Final answer:
Creating a maintenance schedule may be easier for new equipment due to manufacturer's guidelines, but existing equipment offers historical data for a more accurate plan. Averaging 1.1 hours per technician may be risky due to the possibility of some units requiring more time. Durable, repairable goods challenge the disposable economy and have economic and environmental benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
When developing a maintenance schedule, it could be argued that it is easier to create a schedule for a new piece of equipment because you start with a fresh slate, and often have manufacturer recommendations and warranties guiding the initial maintenance plan. However, for an existing piece of equipment that has been in operation for some time, the maintenance history, wear patterns, and known issues can provide a more accurate basis for a predictive maintenance schedule, potentially making it more precise than the one for a new piece, but also more complex due to the variability and real-world operational data.
In the context of air conditioners, your company's experience shows an average servicing time of one hour with a standard deviation of one hour. If your company plans to service a sample of 70 units and average 1.1 hours per technician, considering the standard deviation, there is a risk that this time estimation might be insufficient for a proportion of the units. The Central Limit Theorem from statistics informs us that with a large enough sample size, the sample mean will be normally distributed. This means that although many technicians will complete their work within 1.1 hours, some will inevitably require more time due to the variability indicated by the standard deviation. Budgeting additional time could be advisable to account for units that may require more extensive maintenance.
Emphasizing durability and the ease of repair in product design can result in economic and environmental savings over time. Durable goods with lifetime warranties become more valued, challenging the disposable economy and encouraging the design of items that facilitate upgrades or repairs.