Application of Learning Curves of Aircraft Produced at More than One Location to the F-16Lightweight Fighter.

摘要

This thesis analyzed the effect of coproduction of the F-16 fighter on the learning curve of the F-16 aircraft purchased by the United States. This analysis was performed by studying the effect of coproduction of previously coproduced aircraft. The aircraft that were analyzed are the B24, B29, B47E, B52F, F84F, F86F, and F100C. The F-16 is being produced in the United States and Europe. However, since the aircraft purchased by the USAF will be a combination of parts from both the United States and Europe, the learning curve of the USAF purchased aircraft will be a combination of two production lines. The combination of two production lines result in increased average cost per unit when compared to the average cost per unit of aircraft produced on only one line. Also, the analysis of previously coproduced aircraft showed that the coproducer's learning curve had a higher first unit cost and steeper slope than would be expected if all learning was initially transferred and utilized by the coproducer. These results imply that the European Consortium production learning curve will have a higher first unit cost, steeper slope, and average cost per unit than the United States production learning curve. Therefore, the USAF purchased F-16 learning curve will have a higher first unit cost, steeper slope, and higher average cost per unit than a single production line in the United States. (Author)