Systems Engineering Study of Human Factors

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Systems EngineeringStudy of Human Factors

• Prepared by Susan Vandiver
• Prepared for Texas AM
• EDTC 613 - Integrated Technical Learning
  Environment
• Dr. Cifuentes
• March 14, 2004

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• This study is provided for high school/college
  entry level students to acquaint them with the
  application of human factors engineering.
• The primary source of information is
• A Corporations Research and Engineering
• Human Factors Considerations in Plant Design2

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• For this study, we will concentrate on two areas
  including body access and access openings in
  equipment.
• There will be lists of activities for the two
  areas.
• You will be asked to take some of your own
  measurements,
• Think about what might be average measurements,
• And then using your judgment, determine good
  specifications for the measurements.

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• Supplies needed
• Tape measure
• Paper
• Scissors

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Introduction

• Human factors engineering is one of the specialty
  engineering technologies that the systems
  engineer assures is integrated into the system,
  toward the goal of customer satisfaction.
• Other specialty engineering includes
  supportability, reliability, maintainability,
  safety, testability, manufacturability, and
  producability.

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Definitions

• Human Engineering The area of human factors
  which applies scientific knowledge to the design
  of items to achieve effective user-system
  integration.1
• Human Factors A body of scientific facts about
  human characteristics. The term covers all
  biomedical and psychosocial considerations it
  includes, but is not limited to, principles and
  applications in the areas of human engineering,
  personnel selection, training, life support, job
  performance aids, and human performance
  evaluation.1

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• Following are some conditions that affect human
  performance
• Range of acoustic noise, vibration, acceleration,
  shock, and impact,
• Protection from thermal, mechanical, electrical,
  electromagnetic, visual, and other hazards.
• Adequate space for personnel, clothing, and
  equipment during operation and maintenance,
• Acceptable personnel accommodations for seating,
  rest, etc.,
• Provisions for minimizing stress effects and
  fatigue.
• Specific tasks,
• People and machine interfaces,
• Procedures,
• Training and experience

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Study Procedure Body Access

• Divide the group into groups of two or three
  individuals.
• For each of the pictures shown on the following
  slides record each of the following
• Your measurements,
• Average range of measurements from your
  experiences,
• Using your best judgment develop good
  specifications for the measurement minimum and
  preferred.
• The next slide shows an example and the
  specification provided by the Corporations
  Manual.
• At the end, all of the Corporations
  specifications are provided for you to compare
  with the specifications that you developed.

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Example of Body Access
Specification by the Corporation for Plant Design
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Problem 1 Body Access
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Problem 2 Body Access
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Problem 3 Body Access
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Problem 4 Body Access
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Problem 5 Body Access
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Problem 6 Body Access
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Study Procedure Access Opening in Equipment

• In your group of two or three individuals,
• Look at the pictures shown on the following
  slides and then
• Using the paper and scissors, construct a model
  of the access opening as shown in the picture,
• Simulate the operation as shown,
• Using your best judgment, determine good
  specifications for the access opening dimensions.
• At the end, all of the corporation specifications
  are provided for you to compare with the
  specifications that you developed.

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Problem 1 - Access Opening in Equipment
W1
H1
Using a common screwdriver with freedom to turn
the hand through 180 degrees.
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Problem 2 - Access Opening in Equipment
W2
H2
Using pliers and similar tools that require
gripping.
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Problem 3 - Access Opening in Equipment
W3
H3
Using a T-handle wrench with freedom to turn the
tool and hand 180 degrees.
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Problem 4 - Access Opening in Equipment
H4
W4
Using an open-end or box-end wrench with freedom
to turn the wrench through at least 60 degrees.
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Problem 5 - Access Opening in Equipment
A W5
A
H5
Grasping large objects with one hand.
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Problem 6 - Access Opening in Equipment
B
B W6
H6
Grasping large objects with two hands, with the
hands extended through the opening up to the
length of the fingers.
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Conclusion

• Now you need to compare your requirements with
  the actual corporations requirements (shown on
  the following pages).
• Are there any trends between your results and the
  actual requirements (i.e., are your results more
  often greater or less).
• Discuss any reasons for these trends.
• Present your findings to the whole group.
• Discuss your finding with the whole group. What
  was interesting about the study?

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Actual Requirements
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Actual Requirements (continued)Body Access
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Actual Requirements
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Actual Requirements (continued)Access Openings
in Equipment
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Actual Requirements (continued)Access Openings
in Equipment
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References

• Systems Engineering Management, James A. Lacy,
  1994, McGraw-Hill.
• Exxon Research and Engineering, Human Factors
  Considerations in Plant Design, December 1998.