ABSTRACT

The integration of knowledge about Human Factors into the system engineering process is an important issue, due to its potential impact on the cost effectiveness of the design process, the quality of the product and safety. Recent studies have suggested several ways to facilitate this integration. Perhaps the most significant is to promote the idea of including the entire organisation from the very outset of the design process. The US Army, through MANPRINT (Booher, 1990), has proposed an approach that helps organisations to consider Human Factors requirements such as manpower, personnel, training, the design process, safety risk management and health hazards. MANPRINT describes what should be considered, but each design organisation is free to adapt the general principles. For example, Ward and Harmer (1999) have proposed enhancements to the approach to cover specific issues such as cultural changes, design process improvement and organisational changes (i.e. how organisationally Human Factors should be considered in the design process). AIRBUS has a multi-disciplinary Human Factors group, including all relevant parts of the organisation: design, certification, operations, maintenance and training (for both crew and maintenance operators). Each discipline has developed a Human Factors manual, describing the way Human Factors is integrated into their organisation and processes.