Applying the Learning Curve Theory

Apply the Learning Curve Theory

The purpose of this assignment is to apply the learning curve theory to the week’s simulation scenario. The scenario involves Mario’s Pizzeria. As the only grandchild of Mario, an opportunity has been given to demonstrate managerial skills of running the restaurant for two months. During this time, Mario will evaluate the decisions made and determine if the pizzeria should be passed down. The changes Mario wants to see include increasing customer service, reduce waiting time, and optimize the process for the peak time in the restaurant to maximize benefits. Additionally, the learning curve will be applied to determine how good the new process data will be. Also, Six Sigma tools will be applied and a description of total quality management approaches taken to continually improve the new process.

The initial data for the pizzeria showed that the average waiting time for customers during the peak time was seven to nine minutes. Customers came to the pizzeria in groups of two and also groups of four with the customer arrival ration between the groups at 60:40. Reducing customer wait time and optimizing the processes for peak time to maximize benefits has become the goal. Initially, the pizzeria’s service facility had 14 tables for four customers and zero tables for two customers. The wait staff and kitchen staff had a quantity of four and two workers, respectively. The average wait time for customers was 6.11 minutes and the average queue length was 2.63 minutes (University of Phoenix, 2011). An improvement needed to be made.

The Six Sigma technique applied for improvement for this scenario is the DMAIC method. “The Six Sigma DMAIC processes (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) is an improvement system for existing processes falling below specification and looking for incremental improvement” (iSix Sigma, 2011, para 3 ). The process is to determine the problem, measure current performance, evaluate the problem and causes,...