Investigation of Learning Remission in Manual Work Given that Similar Work is Performed During the Work Contract Break

According to literature, when a worker performs a task repeatedly, the time it takes to do the task decreases. This is based on the concept of learning curve. When the worker spends time away from work, there is usually an observed time decrement, as described by learning remission. A question may be “in case the worker does not completely stop working during the work break but performs ‘similar work’, how much remission can be expected?” Similar work may be work that share operations with the work prior to the break, but not completely the same. To investigate on learning remission, this research worked with a semiconductor and a hockey glove sewing business. The objective was to find the amount of similar work needed to be done during the work break to possibly reduce or avoid learning remission. The finding for the test case is, when at least 21 % of the supposed work break is spent doing the previous work, learning remission may not result. It is possible that for other industries, researchers may find similar results. This will help organizations transferring workers from one kind of work to another, not have increase in work time as a result of learning remission.