Ergonomics as a Multidisciplinary Approach

Lecture 5 & 6:

Course Leader:

Asst. Prof. Vignesh Ravichandran

vignesh.id.ad@msruas.ac.in

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 Lecture Objectives
At the end of this lecture, student will be able to:

- Describe ergonomics as a multidisciplinary approach

- Demonstrate the application of ergonomics in a multidisciplinary approach

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 Ergonomics -A Multi Disciplinary Approach
-Design engineers,
-Production engineers,
-Industrial designers,
-Computer specialists,
-Industrial physicians,
-Health and safety practitioners, and
-Specialists in human resources.

The overall aim is to ensure that our knowledge of human

characteristics is brought to bear on practical problems of people at
work and in leisure. We know that, in many cases, humans can adapt to
unsuitable conditions, but such adaptation leads often to inefficiency,
errors, unacceptable stress, and physical or mental cost.

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 What do HFEs Do?
• HFE uses a systems analysis approach.
• Humans are a critical system component.
• HFEs analyze systems focusing on human operators to determine
what they are required to do to achieve system goals.
• HFEs determine how the system can be designed or modified to meet
goals.
• Humans have certain capabilities and limitations, and the system
must be designed with an understanding of the human component
subsystem requirements.

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 HFE is a Multidisciplinary Field
• Psychology • Medicine, physiology, life
– Cognition sciences
– Sensation and – How the human body
Perception works
• Engineering • Computer Science
– Anthropometry – Programming
– Biomechanics • Occupational Safety
– Systems design
– Mechanical
– Electrical
– Etc…
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 Jobs in HFE
• Topic Areas
– Computers
– Aerospace
– Industrial Processes
– Ergonomics
– Health and Safety
– Transportation
– Education
– Medical Systems
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• Places
– Industry
– Academic Institutions
– Military-related research centers
– Government Agencies
– Independent research and
consulting organizations
– Independent consultants
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 Examples of Employers
• Aerospace and Defense • Automotive
– Boeing – John Deere
– General Dynamics – General Motors
– Hughes – Honda
– Lockheed Martin – Ford
– TRW – Nissan
– Rockwell – Toyota
• Power & Utilities • Communications
– EG&G – AT&T
– General Electric – GTE
– Westinghouse – Lucent Technologies
– US West

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 Examples of Employers
• Computers • Insurance
– Apple – Travelers
– IBM – Liberty Mutual
– Digital Equipment Corp.
– Hewlett-Packard
– INTEL
– Xerox
– Sun Microsystems
– Compaq
– NRC Corp.
– Start-up companies!

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 Technical Groups in HFES

• Aerospace Systems • Individual Differences in

• Aging Performance
• Safety
• Cognitive Engineering & Decision making
• Surface Transportation
• Communication
• System Development
• Consumer Products • Test and Evaluation
• Educator’s Professional • Training
• Environmental Design • Virtual Environments
• Forensics Professional • Visual Performance
• Industrial Ergonomics • Web
• Macro ergonomics
• Medical Systems & Rehabilitation

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 Summary
•Multidisciplinary approach determine how ergonomics applied in the system can
be designed or modified to meet goals of customers

•Humans have certain capabilities and limitations, and the system must be
designed with an understanding of the human component subsystem
requirements

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