CIMA May 99 pp.64-65

Learning effect The learning effect is concerned with cumulative production over time—not the manufacture of a single product/batch at a particular moment in time—and recognises that it takes less time to assemble a product the more times that product is made by the same worker, or group of workers. The most effective way of describing the learning effect is to consider the assembly of selfassembly furniture in your own home! Let’s assume that you decide to purchase three selfassembly chests of drawers for your home. The first chest of drawers will take considerable time to assemble since you are unfamiliar with the instructions, the components, and how to assemble them. In addition, you may also lack confidence in your ability to produce an acceptable product. The second one, however, will take you less time, as you will be more familiar with the instructions, the components, and the assembly procedures. You will also be confident of your ability to assemble this product. The third one will take even less time, as you will have learned from your earlier mistakes and determined more efficient assembly procedures. That is the learning effect.