Copyright 2003 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Industrial Engineering & Human Factors Engineering

Human Factors in Engineering Design

Fall 2003

Dr. Jennie Gallimore

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Human Factors: What else is it called?

• Ergonomics in Europe• Human Engineering in Military• Engineering Psychology by Psychologist

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Human Factors Defined

• Human Factors discovers and applies information about human behavior, abilities, limitations, and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines, systems, tasks, jobs, and environments for productive, safe, comfortable, and effective human use (Sanders and McCormick, 1993)

• Human Factors IS NOT … Just using checklists and guidelines Just using oneself as the model for designing things Just common sense

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Cost of Ignoring Human Factors is Poor Quality!

• Increased probability of accidents and errors • Less spare capacity to deal with emergencies • Increased labor turnover • Lower productive output • Increases in lost time • Higher medical costs • Higher material costs • Increased absenteeism • Low quality work • Injuries, strains

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

What do HFEs Do?

• HFE uses a systems analysis approach.• Humans are a critical system component.• HFEs analyze systems focusing on human operators to

determine what they are required to do to achieve system goals.

• HFEs determine how the system can be designed or modified to meet goals.

• Humans have certain capabilities and limitations, and the system must be designed with an understanding of the human component subsystem requirements.

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

What Do HFEs Do?

Perform Systems Analysis

System Design Modifications, Performance support, Aids

Integrate Solutions

Perform Scientific Research

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

What Do HFEs Do?

Perform Systems Analysis

System Design Modifications, Performance support, Aids

Integrate Solutions

Perform Scientific Research

System AnalysisFunction analysisTask Analysis (cognitive, physical)Accident/incident analysisWorkload analysisCommunication patterns/information flowWork place layoutEnvironmental AnalysisTask-Interface analysisReliability assessment (Human error analysis)Etc..

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

What Do HFEs Do?

Perform Systems Analysis

System Design Modifications, Performance support, Aids

Integrate Solutions

Perform Scientific Research

System Analysis

Systems Analysis Tools/Techniques•Activity sampling•Hierarchical task analysis•Link analysis•Simulation studies•Verbal protocols•Interviews•Questionnaires

•Critical Incident Techniques•Decision action trees•Decision ladders•Operator action event trees•Time line analysis•Time and motion study•Etc..

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

What Do HFEs Do?

Perform Systems Analysis

System Design Modifications, Performance support

Integrate Solutions

Perform Scientific Research

System ModificationsRedesign of workflow (task sequence, responsibility)Environmental improvements (noise, lighting, alarms)Redesign of information flowDevelopment of support technologyChanges to system interfacesSuggest changes to organizational policiesDevelop training programsIncorporation of safety systems

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

What Do HFEs Do?

Perform Systems Analysis

System Design Modifications, Performance support, Aids

Integrate Solutions

Perform Scientific Research

Integration of Solutions

Organizational changes and supportTrainingNew TechnologyCost-benefit analysis

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

What Do HFEs Do?

Perform Systems Analysis

System Design Modifications, Performance support, Aids

Integrate Solutions

Perform Scientific Research

Human Factors Research•R&D of system and task analysis techniques•Human decision making•Cognitive modeling•Mental workload•Visual performance•Shift work•Simulation and modeling•Display of information

•Effects of aging on performance•Adaptive displays•Communication•Test and Evaluation•Usability Testing•Human computer interaction•Safety•Training•Biomechanics

•Physical workload•Manual material handling•Human Error•Virtual Environments•Complex system modeling•Human control and tracking•Auditory perception•Multi-modal interfaces•Individual differences

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

History of Human Factors

• Early History– Frank and Lillian Gilbretth

• Early 1900’s• Motion study• Shop management• Hospital surgical teams

• 1945-1960 (The Birth of a Profession)– U.S. Army Air Corps– U.S. Navy– Dunlap and Associates

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

History of Human Factors

• 1960-1980 A period of rapid growth– Membership in a National Society

• Human Factors and Ergonomics Society• www.hfes.org

– Applied in industry in workplace and product design.– Space Program

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

History of Human Factors

• 1980-1990 – Computers– Three mile island– Litigation

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

HFE is a Multidisciplinary Field

• Psychology – Cognition– Sensation and Perception

• Engineering– Anthropometry– Biomechanics– Systems design– Mechanical– Electrical– Etc…

• Medicine, physiology, life sciences– How the human body works

• Computer Science– Programming

• Occupational Safety

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Jobs in HFE

• Topic Areas– Computers– Aerospace– Industrial Processes– Ergonomics– Health and Safety– Transportation– Education– Medical Systems

• Places– Industry– Academic Institutions– Military-related research

centers– Government Agencies– Independent research and

consulting organizations– Independent consultants

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Examples of Employers

• Aerospace and Defense– Boeing– General Dynamics– Hughes– Lockheed Martin– TRW– Rockwell

• Power & Utilities– EG&G– General Electric– Westinghouse

• Automotive– John Deere– General Motors– Honda– Ford– Nissan– Toyota

• Communications– AT&T– GTE– Lucent Technologies– US West

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Examples of Employers

• Computers– Apple– IBM– Digital Equipment Corp.– Hewlett-Packard– INTEL– Xerox– Sun Microsystems– Compaq– NRC Corp.– Start-up companies!

• Insurance– Travelers– Liberty Mutual

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Technical Groups in HFES

Aerospace SystemsAgingCognitive Engineering &

Decision makingCommunicationConsumer ProductsEducator’s ProfessionalEnvironmental DesignForensics ProfessionalIndustrial ErgonomicsMacroergonomicsMedical Systems &

Rehabilitation

• Individual Differences in Performance

• Safety• Surface Transportation• System Development• Test and Evaluation• Training• Virtual Environments• Visual Performance• Web

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

HFES provides opportunity for variety!

• Areas in which I have worked:– Development of Radar System (TRW)– Development of Typewriters (Xerox)– Development of user interfaces– Designing systems for assembly planning– Aerospace applications– Advanced cockpit displays– Uninhabited aerial vehicles– Spatial disorientation training system– Virtual Environments– Expert Witnessing

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

SYSTEMS

• Example Types– Manual– Mechanical– Automated (hybrid)

• Characteristics of Systems– Systems have a purpose– Systems can be hierarchical– Systems operate in an environment

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Systems

• Components Serve Functions

Info input

Information Storage

Sensing (information receiving)

Information Processing And Decision

ActionsFunctions(physicalControl Commun)

Output

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial EngineeringCopyright 2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Systems

• Components Interact• Systems, subsystems, and components have

inputs and outputs