SIE 410 - Human Factors and Ergonomics in Design I

SIE 410. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Design I (4) I Consideration of human characteristics in the requirements for design of systems, organizations, facilities and products - to enable human-centered design which considers human abilities, limitations and acceptance. A project will be required. 2ES, 2ED. May be convened with SIE 510.

Mark S. Sanders and Ernest J. McCormick. Human Factors in Engineering and Design, Seventh Edition, 1993.

Endsley, Mica R., Toward a Theory of Situation Awareness in Dynamic Systems. Human Factors, 1995, 37 (1), 32-64.

Endsley, Mica R., Measurement of Situation Awareness in Dynamic Systems. Human Factors, 1995, 37 (1), 65-84.

Broadwell, Martin M., Seven Steps to Building Better Training. Training, 1993, October, 75-81.

Filipczak, Bob, The Training Manager in the ‘90’s. Training, 1994, June, 31-35.

Parker, Kathryn G., Why Ergonomics is Good Economics. Industrial Engineering, 1995, February, 41-46.

Ergonomics is Good Economics. Council on Education in Management, 1994, 1-7, 299-302.

Gary M. Bakken, Adjunct Associate Professor of Systems and Industrial Engineering

Senior Standing or Junior standing with instructor consent

Method for Assessing Student Knowledge of Topics: None

Provide course participants with the fundamental knowledge regarding why there is a need for and how to integrate ergonomics (human factors) principles in engineered systems.

1. Apply the engineering design process to identify, define, bound and resolve human factors/ergonomics related issues for a client with which they have contracted, wherein the project conditions are open-ended , ambiguous, must include environmental, socio-economic and regulatory standards regarding human performance, must address the impact of incorporating human factors/ergonomics in the design solution on individual and societal well-being and productivity and there are multiple "right" solutions.
2. Perform at a professional level on a capstone design project as part of a team.
3. Determine and conduct performance rating of the team members' performance regarding group dynamics, team communication, and conflict management.
4. Improve ability to identify, formulate, and communicate project issues verbal and written formats, for the client.
5. Develop skills to acquire, via literature, research and listening, and determine validity and applicability of project related information to the project issues.
6. Utilize computer programming, spreadsheets, word processing, e-mail, the internet, and unique engineering software to analyze the project issues, present the information, and implement the accepted alternative solution.

1. Design: Introduction; Human Factors and Systems; Work Station Design; Ergonomics and Product Design; Displays; Specifying Ergonomically Designed Products and Equipment; Warnings; Americans With Disabilities Act (12 hrs)
2. Physical: Anthropometry (1.75hrs)
3. Physiological: Vision & Visual Sensory input; Auditory & Speech Sensory input; Tactual Sensory input; Olfactory Sensory input; Work Physiology (3.0hrs)
4. Psychological: Information Input & Processing; Decision-making; Human Error Models; Risk Identification, Assessment, Aversion (5.0hrs)
5. Biomechanical (1.5hrs)
6. Environmental Effects: Climate & Performance; Illumination & Performance; Motion & Performance (2.5hrs)
7. Safety, Hazard Analysis (2.0hrs)
8. Human Output & Control (4.75hrs)
9. Planning and Implementing an Ergonomics Effort; Adult Learning & Training; Change Management (3.75hrs)
10. Small Group Discussions discussing, researching and applying topics 1-9 (5.25hrs)
11. Presentation and discussion of projects (3.5hrs)

Class Requirements:

1. Two 75 minute class periods per week. Classroom discussions focused on supplementary material related to the reading assignments and the homework.
2. Five homework assignments consisting of reports or exercises.
3. Reading assignments primarily from the text. Additional readings and handouts added, ad hoc.
4. Five quizzes address the material covered in the classroom discussions, the homework assignments, and the reading assignments.
5. Final exam: a take-home, open-book, independent or cooperative (student choice) exam.

Student is introduced to available software in human factors, safety and ergonomics. Use of this or other software is dependent upon small group project emphasis.

Team projects completed during the course of the term. The projects address the human factors/ergonomics evaluation of a private or public entity activity. The project requires two interim oral and written progress reports, an oral presentation to the sponsoring entity, an evaluation completed by the sponsoring entity, an intra-group evaluation of the group members, and a final report submitted to the sponsoring entity with a copy to the class Professor for final evaluation.

Evaluation of Homework; Quizzes; Project oral and written reports; Class participation and final exam.

Contribution to program objectives: Goals 2, 3, 4, 5

Prepared by: Gary M. Bakken   Date: April 14, 1998