Human factors training in aviation maintenance: Impact on incident rates

Human Factors and ergonomics professionals are often asked to “show” how their research has affected on-the-job human performance. They are asked to show measurable changes in human effectiveness and efficiency at work. There is always the demand for HF&E researchers to create procedures and tools that can guide non-human factors personnel to make the “right” human-centered decisions. This symposium will show and distribute such tools that have been designed and tested in an aviation maintenance environment. For over six years now, the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Aviation Medicine has conducted an extensive research program centered on human factors in aviation maintenance and inspection. The research program has earned a reputation of demonstrating a “hands-on” understanding of aviation maintenance and maintaining a close working relationship with all segments of the industry. The symposium will begin with an overview of FAA-sponsored research results applied to aviation maintenance and safety over the past six years. In the second paper the Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance, completed in 1995, will be described. The third presentation will demonstrate a CD-ROM version of the Guide. The presentation shall also discuss human-computer interface issues pertinent to developing interactive multi-media information systems. The final presentation will show a multi-media software package to conduct ergonomics audits in a variety of industrial environments. The system has evolved from three years of ergonomics audit research in aviation maintenance workplaces. Each of the session presentations will demonstrate and distribute HF&E tools to session attendees.

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Human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance: a review

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering ◽

10.1108/jqme-05-2013-0030 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 478-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

A. Shanmugam ◽

T. Paul Robert

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Human Factor ◽

Aircraft Design ◽

Well Being ◽

Aviation Industry ◽

Physical Aspect ◽

Aircraft Maintenance ◽

Human Factors Engineering ◽

Content Type ◽

Aviation Maintenance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on human factors in aircraft maintenance and to analyze and synthesize the findings in the literature on human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance. Design/methodology/approach – The review adopts a threefold approach: searching and collecting the scientific literature; sorting them on the basis of relevance and applications; and review of the scientific evidences. Broad areas of aircraft maintenance regulations are identified and each area was explored to study the level of scientific growth and publications. Notable theories, models and concepts are being summarized. Findings – Application of human factor principles in aviation spread beyond the technical arena of man-machine interface. The discipline has created a great impact on aircraft design, operations and maintenance. Its applications have percolated into design of aircraft maintenance facilities, task cards and equipment. Human factor concepts are being used for maintenance resource management. The principles are applied to shape the safety behavior and culture in aviation maintenance workplace. Nevertheless, the review unfolds immense potential for future research. Research limitations/implications – Research outcomes of non-aviation studies are also reviewed and consolidated to extend the applications to the aviation industry. Practical implications – This review would be a consolidated source of information confining to the physical aspect of human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance. It is intended to serve as a quick reference guide to the researchers and maintenance practitioners. Social implications – It brought out the benefits of adopting the principles of human factor engineering in aircraft maintenance. Application of human factor philosophy ensures enhanced safety in air transport, personal safety and well-being of maintenance personnel. Originality/value – This is a unique review based on aircraft maintenance regulations that are baseline performance standards made mandatory by regulatory authorities. Therefore, the review has been considered to be made on aircraft maintenance regulatory requirements that surpass corporate or competitive strategies in aviation maintenance organization.

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Human factors in aviation maintenance: how we got to where we are

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics ◽

10.1016/s0169-8141(99)00062-1 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 125-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Anand K Gramopadhye ◽

Colin G Drury

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Aviation Maintenance

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Providing Useful Human Factors Guidance to Aviation Maintenance Practitioners

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129503900116 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 66-70

Author(s):

Michael E. Maddox

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Research Program ◽

Development Process ◽

Consistent Finding ◽

Aviation Medicine ◽

Aviation Maintenance ◽

General Evaluation ◽

Maintenance And Inspection ◽

First Time ◽

Human Factors Research

The Aloha Airlines B-737 accident in 1989 prompted a general evaluation of aviation maintenance and inspection practices. A consistent finding from the Aloha analyses was that human-factors-related issues played a significant role in the accident. In the intervening period, the FAA Office of Aviation Medicine (AAM) has sponsored a wideranging, applied human factors research program. The Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance (the Guide) is the primary vehicle for channeling the results of the AAM's research program into the aviation user community. This paper describes the development process of the Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance. We include a discussion of how the existing base of research results has been made accessible and, more importantly, usable to aviation maintenance supervisors and inspectors. We also describe the considerations related to widely disseminating the information and guidance contained in the Guide. We believe this to be the first time that detailed human factors guidance from such a broad topical range has been tailored to a particular, applied, user domain.

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Electronic Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129503900117 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 71-74

Author(s):

Julie A. Jones ◽

T. Kiki Widjaja

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Computer Software ◽

Federal Aviation Administration ◽

Digital Information ◽

Aviation Maintenance ◽

Technological Advances ◽

Digital Documentation ◽

Digital Information Technology ◽

Human Factors Research ◽

Future Plans

Technological advances in the area of computer software, hardware and peripherals have made digital information technology feasible. The Federal Aviation Administration Office of Aviation Medicine has been investigating the application of such technology. The overall goal is to increase accessibility and to improve distribution of Human Factors research reports and information to the aviation maintenance industry. The latest digital documentation project is the Electronic Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance (E-Guide). The E-Guide is a hypermedia version of the Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance (the Guide) which is described elsewhere in this symposium. This paper describes the design goals, key features, and future plans for the E-Guide.

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Human Factors Challenges in Aviation Maintenance

Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129203600121 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 82-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

William T. Shepherd

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Research Program ◽

Aircraft Maintenance ◽

Vice Presidents ◽

Aviation Medicine ◽

Aviation Maintenance ◽

The Past ◽

Air Carrier ◽

Maintenance And Inspection

The FAA Office of Aviation Medicine has been conducting a research program for the past two years dealing with human factors issues in aircraft maintenance and inspection. As part of this program a series of workshops have been held with participation of a broad spectrum of air carrier industry representatives. These representatives, ranging from hanger floor technicians to vice - presidents, have identified a series of issues or challenges which present their most formidable human factors problems. The FAA research program has been designed to address these challenges. This paper describes five of these challenges and offers guidance on methods for dealing with them.

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