Analysis Techniques For Man-Machine Systems Design

NATO UNCLASSIFIED-59- AC/243(Panel-8)TRf7Volume iRECOMMENDATIONSCHAPTER 5FOR STANDARDIZATION5.1 INTRODUCTION117. The objective of this chapter is to review the current state of standardization ofhuman engineering analysis techniques and identify any problems regarding the specification ofanalytical techniques and the need for standardization within NATO, and to suggest an approachto such standardization.5.2 STATE OF STANDARDIZATION OF HUMAN ENGINEERINGANALYSIS TECHNIQUES118. The current extent of NATO standardization of human engineering analysistechniques was reviewed in three steps. These steps examined:* the status of human engineering standardization* the status of human engineering analytical techniques within existing standards* the description and use of analytical techniques within requirements documents119. In addition, trends or changes in the approach to requirements documentation wereexamined. Chief of these are the use of application-specific requirements documents, and theuse of commercial specifications. In addition, the implications of the growing use of computersfor systems design and development were reviewed.5.2.1 Human engineering standardization120. The status of human engineering (HE) standardization was addressed byreviewing 51 applicable standards, specifications. guidelines, and other relevant documentsused by the RSG member nations to control the application of human engineering. Therequirements documents and the countries which use them are shown in Appendix A. Based onthis review and on communications with users it was concluded that the majority of the nationsrepresented in the RSG apply human engineering requirements documents in their weaponsystem acquisition projects. Not all nations have their own national requirements documents.5.2.2 The status of human engineering analytical techniques121. A review was made of the material listed in Appendix A and of additionalstandards provided by member countries to identify those standards covering humanengineering analysis techniques. Most of the documents reviewed specify design criteria.Fourteen requirements documents which reference analytical techniques were identified (seeTable 5.1). The current status is that some RSG. 14 member nations have a single requirementsdocument that identifies some techniques, while a few member nations identify techniques anddescribe them in detail in national HE guidelines or handbooks. Standards, specifications, anddirectives are mainly management documents and, in general, they do not provide technicaldetails on a technique. Guidelines or handbooks, on the other hand, provide technical details onthe techniques.NATO UNCLASSIFIED