EDEM-410 Engineering Design & Manufacturing

Lecture 7

HUMAN FACTORS IN ENGINEERING

DESIGN/ERGONOMICS

John Taulo, PhD

Department of Engineering
Malawi Institute of Technology
Malawi University of Science & Technology

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 Course Objectives
 The aims of this course are to provide students
with an overview of various ergonomic factors in
the interfaces of a man machine system, and to
develop an understanding of related ergonomic
principles fundamental to the analysis and design
of interfaces like control-display panels, icons,
symbols, and tools and devices.
 Students will be able to identify the critical
ergonomic factors in a man machine interface, and
apply the related principles to design user friendly,
safe, and productive man machine interface.
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 Learning Outcomes
 Upon successful completion of this course,
students should be able to:
 Describe the basic ergonomic factors and related
problems in the interfaces of a man machine
system
 Diagnose the problems of given man machine
interfaces
 Apply relevant ergonomic principles and factors to
the solutions of given man machine interfaces

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Human Factors in Engineering Design
 Engineering Design is concerned with
the satisfaction of human needs.

 In many applications, human factors

must be taken into account in the
design process.

 Man-machine interface (MMI) is very

important to be considered in the
design process
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 Human factors
Human factors are:
1. Anthropometric (dimensions)
(Human interaction in static sense)
2. Ergonomic (makes things comfortable) ‫مريح‬
(Human interaction in DYNAMIC sense)
(repeated tasks (force), to maximize productivity by
minimizing operator fatigue and discomfort ). Elements:
1. Safety, 2. Comfort 3. Efficiency
3. Physiological (Body characteristics)
(Human interaction with body characteristics)
4. Psychological
(Human interaction with mental activities)

Human Factors 5
What is Human Factors in Design?
 Considering information about human behavior,
abilities, characteristics and physical limits

 Ensuring that the final product can be effectively

utilized by the end user, without exceeding their
capabilities

 ‘Fitting the Job to the Man’ rather than ‘Fit the

Man to the Job’

 Ergonomics optimizing Efficiency, Health, Safety

and Comfort of people through better designs of
products and work places
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What is Human Factors in Design?

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Human factors Must be considered during
the design phase:

“You can use an eraser on the drafting

table or a sledge-hammer on the
construction site.”
Frank Lloyd Wright (Architect)

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 ERGONOMICS

 Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific

discipline concerned with the understanding of
interactions among humans and other
elements of a system, and the profession that
applies theory, principles, data and methods
to design in order to optimize human well-being
and overall system performance (International
Ergonomics Association, 2000).

 Ergonomics is a tool to redesign the interface

between people and machines (being both
elements of a system). 9
 ERGONOMICS

Ergonomics is a solution finding method for questions like these:

 How can human body dimensions be applied to car seat design?

 What is the proper height for kitchen counters?
 How can traffic lights be programmed for optimal urban traffic
flow throughout the day?
 How can stereo receiver displays and controls be coded to
effectively define their respective functions?
 How can the material and design of swim suits for competition
be improved for minimal water resistance?
 How should computer software and screens work and look best
to fit human cognitive capabilities?

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 Ergonomic needs in a workplace
 Physical work environment
 Thermal comfort
 Noise and vibration control
 Adequate and proper lighting

 Chemical environment
 Control of pollution
 General and exhaust ventilation

 Work physiology
 Control excessive physical load
 Avoid physical and muscular fatigue
 Adequate rest pauses
 Arrangement of static and dynamic 11
 Ergonomic needs in a workplace
 Anthropometry (Body sizes)

 Designs to fit body sizes of users

 Appropriate working levels
 Adequate work space
 Avoid overcrowding of machines and workers

 Occupational Biomechanics

 Appropriate work postures (sitting, standing)

 Safe load lifting and carrying techniques
 Adopt proper techniques in manual materials handling

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 Ergonomic needs in a workplace
 Psychological aspects
 Avoid perceptual and mental loads and fatigue
 Appropriate design of displays and control
 Appropriate conditions for vigilance tasks
 Avoid human error and stress
 Job motivation and satisfaction

 Social psychology

 Practice good relationship among employees and between

employer and employee

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 Ergonomic needs in a workplace
 Macro ergonomics
 Suitable working hours, intervals, holidays, leave
 Appropriate shift schedules
 Welfare facilities
 Job rotation and incentive schemes
 Fair salary structure, good administrative structure
 Good work organization schemes
 Fringe benefits (housing, transport, sports)
 Labour union facilities
 Training and education
 Promotional prospects

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 Ergonomic needs in a workplace
 Safety and Ergonomics
 Good housekeeping
 Performance feedback

 Systems ergonomics
 Systems groups in problem solving and development work
 Participative ergonomics
 User centered designs

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Importance of Human Factors in Design
 Improve productivity Ease and Efficiency

 Improve safety
 Improve comfort
 Improve satisfaction
 Decrease errors Human factors
 Reduce fatigue
 Reduce the learning curve
 Meet user’s needs and Man Machine
wants
 Positive perception of
product 16
 Difficulties of Human Factors
• Humans are flexible and
adaptable
• Large individual differences
• Obvious differences:
Physical size and
strength
• Not obvious differences:
culture, style, and skill

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 Forms of Human Factors
 Anthropometric Anthropometric
(Human interaction in static sense;
dimensions of body)
 Ergonomic
Ergonomic
(Human interaction in dynamic
sense; repeated tasks)
 Physiological
(Human interaction with body Physiological
characteristics)
 Psychological
(Human interaction with mental Psychological
activities)

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 1. Anthropometric Factors Anthropometric

Anthropometric human factors are related Ergonomic

to the physical size of humans; it is man-

machine interaction in static sense Physiological

Psychological

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 Anthropometric Factors
Adequate attention to the nature
of the physical dimensions of
humans

• Design for • Design for

Adjustability Average
• Design for • Design for
all Extreme

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 Anthropometric Factors
Statistical distribution Cumulative distribution diagram is
(relative frequency) diagram an alternative method to present
for the height of people the same information

• The peak in the relative frequency diagram is often close to the

average value
• By designing for the average person we often exclude 50% of
the population
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 Anthropometric Factors example
Being able to see an obstacle of height h at a
minimum distance L from the front of the car

The average

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 Anthropometric
2. Ergonomic Factors
Greek Words: Ergon = work, Nomikos = law Ergonomic
Ergonomics= Study of Work Laws

 It is man-machine interaction in dynamic sense;

Physiological

repeated tasks to maximize productivity by

Psychological
minimizing operator fatigue and discomfort
 The three aspects of ergonomic factors: Safety,
comfort and efficiency
 Importance when the human is involved with the
machine in a dynamic sense
 A human is required to exert a force or perhaps
supply work to the machine
 The effective operation of a machine over long
periods of time will depend upon the matching of
requirements to human capability 23
The capability for performing
many tasks depends on:

 The physical ability of the

operator
 The range of movement
required
 The speed of movement
 The duration of the activity
 The position of the
operator
 The environmental
condition
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 Ergonomic Factors
(Aircraft Instrument Panel Example)
• First, determine functions inter-relationships and their relative
values
• A useful measure of the relative value of a relationship is the
product of the importance of the particular event by the
frequency of occurrence

If these can be established

the designer has a logic
available to assist in the
planning the display

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 Aircraft Instrument Panel
(Importance and Frequency)

Instrument Duration of No. of Relative

observation observations value
(sec) per min.
Cross 0 0 0
pointer Air speed, Directional Gyro,
Air speed 0.67 22 14.7** and Gyro. Horizon are the most
important
Directional 0.51 24 12.2* and must be very visible and
Gyro
close to each others
Gyro. 0.59 26 15.3***
Horizon
Engine 1. 13 5 5.6
Instrument
s
Altimeter 0.47 10 4.7
Turn and 0.39 5 2.0
Bank
Vertical 0.17 12 5.6
Speed
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 Anthropometric

3. Physiological Factors
• Factors dealing with human sensations Ergonomic

• These involve the neurological, muscular,

respiratory, vascular and sensory systems Physiological

• They can be grouped according to the Psychological

response to various inputs such as:

 Visual (seeing)
 Auditory (hearing)
 Tactile (the sense of touch)
 Kinesthetic (detecting body position)
 Taste senses
 Environment (temperature, humidity)

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 Physiological Factors

Human Factors 28
 Physiological Factors (examples)

• Color • Noise
• Light • Speech

Vision Hearing

Weather Touch

• Temp. • Braille
• Humidity • Comfort

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 Physiological Factors
• It is necessary to achieve satisfactory intensity and color
discrimination and resolution
• Need careful design of lighting systems and selection of
materials and colors
• Consider the frequency analysis of the sounds
• Control the noise at its source
• The sense of touch is of great value in various recognition
situations (e.g., Braille printing)
• The atmospheric environment in which the human performs his
tasks may considerably affect his
working efficiency and accuracy

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 Example Temperature:
 When the temperature is below 10 oC, physical stiffness
begins.

 Above 25°C physical fatigue begins and above 30°C the

mental processes begin to slow down.

 A temperature of 50°C is tolerable for a short time but mental

or physical effort is almost impossible.

 Example Humidity

Human Factors 31
 Anthropometri

4. Psychological Factors c

They are concerned with the mental Ergonomic

activity of the human during the use of the

product. Physiological

Psychological

This involves:
• Interpretation of information
• Motivation and fatigue
• Decision making
• Aesthetics (philosophy of art)

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Psychological Factors
• Use presentations which will lead to
minimum error of interpretation
• Retain the usual method of operation
(e.g., a power switch is ON when the
operating lever is DOWN
• Use digital indicators for precise
numerical values
• Use color coding on dials for fast
recognition: green-normal, yellow-
caution, red-danger
• Arrange control movement in a logical
manner

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 4. Psychological Factors
Instrument

- Use digital indicators for precise

numerical values.

- For time variable readings not

requiring high accuracy use moving
pointers over a fixed linear or
circular scale.

Human Factors 34
 4. Psychological Factors

Color (indicators)

Color coding on dials are useful

in helping to recognize
conditions quickly e.g., green-
normal, yellow-caution, red-
danger.

Movement:
Arrange control movement to coincide with
required direction of instrument pointer
movement.

Human Factors 35
 Summary

Ergonomic Physiological Psychological

Force -Light -Color
-Color indicator
-Order [car] --Sign (oC. K)
-Sound --Digital dial
--Analogue dial
Temp Control
Humidity

Human Factors 36