Analysis Techniques For Man-Machine Systems Design

NATO UNCLASSIFIED- 101 - ACf243(Paflel-8)TR/7Volume 2DisadvantagesAdvantagesThe programs are easy to operate, due to the use of a The programme is slow in execuufng large networks. It isMacintosh® interface, including menu-driven programs limited to triangular distributions of task times. It mayand prompts. SIMWAM provides the flexibility to require the user to write sub-routines in BASIC, to beconfigure task sequences and operator assignments, to merged into the main programme.model specific system operations, particularly those whereoperatmrs can share duties. It can handle large networks oftasks. The tasks can be probabilistic or conditional onlogic provided to system process variables.Relative contributionSIMWAM was the basis for reducing the manning level for an aircraft carrier aircraft management system from 36 to32 operators, a reduction of 11%. In other applications it has been used effectively for evaluating alternative systemconcepts.ApplicationsThe programme was used in the evaluation of concepts for several shipboard systems, including the AdvancedCombat Direction System for carricr-aircraft management, operator workload in shipboard combat direction systems,and a Damage Control Management System. It was also used for the evaluation of alternate system configurations oncrew performance and workload in the US Army's Forward Air Defence System, the Advanced Field Artillery System(AFAS), and the Combat Mobility Vehicle.Quality assurance considerationsThe programme architecture facilitates the checking of task data input.Relationship to system performancerequirementsSIMWAM treats the crew as an integral component of the system and addresses system perfonmance as a function ofcrew performance.References and Bibliography1. Heasly, C.C., Perse, R.M., & Malone T.B. (1988). MANPRINT in the programme initiation phase of systemacquisition. Proceedings of the 32nd annual meeting of the Human Factors Societv. Anaheim, CA.2. Kirkpatrick, M. & Malone, T.B. (1984). Development of an interactive microprocessor-based workload evaluationmodel. Proceedings of the 28th annual meetinz of the Human Factors Society. San Antonio, CA.3. Malone, T.B., Kirkpatrick, M., & Kopp, W.H. (1986). Human factors engineering impact on system workloadand manning levels. Proceedings of the 30th annual meeting of the Human Factors Society. Dayton, Ohio.4. Westerman, D.R., Malone, T.B., Heasly, C.C., Kirkpatrick, M., Eike, D.R., Baker, C.C. & Perse, R.M. (1989).HFE/MANPR NT 1DEA: Integrated decision engineering aid. Final report under contract DAAA15-88-C-00 31 .NATOUNCLASSIFIED- 101 -