Guide To Applying Human Factors Methods

This second edition of Human Factors Methods: A Practical Guide for Engineering and Design now presents 107 design and evaluation methods including numerous refinements to those that featured in the original. The book acts as an ergonomics methods manual, aiding both students and practitioners. Offering a 'how-to' text on a substantial range of ergonomics methods, the eleven sections represent the different categories of ergonomics methods and techniques that can be used in the evaluation and design process.

An easy-to-use, in-depth manual, Human Factors Methods for Design supplies the how-tos for approaching and analyzing design problems and provides guidance for their solution. It draws together the basics of human behavior and physiology to provide a context for readers who are new to the field. The author brings in problem analysis, including test and evaluation methods and simple experimentation and recognizes the importance of cost-effectiveness. Finally, he emphasizes the need for good communication to get the new product understood and accepted. The author draws from his corporate experience as a research and development manager and his consulting practice in human factors and design.

This second edition of Human Factors Methods: A Practical Guide for Engineering and Design now presents 107 design and evaluation methods as well as numerous refinements to those that featured in the original. The book has been carefully designed to act as an ergonomics methods manual, aiding both students and practitioners. The eleven sections represent the different categories of ergonomics methods and techniques that can be used in the evaluation and design process. Offering a 'how-to' text on a substantial range of ergonomics methods that can be used in the design and evaluation of products and systems, it is a comprehensive point of reference for all these methods. An overview of the methods is presented in chapter one, with a methods matrix showing which can be used in conjunction. The following chapters detail the methods showing how to apply them in practice. Flowcharts, procedures and examples cover the requirements of a diverse audience and varied applications of the methods. The final chapter, a new addition, illustrates the EAST method, which integrates several well-known methods into a teamwork analysis approach.

Human error plays a significant role in many accidents involving safety-critical systems, and it is now a standard requirement in both the US and Europe for Human Factors (HF) to be taken into account in system design and safety assessment. This book will be an essential guide for anyone who uses HF in their everyday work, providing them with consistent and ready-to-use procedures and methods that can be applied to real-life problems. The first part of the book looks at the theoretical framework, methods and techniques that the engineer or safety analyst needs to use when working on a HF-related project. The second part presents four case studies that show the reader how the above framework and guidelines work in practice. The case studies are based on real-life projects carried out by the author for a major European railway system, and in collaboration with international companies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Volvo, Daimler-Chrysler and FIAT.

This book provides an overview of, and practical guidance on, the range of human factors (HF) methods that can be used for the purposes of accident analysis and investigation in complex sociotechnical systems. Human Factors Methods and Accident Analysis begins with an overview of different accident causation models and an introduction to the concepts of accident analysis and investigation. It then presents a discussion focussing on the importance of, and difficulties associated with, collecting appropriate data for accident analysis purposes. Following this, a range of HF-based accident analysis methods are described, as well as step-by-step guidance on how to apply them. To demonstrate how the different methods are applied, and what the outputs are, the book presents a series of case study applications across a range of safety critical domains. It concludes with a chapter focussing on the data challenges faced when collecting, coding and analysing accident data, along with future directions in the area. Human Factors Methods and Accident Analysis is the first book to offer a practical guide for investigators, practitioners and researchers wishing to apply accident analysis methods. It is also unique in presenting a series of novel applications of accident analysis methods, including HF methods not previously used for these purposes (e.g. EAST, critical path analysis), as well as applications of methods in new domains.

Human error plays a significant role in many accidents involving safety-critical systems, and it is now a standard requirement in both the US and Europe for Human Factors (HF) to be taken into account in system design and safety assessment. This book will be an essential guide for anyone who uses HF in their everyday work, providing them with consistent and ready-to-use procedures and methods that can be applied to real-life problems. The first part of the book looks at the theoretical framework, methods and techniques that the engineer or safety analyst needs to use when working on a HF-related project. The second part presents four case studies that show the reader how the above framework and guidelines work in practice. The case studies are based on real-life projects carried out by the author for a major European railway system, and in collaboration with international companies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Volvo, Daimler-Chrysler and FIAT.

Packed with illustrations and practical examples, Guide to Methodology in Ergonomics: Designing for Human Use, Second Edition provides a concise introduction to ergonomics methods in a straightforward manner that helps you conduct an ergonomics analysis of a product in development. It details the execution of 12 ergonomics methods that can be applied to the design of any type of product or interface. The authors stress the role of ergonomics in reducing device interaction time and user error while improving user satisfaction and device usability. See What’s in the New Edition: Four case studies Addition of another co-author Examples that reflect current technology Information on Critical Path Analysis (CPA) The authors highlight where ergonomics methods fit in the design process and how to select a method appropriate for your purpose. They describe each method, supplying an overview, instructions on how to carry out an analysis, a mini bibliography, pros and cons, one or more examples, and a flow chart. They then rate each method for reliability/validity, resources, usability, and efficacy. The book then examines data from studies on training, reliability, and validity, and presents an equation that enables you to calculate approximately the financial benefits of using each method. Based on research and expertise, the book gives you the freedom to be adventurous when choosing methods and the foundation to choose the method that fits the task at hand. Written by experts, it also helps you hone your skills and put the craft of ergonomics into practice.

Human Factors Methods: A Practical Guide for Engineering and Design presents more than ninety design and evaluation methods, and is designed to act as an ergonomics methods manual, aiding both students and practitioners. The eleven sections of the book represent the different categories of ergonomics methods and techniques that can be used in the evaluation and design process. Offering a 'how-to' text on a substantial range of ergonomics methods that can be used in the design and evaluation of products and systems, it is a comprehensive point of reference for all these methods. An overview of the methods is presented in chapter one, with a methods matrix showing which can be used in conjunction. The following chapters detail the methods showing how to apply them in practice. Flowcharts, procedures and examples cover the requirements of a diverse audience and varied applications of the methods. The final chapter presents a case study of methods being used together in a system evaluation project.