7S

Learning Curves

McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Copyright 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All

Learning Objectives
Explain the concept of learning curves
Make time estimates based on learning
curves
List and briefly describe some of the main
applications of learning curves
Outline some of the cautions and criticisms
of learning curves
Estimate learning rates from data on job
times
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Learning Curves
Learning curves: the time required to
perform a task decreases with
increasing repetitions

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Learning Effect
Time per repetition

Figure 7S.1

Number of repetitions

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Learning with Improvements

Time per unit

Figure 7S.2

Average

Improvements may create a

scallop effect in the curve.

Time

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Applications of Learning Curves

1.Manpower planning and scheduling
2.Negotiated purchasing
3.Pricing new products
4.Budgeting, purchasing, and inventory
planning
5.Capacity Planning

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Worker Learning Curves

Time/cycles

Figure 7S.4

A (underqualified)
B (average)
Standard time
C (overqualified)
One week

Training time

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Cautions and Criticisms

Learning rates may differ from
organization to organization
Projections based on learning curves
should be viewed as approximations
Estimates based the first unit should
be checked for valid times
At some point the curve might level off
or even tip upward
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Cautions and Criticisms

Some improvements may be more
apparent than real
For the most part, the concept does not
apply to mass production
Learning curves sometimes fail to
include carryover effects
Life cycles, flex manufacturing can
affect application of learning curves

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