Human Factor

Fitting the man to the job and the job to the man - Chapanis Human Factors is concerned to optimise the relationship between people and their activities, by the systematic application of human sciences, integrated within the framework of systems engineering   - Elwyn Edwards Human Factors refers to the study of human capabilities and limitations in the workplace. Human Factors include, but are not limited to, such attributes as human physiology, psychology, work place design, environmental conditions, human-machine interface, and more. Human Factors researchers study system performance. That is, they study the interaction of humans, the equipment they use, the written and verbal procedures and rules they follow, and the environmental conditions of any system.                     FAA Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance Human Factors and ergonomics and engineering psychology are roughly equivalent terms used for the...

                Failures   - two types, depending on the immediacy of their consequences.                              A ctive failure is an error or a violation which has an immediate adverse effect. These errors are usually made by the front-line operator. A pilot raising the landing gear lever instead of the flap lever exemplifies this failure type.                                              Latent failure is a result of an action or decision made well before an accident, the consequences of which may remain dormant for a long time. Such failures usually originate at the decision-maker, regulator or line management levels; that is, with people far removed in time and space from the event. A decision to merge two companies without providing training ...

            Proper job design can have an important effect on working productivity. While this fact has been recognized for some time, considerable research is still required to determine the optimum structure for jobs in particular occupational settings. As there are different approaches to job design, the optimum job design may require trade-offs among these approaches. Current attention is shifting from issues of the individual worker to issues focusing on work groups as a basic unit, especially in manufacturing and related industries.         One of the most important aspects of job design, based on a team concept, is to provide for self-management. To the extent possible, a team should have responsibility for its own activities, including such matters as making decisions about scheduling and employee assignments and participating in the selection of new team members. The principal responsibility of management is to provide reso...

         Function of a display is to convey information accurately and rapidly from its source to the operator. Human capabilities and limitations in information processing is considered in the design of displays. Timely. appropriate. accurate, and adequate amount of information must be presented to the operator according to task requirements. It would be detrimental to task performance to present more information than required. especially when the operator is overloaded, fatigued or under stress.        Visual displays may be dynamic (e.g. altimeters and attitude indicators) or static (e.g. placards, signs, and charts) They present quantitative (e.g. altitude and heading) or qualitative (e.g. landing gear status) information. They may wm (e.g. ENGINE FIRE) or caution (e.g. oil pressure indicator or light).        Type of  Displays may also be tactile/Kinaesthetic (tactile means related to the sense of touch, kinae...