Question 1

The first unit of production took 10 hours with a 90% learning curve. How long will it take to complete both the first and second units?

Accepted Answer

A)  19 hours 
B)  8 hours 
C)  18 hours 
D)  15.7 hours 
E)  There is not enough information to solve the problem. 
A)  19 hours 
B)  8 hours 
C)  18 hours 
D)  15.7 hours 
E)  There is not enough information to solve the problem.

Question 2

The earliest application of learning curves appears in the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

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 4

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

Accepted Answer

Learning curves can determine the reduct

Question 5

"By tradition, learning curves are defined in terms of the complements of their improvement rates." Explain.

Accepted Answer

The improvement in labor usage might be

Question 6

When learning curves are plotted on ________ scales, the "curves" become straight lines.

Accepted Answer

logarithmi

Question 7

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 25 minutes. Which learning curve would yield approximately this result if the first unit took 9 minutes?

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 8

The doubling approach to learning curve calculations allows us to determine the hours required for any unit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning curve is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, use the formula approach to determine how long it will take to make the third unit.

Accepted Answer

For 82% learning, the factor b

Question 10

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 11

A product was priced assuming an 80% learning curve. How much extra labor (in %) will be required on the 4th product if the learning curve is actually 90%?

Accepted Answer

4^-.322 = .64; 4^-.152 = .81 .81

Question 12

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 13

Reevaluation of learning curves is inappropriate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

A job with a 95% learning curve required 19 hours for the second unit. The first unit should require approximately how many hours?

Accepted Answer

A)  20.0 
B)  19.5 
C)  19.9 
D)  18.0 
E)  18.1 
A)  20.0 
B)  19.5 
C)  19.9 
D)  18.0 
E)  18.1

Question 15

Explain how learning curves might be applied in a scheduling application.

Accepted Answer

Learning curves can determine the total

Question 16

The first unit of a product took 80 work days. The learning curve is estimated to be 90%. The time for the fifth unit will be about ________ work days and the time for the first five units will be about ________ work days.

Accepted Answer

A)  63; 347 
B)  250; 51 
C)  65; 285 
D)  51; cannot be determined 
E)  65; cannot be determined 
A)  63; 347 
B)  250; 51 
C)  65; 285 
D)  51; cannot be determined 
E)  65; cannot be determined

Question 17

The first unit of a product took 1,000 hours to build and the learning curve is 80%. Approximately how long will it take to make the next five units?

Accepted Answer

A)  4299 hours 
B)  3738 hours 
C)  3299 hours 
D)  2738 hours 
E)  562 hours 
A)  4299 hours 
B)  3738 hours 
C)  3299 hours 
D)  2738 hours 
E)  562 hours

Question 18

Which of the following is representative of a firm pursuing a learning-curve strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  aggressive pricing policy 
B)  focus on productivity improvement 
C)  building on shared experience 
D)  keeping capacity growing ahead of demand 
E)  all of these 
A)  aggressive pricing policy 
B)  focus on productivity improvement 
C)  building on shared experience 
D)  keeping capacity growing ahead of demand 
E)  all of these

Question 19

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 20

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

Accepted Answer

The text cites a wide variety

Exam 21: Learning Curves

The first unit of production took 10 hours with a 90% learning curve. How long will it take to complete both the first and second units?

The earliest application of learning curves appears in the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

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.

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

"By tradition, learning curves are defined in terms of the complements of their improvement rates." Explain.

When learning curves are plotted on ________ scales, the "curves" become straight lines.

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 25 minutes. Which learning curve would yield approximately this result if the first unit took 9 minutes?

The doubling approach to learning curve calculations allows us to determine the hours required for any unit.

Your firm has expertise with a special type of hand-finished furniture. The learning curve is known to be 82%. If the first piece of furniture took 6 hours, use the formula approach to determine how long it will take to make the third unit.

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 product was priced assuming an 80% learning curve. How much extra labor (in %) will be required on the 4th product if the learning curve is actually 90%?

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

Reevaluation of learning curves is inappropriate.

A job with a 95% learning curve required 19 hours for the second unit. The first unit should require approximately how many hours?

Explain how learning curves might be applied in a scheduling application.

The first unit of a product took 80 work days. The learning curve is estimated to be 90%. The time for the fifth unit will be about ________ work days and the time for the first five units will be about ________ work days.

The first unit of a product took 1,000 hours to build and the learning curve is 80%. Approximately how long will it take to make the next five units?

Which of the following is representative of a firm pursuing a learning-curve strategy?

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

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

Operations and Productivity

Operations Strategy in a Global Environment

Project Management

Forecasting

Design of Goods and Services

Managing Quality

Process Strategies

Location Strategies

Human Resources, Job Design, and Work Measurement

Supply Chain Management

Inventory Management

Aggregate Planning and Sop

Material Requirements Planning Mrp and Erp

Short-Term Scheduling

Lean Operations

Maintenance and Reliability

Decision-Making Tools

Linear Programming

Transportation Models

Waiting-Line Models

Simulation

Applying Analytics to Big Data in Operations Management

Filters

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

The first unit of a product took 80 work days. The learning curve is estimated to be 90%. The time for the fifth unit will be about work days and the time for the first five units will be about work days.