percent learning curve corresponds to a 10 percent rate of improvement. 
D) Learning curve rates apply to labor only,while improvement rates apply to all resources. 
E) "Learning curve rates" is American usage,while "improvement rates" is British.

Question 2

In the formula to compute the time for the Nth unit,TN = T1(Nb),the exponent b is the learning curve rate L,expressed as a decimal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

A company negotiates a price for two aircraft that includes a reduction in labor on the second aircraft consistent with a 70% learning curve.Suppose the first aircraft took 100 hours.If the improvement rate changes to 20%,how will the total time to complete both aircraft change?

Accepted Answer

A) no change 
B) -10 hours 
C) + 10 hours 
D) -50 hours 
E) + 50 hours 
A) no change 
B) -10 hours 
C) + 10 hours 
D) -50 hours 
E) + 50 hours

Question 4

The learning curve rate is:

Accepted Answer

A) the percentage of time it will take to make each unit when the production rate doubles. 
B) the log-log of the annual rate change divided by the average unit cost. 
C) always based on constant value dollars. 
D) only considered valid after one year of data is accumulated. 
E) equal to at least 75%. 
A) the percentage of time it will take to make each unit when the production rate doubles. 
B) the log-log of the annual rate change divided by the average unit cost. 
C) always based on constant value dollars. 
D) only considered valid after one year of data is accumulated. 
E) equal to at least 75%.

Question 5

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?

Accepted Answer

The 20th desk will r

Question 6

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 7

The fact that human activities typically improve when they are done on a repetitive basis is described by a:

Accepted Answer

A) normal distribution curve. 
B) binomial distribution curve. 
C) learning curve. 
D) Poisson distribution curve. 
E) repetition curve. 
A) normal distribution curve. 
B) binomial distribution curve. 
C) learning curve. 
D) Poisson distribution curve. 
E) repetition curve.

Question 8

If the learning curve for a process is 100 percent,then each unit in a series of units will have the same labor requirements.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

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 curve 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 form of "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 u

Question 10

In addition to labor,to which other variables have learning curves been applied?

Accepted Answer

The text cites a wide variety

Question 11

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 doubling method.

Accepted Answer

Successive doubling at 70 perc

Question 12

Learning curves can be used to establish budgets.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The fundamental premise underlying learning curve analysis is that:

Accepted Answer

A) tasks can be easily learned in organizations. 
B) organizations and people become better at their tasks as the tasks are repeated. 
C) learning takes place when people in organizations change. 
D) total labor costs decrease as the number of production units increases. 
E) doubling output cuts labor requirements per unit in half. 
A) tasks can be easily learned in organizations. 
B) organizations and people become better at their tasks as the tasks are repeated. 
C) learning takes place when people in organizations change. 
D) total labor costs decrease as the number of production units increases. 
E) doubling output cuts labor requirements per unit in half.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Learning curves can determine the reduct

Question 15

Using the doubling approach,determine how long it will take to make the 64th unit of a product if it took 1 hour to complete the first product with a 50% learning curve.

Accepted Answer

2^X = 64 → X = 6
Thus,the time

Question 16

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 the above 
A) labor forecasting. 
B) scheduling. 
C) establishing costs. 
D) establishing budgets. 
E) all of the above

Question 17

A learning curve:

Accepted Answer

A) plots man-hours per dollar versus time. 
B) is mathematically described by a parabola. 
C) should be plotted on polar coordinate graph paper. 
D) is based on the premise that organizations learn from experience. 
E) follows a normal distribution. 
A) plots man-hours per dollar versus time. 
B) is mathematically described by a parabola. 
C) should be plotted on polar coordinate graph paper. 
D) is based on the premise that organizations learn from experience. 
E) follows a normal distribution.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is most appropriate with respect to a 70% learning curve?

Accepted Answer

A) There will be a 70% decrease in direct labor per unit each time the production volume doubles. 
B) Each successive unit of production will take 70% of the direct labor of the previous unit. 
C) There will be a 30% decrease in direct labor per unit each time production volume doubles. 
D) Thirty percent of the production will be defective until full learning takes place. 
E) None of the above is true. 
A) There will be a 70% decrease in direct labor per unit each time the production volume doubles. 
B) Each successive unit of production will take 70% of the direct labor of the previous unit. 
C) There will be a 30% decrease in direct labor per unit each time production volume doubles. 
D) Thirty percent of the production will be defective until full learning takes place. 
E) None of the above is true.

Question 19

What cautions are in order when using learning curves?

Accepted Answer

The cautions when using learning curves

Question 20

Learning curves (or experience curves)were first applied to industry by ________ who was studying ________.

Accepted Answer

A) Frank Lloyd Wright;architecture 
B) Frank Gilbreth;worker efficiency 
C) T.P.Wright;air frame manufacture 
D) Lilian Gilbreth;factory efficiency 
E) Frederick W.Taylor;scientific management 
A) Frank Lloyd Wright;architecture 
B) Frank Gilbreth;worker efficiency 
C) T.P.Wright;air frame manufacture 
D) Lilian Gilbreth;factory efficiency 
E) Frederick W.Taylor;scientific management

Exam 26: Learning Curves

Which of the following statements comparing learning curve rates (L)to improvement rates is TRUE?

In the formula to compute the time for the Nth unit,TN = T1(Nb),the exponent b is the learning curve rate L,expressed as a decimal.

A company negotiates a price for two aircraft that includes a reduction in labor on the second aircraft consistent with a 70% learning curve.Suppose the first aircraft took 100 hours.If the improvement rate changes to 20%,how will the total time to complete both aircraft change?

The learning curve rate is:

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)

The fact that human activities typically improve when they are done on a repetitive basis is described by a:

If the learning curve for a process is 100 percent,then each unit in a series of units will have the same labor requirements.

In addition to labor,to which other variables have learning curves been applied?

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 doubling method.

Learning curves can be used to establish budgets.

The fundamental premise underlying learning curve analysis is that:

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

Using the doubling approach,determine how long it will take to make the 64th unit of a product if it took 1 hour to complete the first product with a 50% learning curve.

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

A learning curve:

Which of the following statements is most appropriate with respect to a 70% learning curve?

What cautions are in order when using learning curves?

Learning curves (or experience curves)were first applied to industry by ________ who was studying ________.

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 and Sop

Material Requirements Planning Mrpand ERP

Short-Term Scheduling

Lean Operations

Maintenance and Reliability

Sustainability in the Supply Chain

Statistical Process Control

Capacity and Constraint Management

Supply Chain Management Analytics

Decision-Making Tools

Linear Programming

Transportation Models

Waiting-Line Models

Simulation

Filters

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)

Learning curves (or experience curves)were first applied to industry by who was studying .