Learning is different for each process that is being
performed and varies depending on a variety of factors
including system complexity, manufacturing technology, and
construction time between completion and start of each
following ship. Low skill level processes tend to exhibit
low levels of learning since there is little or no
reduction in the amount of labor with repeated performance
of a certain task. Highly automated operations tend to also
have slopes close to unity since machines do not increase
their productivity through experience. Production
innovation processes such as modulization and PWBS increase
shipyard efficiency and decrease cost but it is not
necessarily attributed to learning effects. The major
region where learning makes a substantial difference is
with highly skilled labor. This is because skilled labor
can significantly improve its efficiency with experience.
Figure 22 shows how different manufacturing activities
exhibit differences in learning rates.