Performance Improvement  Learning (Improvement of Performance) =  Reduced Production Time and/or Reduced Errors  Learning = Individual + Organizational  (Manufacturing Progress)

Learning Curves  Theory  As people gain experience performing a task,  the time it takes to complete the task decreases.  Specifically,  as the accumulated number of units doubles,  the time required to produce a unit declines  at a constant rate.  Note: Cognitive Learning > Manual Learning

Learning Curve Equations  Hyperbolic Y x = KX N  Logarithmic log Y x = log K + N log X  Y x = Cumulative Average Time to Produce X Units  K = Time Required to Produce the First Unit  X = Cumulative Total Number of Units Produced  N = Exponent of the Learning Curve Slope ( tan  )

Synonyms  Learning Curve  Manufacturing Progress Function  Cost / Quantity Relationship  Product Acceleration Curve  Improvement Curve  Performance Curve  Experience Curve  Efficiency Curve

Typical Productivity Learning Curve

80 % Learning Curve

Learning Curve  Slope LC %   Assembling   Welding   Machining

Notes  LC % = 2 N where N = tan   New Production Time (Cost) = LC % x Old  As total number of production units increases and/  or average production time per unit decreases,   tan  decreases which implies LC % increases.  Shallow learning curves (higher LC %) means  relatively limited cost savings.

Examples     N=tan  LC %  5  %  10    

Learning Curve Solutions Click for Solutions Generator

Food for Thought  Was it Agatha Christie’s Inspector Poirot or maybe  Dr. Watson’s comment to Sherlock Holmes  “we often go more quickly by going more slowly”.  Maxim for Computer-Aided Statistical Analysis  Garbage In = Gospel Out