The Learning Curve

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The Learning Curve

• Presented by Brian Filtz

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The Learning Curve

• Introduction
• Theoretical definition of the learning curve
• The history and initial purpose for learning
  curve implementation
• Brainstorming exercise
• How the learning curve works
• Real world examples
• Class exercise
• Summary

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Introduction

• Mastery of education, sport, skill, or activities
• Repetition and efficiency lead to higher quality
  and overall customer satisfaction
• Application to our daily lives

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Definition

• The theoretical definition of the learning curve
• Other definitions
• Personal definition of the student

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History Purpose

• Conceptual discovery in 1925
• Mathematical conception
• Purpose for implementation of the learning curve

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Brainstorming Exercise

• How can this tool be used in your organization?
• For instance, a service operation?
• Or perhaps, a manufacturing operation?
• Maybe we are already involved in the learning
  curve ideology?

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How It Works

• On what levels does the learning effect apply to?
• - individual
• - organizational

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Forces

• The interrelated forces which lead to the varying
  rates of learning curve improvement

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Implementation/Application

• Common uses for applying or implementing the
  learning curve

• Contracts
• Prediction
• Decision-Making
• Forecasting
• Examining

• Evaluating
• Planning
• Scheduling
• Controlling
• Performing

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Real World Examples
Learning curves apply to manufacturing and
service operations, health care fields,
government operations, and in a non-technical
approach, our daily lives.
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Real World Examples, cont.

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for all
  activities on the pharmacy floor
• Training administered through supervisory or
  lead staff
• Efficiency, Productivity, Quality reports for
  30, 60, and 90 day evaluations

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Real World Examples, cont.

• More experience typically equals faster work

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Non-Business Related Example
Sports/Skills
Music/Art
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Exercise

• Who remembers those good ole elementary school
  days?!
• Wait, NOT NAP TIME! that was kindergarten
• Think about those things you did when you were in
  elementary school where you had to practice a
  particular subject or skill for a grade?
• Now take a piece of paper out of your notebook
  and lets see how much you remember!?

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Exercise, cont.

• We are currently juniors or seniors majoring
  in OISM or OISIB. We do our best to not fall
  asleep when Frank Chelko lectures, but sometimes
  our eyelids just weigh too much for us to stay
  awake. Our first exam was not really hard, but
  for those who did not study (and they know who
  they are) they should study the notes more often
  and read the book!

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Summary

• The Learning Curve, although theoretical,
  logically holds true based off its definition
• The Learning Curve can be applied to
  manufacturing, service, governmental, and health
  care operations to aid in the continuous
  improvement in quality and efficiency of a
  process or activity within an organization
• The Learning Curve applies to not just the
  corporate world, but also to our daily lives

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Bibliography

• Colley, John L. Instructional Note Learning
  Curve/Experience Curve Theory. Charlottesville
  University of Virginia Darden School Foundation,
  1987.
• Foster, S. Thomas. Managing Quality An
  Integrative Approach. New Jersey
  Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2001.
• The Learning Curve. Online. Internet. 18 Sept.
  2001. Available http//fast.faa.gov/archive/v0100
  /pricing/98-30c18.htm