Woodman Products, Inc., has found that new products follow a learning curve. The first two units have been completed with the following results: Units Produced Marginal Labor Time 1 112.50 2 90.00 Required: (a.) How much time will be needed to complete the 4th unit (b) How much time will be needed to complete the 8th unit (c) How much time will be needed to complete the 16th unit

(a) 72

(b) 57.6

(c) 46.08

Explanation:

Given that,

Units produced = 1

Marginal Labor Time = 112.50

Units produced = 2

Marginal Labor Time = 90.00

First, we need to calculate the learning rate.

Learning Rate:

= (Marginal labor time for producing 2 units : Marginal labor time for producing 1 units) * 100

= (90 : 112.50) * 100

= 80%

At production level of 1 unit:

Marginal Labor time = 112.5

At production level of 2 units:

Marginal Labor time:

= Marginal Labor time at 1 unit * Learning rate

= 112.5 * 80%

= 90

(a) At production level of 4 units:

Marginal Labor time:

= Marginal Labor time at 2 units * Learning rate

= 90 * 80%

= 72

(b) At production level of 8 units:

Marginal Labor time:

= Marginal Labor time at 4 units * Learning rate

= 72 * 80%

= 57.6

(c) At production level of 16 units:

Marginal Labor time:

= Marginal Labor time at 8 units * Learning rate

= 57.6 * 80%

= 46.08