THE LEARNING CURVE: HISTORICAL REVIEW AND COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY

The use of the learning curve has been receiving increasing attention in recent years. Much of this increase has been due to learning curve applications other than in the traditional learning curve areas. A comprehensive survey of developments in the learning curve area has never been published. The closest thing to a survey was by Asher in 1956. His study focused exclusively on military applications during and immediately after World War II. This paper summarizes the learning curve literature from World War II to the present, emphasizing developments since the study by Asher. Particular emphasis is given to identifying the new directions into which the learning curve has made recent inroads and identifying fruitful areas for future research.

[1]  T. P. Wright,et al.  Factors affecting the cost of airplanes , 1936 .

[2]  Werner Z. Hirsch,et al.  Manufacturing Progress Functions , 1952 .

[3]  Werner Z. Hirsch,et al.  Firm Progress Ratios , 1956 .

[4]  J. R. De Jong,et al.  THE EFFECTS OF INCREASING SKILL ON CYCLE TIME AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR TIME STANDARDS , 1957 .

[5]  John G. Carlson,et al.  How Management Can Use the Improvement Phenomenon , 1961 .

[6]  Maurice Kilbridge,et al.  A Model for Industrial Learning Costs , 1962 .

[7]  A. Alchian.  Reliability of Progress Curves in Airframe Production , 1963 .

[8]  K. Hartley,et al.  The Learning Curve and Its Application to the Aircraft Industry , 1965 .

[9]  F. Lévy.  Adaptation in the Production Process , 1965 .

[10]  E. C. Keachie,et al.  Effects of Learning on Optimal Lot Size , 1966 .

[11]  Eytan Sheshinski,et al.  Tests of the "Learning by Doing" Hypothesis , 1967 .

[12]  Nick T. Thomopoulos,et al.  The Mixed Model Learning Curve , 1969 .

[13]  C. Pegels.  On Startup or Learning Curves: An Expanded View , 1969 .

[14]  Selwyn W. Becker,et al.  Organization Structure and Complex Problem Solving , 1969 .

[15]  P. Conley.  Experience curves as a planning tool , 1970, IEEE Spectrum.

[16]  Nicholas Baloff,et al.  Extension of the Learning Curve — Some Empirical Results , 1971 .

[17]  William D. Carter,et al.  ERTS-A: a new apogee for mineral finding , 1971 .

[18]  D. R. Towill.  An industrial dynamics model for start-up management , 1973 .

[19]  William J. Abernathy,et al.  CONCEPTS, THEORY, AND TECHNIQUE , 1973 .

[20]  G. R. Knecht,et al.  Costing, Technological Growth and Generalized Learning Curves , 1974 .

[21]  H. FlomJ,et al.  The expanding scope of SEC disclosure laws. , 1974 .

[22]  James M. Utterback,et al.  A dynamic model of process and product innovation , 1975 .

[23]  R. Ebert.  Aggregate Planning with Learning Curve Productivity , 1976 .

[24]  Louis E. Yelle.  Estimating learning curves for potential products , 1976 .

[25]  C. Carl Pegels.  START UP OR LEARNING CURVES–SOME NEW APPROACHES , 1976 .

[26]  E. V. Mcintyre.  Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis Adjusted for Learning , 1977 .