1. Repetitive operations performed by humans are subject to a learning effect that causes the time per repetition to decrease as the number of repetitions increases.

2. The improvements are due to the combined effect of actual learning by those performing the jobs and the contributions of indirect personnel (e.g., industrial engineers) who change work methods, job design, etc.

3. According to the learning curve theory, the time per repetition decreases at a constant percentage with every doubling of total number of repetitions. For instance, with an 80 percent curve, the time for the 10th unit will be 80 percent of the time needed for the 5th unit; and the time for the 16th unit will be 80 percent of the time needed for the 8th unit.

4. The textbook contains a table that can easily be used to obtain both individual times and cumulative times for selected learning rates.

5. Applications of the learning curve theory include negotiated purchasing, scheduling, pricing new products, budgeting, and inventory planning.