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Steady-state skill levels of workers in learning and forgetting environments: A dynamical system analysis

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  • Teyarachakul, Sunantha
  • Çömez, Doğan
  • Tarakci, Hakan

Abstract

This article presents a study on the long-term (i.e., steady-state, convergence) characteristics of workers’ skill levels under learning and forgetting in processing units in a manufacturing environment, in which products are produced in batches. Assuming that all workers already have the basic knowledge to execute the jobs, workers learn (accumulate their skill) while producing units within a batch, forget during interruptions in production, and relearn when production resumes. The convergence properties in the paper are examined under assumptions of an infinite time horizon, a constant demand rate, and a fixed lot size. Our work extends the steady-state results of Teyarachakul, Chand, and Ward (2008) to the learning and forgetting functions that belong to a large class of functions possessing some differentiability conditions. We also discuss circumstances of manufacturing environments where our results would provide useful managerial information and other potential applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Teyarachakul, Sunantha & Çömez, Doğan & Tarakci, Hakan, 2014. "Steady-state skill levels of workers in learning and forgetting environments: A dynamical system analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 232(1), pages 9-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:232:y:2014:i:1:p:9-21
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2013.06.009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Charles D. Bailey, 1989. "Forgetting and the Learning Curve: A Laboratory Study," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(3), pages 340-352, March.
    2. Yang, Wen-Hua & Chand, Suresh, 2008. "Learning and forgetting effects on a group scheduling problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 187(3), pages 1033-1044, June.
    3. Michael A. Lapré & Amit Shankar Mukherjee & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2000. "Behind the Learning Curve: Linking Learning Activities to Waste Reduction," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(5), pages 597-611, May.
    4. Kher, Hemant V. & Malhotra, Manoj K. & Philipoom, Patrick R. & Fry, Timothy D., 1999. "Modeling simultaneous worker learning and forgetting in dual resource constrained systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 158-172, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chun Su & Longfei Cheng, 2018. "An availability-based warranty policy considering preventive maintenance and learning effects," Journal of Risk and Reliability, , vol. 232(6), pages 576-586, December.
    2. M. Jaber & Z. Givi, 2015. "Imperfect production process with learning and forgetting effects," Computational Management Science, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 129-152, January.
    3. Kogan, Konstantin & El Ouardighi, Fouad & Herbon, Avi, 2017. "Production with learning and forgetting in a competitive environment," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 52-62.

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