Final answer:
A 75 percent learning curve applies to the time a beginning service technician takes to install copy machines. The Learning Curve Excel template can be used to analyze data and predict future installation times based on the learning curve formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of a learning curve is used to quantify how the time taken to complete a task decreases as the number of repetitions increase. In this case, the manufacturer of copiers has determined that a 75 percent learning curve applies to the time a beginning service technician takes to install copy machines. This means that for every doubling of the number of installations completed, the installation time reduces by 25 percent.
Using the Learning Curve Excel template, the manufacturer can analyze the data to predict the time required for future installations. By applying the learning curve formula, they can calculate the expected time for a given number of installations. This helps the firm plan its resources and estimate the productivity of its service technicians.
For example, if it takes the technician 10 hours to complete the first installation, the expected time for the second installation would be 7.5 hours (75 percent of 10 hours), and for the third installation, it would be 5.625 hours (75 percent of 7.5 hours), and so on.