Question

A subcontractor is responsible for outfitting six satellites that will be used for solar research. Four of the six have been completed in a total of 600 hours. If the crew has a 75% learning curve, how long should it take them to finish the last two units?

Answer 1

Answer: ∑Tₓ = 201.222

time required to complete the last two units is 201.222 minutes

Explanation:

Given that,

total time required to four units is 600 hours,

Learning curve applied is 75% and from the learning curve coefficient table, total time factor to complete four units at 75% learning curve is 2.946

so

∑Tₙ = T₁ × total time factor

{ ∑Tₙ is total time required to complete all the units which is 600 hrs, T₁ is Time for first unit, total time factor = 2.946 }

we substitute

∑T₄ = ∑T₁ × total time factor

600 = ∑T₁ × 2.946

∑T₁  = 600/2.946

∑T₁  = 203.666 minutes

Now to get the total time required to complete 6 units, we say:

∑T₆ = ∑T₁ × total time factor

Note that total time factor at this point changes;

( from the learning curve coefficient table, total time factor to complete 6 units at 75% learning curve is 3.934)

so we substitute

∑T₆ = 203.666 × 3.934

∑T₆ = 801.222

Now to find how long should it take them to finish the last two units, we say

∑Tₓ = ∑T₆ - ∑T₄

∑Tₓ = 801.222 - 600

∑Tₓ = 201.222

Therefore time required to complete the last two units is 201.222 minutes