Ops 571 Apply the Learning Curve Theory

Apply the Learning Curve Theory
OPS 571
March 5, 2013
































      In business, managers and employees learn jobs at various rates. One employee may easily comprehend job knowledge, whereas another may require several attempts to achieve maximum rate. The average period it takes a unit of people to adjust demonstrates the learning curve (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006). This research will review the learning curve, and examine the processes as it applies to the simulation of the Pizza Store Layout.
      In the simulation of the Pizza Store Layout, it is evident that the operating issues are long waits from baking pizza in traditional ovens that take 15 minutes, seats limitations, and the need to maximize the wait and kitchen staff.   Handling the wait time shall consist of discontinuing traditional ovens and upgrading to Plax ovens.   This upgrade shall decrease customers’ wait time of seven to nine minutes.   Additional ways to balance the demand and service capacity include changing the floor plans to 10 tables for four.   In turn, this decision shall decrease the average time to 5.4 minutes and the total profits to $1,447.   Purchasing the bakery next-door shall increase the business capacity to 11 tables, decreases wait time to 3.26, and increases profits to $1,988. The learning curve theory includes; projects reduction and task time, decreasing unit of time, and following pattern during reduction (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006). The initial process data is lacking effective performance metrics however, the learning curve theory concepts are reliable and valid versus the initial process.
Points of Process Performance
      Some process performances would include, increasing dining room staff and decreasing kitchen staff, or increasing kitchen staff and decreasing staff in the dining room.
The company would also need to ensure that it can seat four customers as opposed to two customers per table. In...