Ergonomics and Human Factors
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Introduction to Ergonomics
and Human Factors
Sections:
1. Overview of Ergonomics
2. Human-Machine Systems
3. Topic Areas in Ergonomics
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Physical and Cognitive Demands
Most work activities require a combination of
physical and cognitive exertions
Shoveling
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Translation
Ergonomics
An applied scientific discipline concerned with how humans
interact with the tools and equipment they use while performing
tasks and other activities
Derived from the Greek words ergon, meaning work, and
nomos, meaning laws
The word ergonomics was coined by British scientist K. F. H.
Murrell and entered the English language in 1949
Earlier applications in fitting man to the job (1900s)
Choose from the pool of job applicants who were best
suited to the requirements (psychological tests)
Hawthorne experiments (1920s)
Importance of social factors in work
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Human Factors
Human factors is synonymous with ergonomics
Ergonomics emphasizes work physiology and
anthropometry (individual at work)
Europe industrial work systems
Human factors emphasizes experimental
psychology and systems engineering (the human
element in a system)
U.S. military work systems
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
History of Ergonomics
Taylor scientific management movement
Critics against Taylorism
Frank and Lillian Gilbert- human factors
Early 1900s: fitting the man to the job
Late 1920s: The Hawthorne experiments social factors in the
workplace- human relations research
1900-1945: growth of use of machinery and mechanization
End of WW II: Increased complexity of equipment humanmachine systems
K.F.H. Murrel: the term ergonomics emphasis on industrial work
systems
1950: Ergonomics Research Society (UK)
1957: The Human Factors Society (US)
1960: consumer products and working class impact politically
1980 - current:
Advances in computer and automation technologies
Disasters: critical importance of human in the operation of humanmachine systems
From [Link]
1949
July - "Ten scientists of differing background, but all interested in the
study of human work, decided to form a group to enable research
workers in different disciplines to meet and exchange ideas. They
called themselves the "Human Research Society"" (K.F.H. Murrell,
BPS Bulletin, No.22, January 1954).
Summer - "Ergonomics" defined by Murrell after consultation with
Greek and Latin Scholars as "the study of the relationship between
man and his working environment".
Autumn - meeting held in Oxford which decided to turn the group into
a Society
27th September - Ergonomics Research Society formed - Queen
Annes, Admiralty, London.
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Objectives in Ergonomics
Main objective: to improve the performance of
systems consisting of people and equipment.
Human-machine systems
Machine: a variety of objects aircraft, appliances,
automobiles, chairs, computers, hand tools, sports
equipment
using knowledge of human abilities and limitations
to design and build for comfort, efficiency,
productivity and safety The Ergonomics Society
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Objectives in Ergonomics
Greater ease of interaction between user and machine
Avoid errors and mistakes
Greater comfort and satisfaction in use of the equipment
Reduce stress and fatigue
Greater efficiency and productivity
Safer operation
Avoid accidents and injuries
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Methods Engineering vs. Ergonomics
Closely related and their general objectives
are the same:
1. To improve the performance of existing
systems
2. To design new
performance
systems
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
for
optimum
Methods Engineering vs. Ergonomics
Emphasis in Methods
Engineering
Emphasis in Ergonomics
and Human Factors
Efficiency
Cost reduction
Labor reduction
Safety
Comfort
Interaction between human
and equipment
Workplace environment
Fitting the work to the
individual
Reduction of human errors
Accident avoidance
Workplace layout
One best way
Facility layout
Elimination of waste
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Ergonomics Application Areas
Work system design: interaction between worker and the
equipment used in the workplace
Objectives: safety, accident avoidance, improved
functional performance
Also includes environment such as lighting
Product design
Objectives: safety, comfort, user-friendly, mistake
proof
Our focus: work systems (which in fact overlap with the
product design)
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Ergonomists What They Do
Research on human capabilities and limitations
Discover the characteristics of human performance,
e.g., how much can an average worker lift?
Design and engineering applications
Use the research findings to design better tools and
work methods
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Fitting the Person to the Job (FPJ)
Common philosophy prior to ergonomics
Considers workers physical and mental
aptitudes (skills) in employment decisions
Psychometric testing (e.g., tests for intelligence and
personality characteristics)
For example, using worker size and strength as
criteria for physical work
FPJ is still important
For example, educational
technical positions
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
requirements
for
Fitting the Job to the Person (FJP)
It is the approach that ergonomics follow and opposite of FPJ
Philosophy: design the job so that any member of the work force
can perform it
Why the FJP philosophy has evolved:
Changes in worker skill requirements
Today, companies do not need to be much selective, since workers
are much more educated. In stead of investing time in selection
procedure, companies spend time to train the new workforce
Demographic changes (e.g. more women in the workforce,
recruiting fewer people of young age)
Social and political changes (e.g., equal opportunity laws, trade
unions, collective bargaining)
Hiring handicapped workers is encouraged by the laws.
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Changes: 1930 and 2000
Total U.S. Population
Life expectancy
Median age
Number of people age 65 and
over
Proportion of women in the
labor force
a
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
1930
2000
123 million
60 years
281 million
77 years
27 years
7 million
35 years
35 million
24%
61%
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Human-Machine Systems
Basic model in ergonomics
Defined as a combination of humans and equipment
interacting to achieve some desired result ref. Chp.
2 (e.g. external vs. internal work elements, levels of
operator attention)
Types of human-machine systems:
1.
2.
3.
Manual systems: a person using some (nonpowered)
tool
Mechanical systems: one or more humans using
powered equipment
Automated systems: automated system requiring
occasional human attention
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Human-Machine Interactions
A human-machine system has boundaries, that define what components
are included within the scope of the system.
A worker-machine production cell is one component in the larger
production department.
The ergonomist must decide where to draw the boundaries of the humanmachine system of interest.
System Components
Setting the boundary matters because
it identifies controllable / uncontrollable
it reflects what the human -machine
operation is assumed to be
system
The human
The equipment
The environment (both physical and social)
Poor lighting may effect workers ability to perform an
inspection task
An unfriendly supervisor may reduce a workers
motivation to work.
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Human Components
Functions: (1) sensing the operation, (2) information
processing, (3) actions
Human senses - to sense the operation
Five basic human sense (vision, hearing, touch, taste, and
smell)
Related with sensory (+ nerveous) system of the body
Human brain - for information processing by the stimuli
received from the senses
Thinking, planning, calculating, making decisions, solving
problems
Related with the brain
Human effectors - to take action by the impulses from the
nervous system
Fingers, hands, feet, and voice
Related with the musculoskeletal system (+ nerveous) system
of the body.
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Machine Components
The machine in a human machine-system can range from a simple hand tool to
a complex and sophisticated system of equipment.
The process function or operation performed by human-machine system
Displays - to observe the process
Direct observation for simple processes
Artificial displays for complex processes (speedometer in a car)
Controls - to actuate and regulate the process
Steering wheel, computer keyboard
A worker using a shovel to dig a hole in the ground.
Process: digging, Displays: direct observation (no need for displays),
Controls: handle of the shovel
A worker monitoring the operation of an automated process. The worker should
make sure that the process is within defined tolerances
Process: process itself, Displays: a digital monitor, Controls: buttons, levers
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Environmental Components
Physical environment
Location
and
surrounding
temperature, and humidity
Social environment
Co-workers and colleagues at work
Immediate supervisors
Organizational culture
Pace of work
Work Systems and the Methods, Measurement, and Management of Work
by Mikell P. Groover, ISBN 0-13-140650-7.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
lighting,
noise,