Human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance: a review

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-505 ◽  
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.

Strategic approach to managing human factors risk in aircraft maintenance organization: risk mapping

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Kucuk Yilmaz
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Risk Mapping ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Aircraft Maintenance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Enterprise Risk

Purpose Aviation has multi-cultural business environment in all aspects as operational and management. Managing aviation requires high awareness on human factor risk which includes organizational behavior-related topics. The greatest risk to an enterprise’s ability to achieve its strategic goals and objectives is the human factor. Both organizational behavior and corporate culture behavior with social psychology are the most vital aspects of management and strategy in terms of human resources. Related risks, including organizational behavior and culture, have the potential to directly impact on both business performance and corporate sustainability. Therefore, in this paper, the most prominent risks were determined in accordance with social psychology, and after identification of human factor-based risks, these have prioritized and prepared risk mapping with fresh approach. For this reason, this study aims to develop risk mapping model for human factors that takes into account interrelations among risk factors three dimensional based new approach. This approach includes both identification of human factor based risks, prioritization them and setting risk mapping according to corporate based qualifications via tailoring risk list. Developed risk map in this paper will help to manage corporate risks to achieve improved performance and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach This new organizational behavior- and culture-focused risk mapping model developed in this study has the potential to make significant contribution to the management of the human factor for modern management and strategy. In enterprise risk management system, risk mapping is both strong and effective strategic methodology to manage ergonomics issue with strategic approach. Human factor is both determinative and also strategic element to both continuity and performance of business operations with safely and sound. In view of management and strategy, vitally, the human factor determines the outcome in both every business and every decision-making. Findings It is assumed that, if managers manage human risk you may get advantages to achieving corporate strategies in timely manner. Aviation is sensitive sector for its ingredients: airports, airlines, air traffic management, aircraft maintenance, pilotage and ground handling. Aim of this paper is to present risk management approach to optimize human performance while minimizing both failures and errors by aircraft maintenance technician (AMT). This model may apply all human factors in other departments of aviation such as pilots and traffic controllers. AMT is key component of aircraft maintenance. Thus, errors made by AMTs will cause aircraft accidents or incidents or near miss incidents. In this study, new taxonomy model for human risk factors in aircraft maintenance organizations has been designed, and also new qualitative risk assessment as three dimensions is carried out by considering the factors affecting the AMT’s error obtained from extensive literature review and expert opinions in the field of aviation. Human error risks are first categorized into two main groups and sub three groups and then prioritized using the risk matrix via triple dimension as probability, severity and interrelations ratio between risks. Practical implications Risk mapping is established to decide which risk management option they will apply for managers when they will look at this map. Managers may use risk map to both identify their managerial priorities and share sources to managing risks, and make decisions on risk handling options. This new model may be a useful new tool to manage ergonomic human factor-based risks in developing strategy in aviation business management. In addition, this paper will contribute to department of management and strategy and related literature. Originality/value This study has originality via new modeling of risk matrix. In this study, dimension of risk analysis has been improved as three dimensions. This study has new approach and new assessment of risk with likelihood (probability), impact (severity) and interrelations ratio. This new model may be a useful new tool to both assess and prioritize mapping of ergonomic-based risks in business management. In addition, this research will contribute to aviation management and strategy literature and also enterprise risk management literature.

scholarly journals Defining Human Factor and Ergonomic and its related issues in Malaysia Pineapple Plantations

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
pp. 05047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Fazrina Mohamad Salleh ◽  
Ezrin Hani Sukadarin
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Risk Model ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Industrial Ergonomics ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
English Articles ◽  
Selection Of

Human factor and ergonomic has been a standardized as synonymous for a long time and has great potential to contribute in designing all kinds of systems with people. However, some opinions draw precisely distinctions among these terms. Numerous studies have been conducted in their attempt to understand the concept of human factor and ergonomic. The meaning of each term must be clearly understood before using them in any research to understand how human beings interact with surroundings. So, this paper seeks to review the definition of human factor and ergonomic. English articles and books dated as far 1970 were compiled from Taylor and Francis Online, Google Scholar and Science Direct. The keywords used in the selection of the articles are human factors, human factors engineering, ergonomics, industrial ergonomics, reviews, definition, difference and risk factors. A risk model related to each term is also provided to have more understanding towards it. Based on the finding of the literature review of human factor and ergonomic issue in pineapple plantation were explore and are categorized accordingly.

Outline of the Human Factor Elements Evident with Pervasive Computers

2011 ◽  
pp. 330-342
Author(s):  
Genevieve Watson
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Human Machine Interface ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Personal Lives ◽  
Machine Interface ◽  
Human Factors Research

Pervasive computers cover many areas of both our working and personal lives. This chapter investigates this phenomenon through the human factors impacts, particularly in aviation. This chapter gives a brief introduction to pervasive computers and how they interact with aviation human factors research. Further, it follows the discussion on how pervasive computers have permeated into an integral part of the aviation industry by reviewing the specific issues of cockpit automation and the human-machine interface in the aircraft cockpit.

Financial performance and safety in the aviation industry

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedram Fardnia ◽  
Thomas Kaspereit ◽  
Thomas Walker ◽  
Sizhe Xu
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Economic Environment ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Strong Law ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multivariate Tests ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Accident Rates

PurposeThis paper investigates whether financial factors, which are presumed to influence an airline's maintenance, purchasing, and training policies, are associated with the air carrier's safety performance.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, we employ a series of univariate and multivariate tests (OLS and Poisson regressions) to examine whether an airline's financial well-being as well as a country's legal and economic environment affect the airline's accident rate. Our study is the first to employ an international sample that covers 110 airlines in 26 countries over the period 1990–2009.FindingsWe document an inverse relationship between the profitability of air carriers and their accident propensity. Other financial variables such as liquidity, asset utilization, and financial leverage also appear to affect an airline's safety record, although these findings do not reach significance in all models. Flight equipment maintenance and overhaul expenditures are negatively related to accident rates. In addition, our results show that country-level variables related to the legal and economic environment have a significant effect on airline safety. Specifically, airlines in countries with strong law enforcement, more stringent regulatory systems, and better economic performance have superior safety performance. A series of robustness tests confirms our results.Originality/valueThe unique contributions of the study are (1) that it is the first to explore the drivers of safety performance in a cross-country context and (2) that it introduces a novel index of capacity when computing accident rates. By using data from 110 airlines in 26 countries, the study does not only provide insights into the firm-level but also the country-level determinants of an airline’s safety performance. The results of this research should be of interest both to academics and to regulators who develop, oversee, and implement policies targeted at improving aviation safety on a national and supranational level.

Applying human factor analysis tools to a railway brake and wheel maintenance facility

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarbjeet Singh ◽  
Rupesh Kumar ◽  
Uday Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Working Time ◽  
Posture Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Working Posture ◽  
Railway Maintenance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate three techniques to extract human factor information from specific railway maintenance tasks. It describes the techniques and shows how these tools can be applied to identify improvements in maintenance practices and workflow. Design/methodology/approach – Three case studies were conducted on single group of technicians (n=19) at a railway maintenance workshop in Luleå, Sweden. Case study I examined the posture of the technicians while they were changing the brake shoes of freight wagons; the study employed the Standard Nordic Questionnaire and a videotape using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS). Case study II looked at maintenance repair times required to change the wheel axle on freight wagons at the workshop. A video filming method suggested by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work was used to measure actual maintenance time. Finally, case study III considered the technicians’ (n=19) perception of work demands, their control over the work and their social support while performing maintenance tasks (brake shoe and wheel axle maintenance); to this end, the case study used a demand control support questionnaire. Findings – In the first case study, the Standard Nordic Questionnaire confirmed that technicians at this particular railway vehicle maintenance workshop suffer from back and shoulder pain. The Ovako Working Posture Analysis showed that 21 percent of the working time required to fit the brake wedge and cotter pin fits into two OWAS categories: category 3, where “change is required as soon as possible,” and category 4, where “change is required immediately”. Problems stem from poor workplace layout, incorrect posture and inaccessibility of tools and components. In the second study, the video analysis indicated that the working time to change the wheel axle of a freight wagon is greatly affected by poor workplace layout. The third case study showed that the technicians have lower “psychological demands” (mean=13), “higher control over work” (mean=16) and “high social support” (mean=22). Practical implications – The objective of this study was to apply knowledge about human factors to the functional relationships between maintenance personnel, tasks and the working environment to improve safety. If the workplace layout, working posture, maintenance manuals and accessibility of tools are poorly planned, maintenance performance can be adversely affected. The results of this study should assist maintenance management to design new policies and guidelines for improving the work environment. Originality/value – Three case studies were conducted at a railway maintenance workshop in Luleå, Sweden, to collect data on how human factors affect various railway maintenance tasks.

Human Factors Challenges in Aviation Maintenance

1992 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-86 ◽  
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.

Semantic voice search in IETP: filling the gap for maintenance 4.0

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrique Costa Marques ◽  
Alessandro Giacotto ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Scussiatto ◽  
Fernando Teixeira Mendes Abrahão
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Voice Recognition ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Dirty Hands ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

PurposeA framework is being developed to help Integrated Electronic Technical Publications (IETP) consultation inside and outside the aviation maintenance hangar. The expected results are the reduction in time to access the desired IETP and to assist mechanics while performing maintenance tasks using voice recognition.Design/methodology/approachThe work is being conducted based on literature review and consultation with mechanics from the aviation industry, through questionnaires. The development will be made through study cases by building a core search engine and mobile applications to support the mechanics during the maintenance activities.FindingsThe identified problem in small maintenance shops and defence organizations suggests that IETP are not entirely accessible before and during the maintenance activity. Such organizations suffer from information and communications technology (ICT) low infrastructure capability and demand access to multiple IETP databases as they usually support different aircraft. To have access to the IETP through voice assistant application will help mechanics to access the IETP, including when they would be with dirty hands and having difficulty in using mobile devices with touch displays.Originality/valueThe framework being developed will give mechanics the ability to quickly find any existing IETP to support its maintenance task at any time and in any place with low demanding for ICT infrastructure. The architecture will support different applications, and the identified priority is for IETP viewers to the most demanding functionality of specification ASD S1000D. This approach could also help in troubleshooting activities since COVID-19 brought new demands for the social distancing for mechanics.

Evaluation and prioritization of technical and operational airworthiness factors for flight safety

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (7) ◽  
pp. 1049-1061
Author(s):  
Mehmet Burak Şenol
Keyword(s):  
Aircraft Design ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Flight Safety ◽  
Military Aircraft ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Aviation ◽  
Safety Programs ◽  
Aviation Operations ◽  
The Military

Purpose In this study, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach for evaluating airworthiness factors were presented. The purpose of this study is to develop an acceptable rationale for operational activities in civil and military aviation and for design, production and maintenance activities in the aviation industry that can be used in-flight safety programs and evaluations. Design/methodology/approach In aviation, while the initial and continuing airworthiness of aircraft is related to technical airworthiness, identifying and minimizing risks for avoiding losses and damages are related to operational airworthiness. Thus, the airworthiness factors in civil and military aviation were evaluated under these two categories as the technical and operational airworthiness factors by the analytic hierarchy process and analytic network process. Three technical and five operational airworthiness criteria for civil aviation, three technical and nine operational airworthiness criteria for military aviation were defined, evaluated, prioritized and compared in terms of flight safety. Findings The most important technical factor is the “airworthiness status of the aircraft” both in civil (81.9%) and military (77.6%) aviation, which means that aircraft should initially be designed for safety. The most significant operational factors are the “air traffic control system” in civil (30.9%) and “threat” in the military (26.6%) aviation. The differences within factor weights may stem from the design requirements and acceptable safety levels (frequency of occurrences 1 in 107 in military and 1 in 109 in civil aircraft design) of civil and military aircraft with the mission achievement requirements in civil and military aviation operations. The damage acceptance criteria for civil and military aircraft are different. The operation risks are accepted in the military and acceptance of specific tasks and the risk levels can vary with aircraft purpose and type. Practical implications This study provides an acceptable rationale for safety programs and evaluations in aviation activities. The results of this study can be used in real-world airworthiness applications and safety management by the aviation industry and furthermore, critical factor weights should be considered both in civil and military aviation operations and flights. The safety levels of airlines with respect to our airworthiness factor weights or the safety level of military operations can be computed. Originality/value This is the first study considering technical and operational airworthiness factors as an MCDM problem. Originality and value of this paper are defining critical airworthiness factors for civil and military aviation, ranking these factors, revealing the most important ones and using MCDM methods for the evaluations of airworthiness factors for the first time. In civil aviation flight safety is the basic tenet of airworthiness activities in risk analysis, on the other hand in military aviation high levels of risks are to be avoided in peace training or operational tasks. However, even high risks have to be accepted during the war, if the operational requirements impose, as mission achievement is vital. The paper is one of a kind on airworthiness evaluations for flight safety.

Introducing a Practical Human Factors Guide into the Aviation Maintenance Environment

1994 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Maddox
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Aircraft Design ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Major Product ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Human Capabilities ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
The Third ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Human Factors Research

A safe and efficient air travel system depends on three elements; design, operation, and maintenance. The Human Factors profession essentially began and matured in the aviation environment. The aircraft cockpit and the skills involved in piloting have been the subjects of more human factors research than any other single topic. Likewise, the topic of aircraft design has been the beneficiary of many of the tools and procedures developed to embed human capabilities into products. The third component, maintenance, seems to receive attention only when it is shown to be a contributing factor in a mishap. In an effort to embed proper human factors principles in the aircraft maintenance environment, Congress, through the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Aviation Medicine (OAM), has mandated that more emphasis be placed on human factors in maintenance operations. A major product of this initiative is a Human Factors Guide, being developed to provide practical, useful, and usable guidance to supervisors and planners in the aviation maintenance industry. This paper describes the goals, form, and content of the new Human Factors Guide.

scholarly journals INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE HUMAN FACTOR PROBLEM

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (156) ◽  
pp. 149-157
Author(s):  
G. Mygal ◽  
V. Mygal
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Dynamic Systems ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Main Element ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Complex Dynamic ◽  
Human Factor Engineering ◽  
Complex Dynamic Systems ◽  
Machine Interaction

Modern complex dynamic systems (transport, environmental, energy) contain a huge number of elements, which leads to many interactions between them. The consequence of this is an increase in the manifestation of the human factor in accidents and disasters. The developers of dynamic systems are little aware of the risks posed by the information and cognitive aspects of human-machine interaction. Engineering training takes place in a cer-tain separation from the human factor, does not contribute to the development of intuition, creative and critical thinking. Therefore, it is important to update the relations between disciplines on a multidisciplinary basis. When learning in the design of dynamic systems, it is necessary to take into account the risks that arise in unpredictable conditions, as well as special requirements for the psychophysiological state of a person and his admission to the performance of especially responsible work. The functioning of complex dynamic systems depends on the individ-ual characteristics of a person’s creative and critical thinking as their main element, which are formed during learning. Therefore, the human factors engineering focuses on how systems work in real conditions, with people who make mistakes. The information and cognitive aspects of human factor engineering play a key role in the safe-ty, reliability and efficiency of dynamic systems. For this, in the discipline "Human factors engineering" a unique combination of three basic ergonomic characteristics is implemented: (1) it uses the principles of a systematic ap-proach, (2) it focuses on the design of interactions and (3) it focuses on solving three closely related problems of physical, functional and information security. All this allows optimizing man-machine interaction even at the stage of designing dynamic systems. Therefore, the introduction of "Human factor engineering" will create the necessary basis for improving the quality of training of engineering specialists. Keywords: human factor, cognitive ergonomics, complex dynamic systems, human factors engineering, criti-cal thinking, structural patterns.

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