Human factors engineers
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| Human factors engineers | |
|---|---|
| Name | Human factors engineers |
| Occupation | Engineering specialization |
| Formation | Engineering, psychology, ergonomics |
| Related | Industrial design, systems engineering, cognitive psychology |
Human factors engineers are practitioners who apply principles from engineering, psychology, ergonomics, and human–computer interaction to optimize the design of systems, products, and environments for human use. They integrate knowledge from Juncture of disciplines, evidence from experimental psychology, and regulatory requirements such as Occupational Safety and Health Act to reduce errors, enhance performance, and improve safety. Their work spans consumer products, transportation systems, healthcare devices, and complex sociotechnical systems in organizations like NASA, Boeing, General Motors, and World Health Organization.
Definition and Scope
Human factors engineers focus on designing interactions among people, machines, and environments to support human capabilities and limitations. They draw on findings from Wilhelm Wundt, William James, and Donald Norman as well as standards from International Organization for Standardization, American National Standards Institute, and European Committee for Standardization. Scope includes physical ergonomics influenced by work of Frederick Winslow Taylor and Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, cognitive ergonomics linked to Herbert A. Simon and Alfred North Whitehead, and organizational ergonomics touching institutions such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration and United States Department of Transportation.
History and Development
The field evolved from early industrial efficiency movements pioneered by Frederick Winslow Taylor and time-and-motion studies by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, extended through human testing in World War I aircraft selection programs and expanded during World War II with efforts at Royal Aircraft Establishment and United States Navy human factors labs. Postwar growth was shaped by publications from Ergonomics (journal), leadership at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and applied research at Bell Labs, Honeywell, and RCA. Important milestones include the founding of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and integration of human factors in projects like Apollo program, Concorde, and Three Mile Island investigations.
Education and Training
Training paths often combine degrees from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and University of Nottingham with coursework in cognitive psychology, biomechanics, anthropometry, and human–computer interaction. Professional development includes fellowships and programs at National Science Foundation, internships at IBM, Microsoft, and Siemens, and certifications overseen by bodies like Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics. Coursework emphasizes lab methods inspired by experiments of B.F. Skinner and measurement techniques used by Gustav Fechner.
Roles and Responsibilities
Practitioners perform user research for clients including Airbus, Toyota, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson, develop interface specifications for products used in World Health Organization programs, and evaluate safety systems in Federal Aviation Administration regulated contexts. Typical responsibilities: conduct usability testing following protocols from International Organization for Standardization and Food and Drug Administration, design controls and displays influenced by studies at NASA and Pratt & Whitney, and contribute to accident investigations like those by National Transportation Safety Board. They often collaborate with teams at IDEO, Frog Design, SAIC, and Deloitte.
Methods and Tools
Common methods include task analysis derived from work by Allen Newell and H. A. Simon, cognitive walkthroughs popularized with input from Clayton Lewis and John Rieman, heuristic evaluation arising from Jakob Nielsen and Rolf Molich, and controlled experiments in the style of Stanley Milgram and Solomon Asch. Tools range from motion-capture systems used in labs at University College London and ETH Zurich to simulation platforms developed by Lockheed Martin and Siemens PLM Software, and analytics using software from MATLAB, R (programming language), and Python (programming language). Standards and checklists derive from International Electrotechnical Commission and lessons from incidents studied by U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Applications by Industry
Aviation: cockpit design and crew resource management adopted after studies by Crew Resource Management training developers and recommendations from the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA. Automotive: driver interfaces and advanced driver-assistance systems developed by Tesla, Inc., Volvo, and Toyota Motor Corporation guided by crash analyses from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Healthcare: medical device usability and patient safety initiatives influenced by work at Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and recommendations from World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration. Consumer electronics: smartphones, wearables, and home appliances designed by Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, and Sony Corporation. Industrial workplaces: control rooms, assembly lines, and maintenance procedures engineered for firms like Siemens, General Electric, and Shell plc.
Professional Organizations and Certification
Key organizations include the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, International Ergonomics Association, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (via IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society), and regional bodies such as CIEHF and Ergonomics Society of Australia. Certifications and credentials are offered by the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics and accrediting agencies recognized by standards setters like International Organization for Standardization and national regulatory authorities such as Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency.