Human Factors in the Systems Engineering Jungle

Abstract

EXTENDED ABSTRACT As holistic thinking goes, the effects of the system on the human are well-known in the HFES community. However, many practitioners have experienced the challenges of incorporating these effects into a life cycle approach. Systems engineering seeks to model, predict, and employ holistic thinking in the development of multi-part and complex systems (NASA Systems Engineering Handbook). It is posited that a systemic approach and integration of human factors (HF) would better streamline various process pieces, thus reducing life cycle costs and risks to system and human functionality in the deployed system. Systems engineering processes and human factors philosophies have run parallel and intersecting courses, but rarely are they well-integrated. Despite the demonstrated impact of consideration on operators and users early in the design process for the reduction of system life cycle costs, and on increased adoption of systems by those users – few resources and tools exist that allow practitioners to translate human factors principles into Systems Engineering.

These same practitioners are often called upon as experts within a systems development process. Limited participation on integrated product teams (IPTs), constrained and niche issue studies, and late life cycle validation all contribute to the challenges of holistic system integration, eventually passing frustration on to the users.

The recent introduction of Human Readiness Levels (HRLs), which provide corresponding metrics to the well-established Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), is one critical tool that will be faciliatory for appropriate consideration of human capabilities and limitations as part of system design (ANSI- HFES 400-2021). Tools like these that can become standard practices will be invaluable for inclusion of the human element into programs of record. However, in many instances, the practical considerations of conducting engineering design are often left to the individual practitioner to figure out. While many academic resources highlight the importance of including HF into system design and development, few resources exist to support in-the-trenches development efforts. In addition, communication of the value of human systems engineering across disciplines is consistently and persistently a challenge and incorporated as part of project contracts and plans to only a limited extent.

This panel explores the issue, tales from the jungle, and success stories from multiple points of view, including practitioners of Human Factors, Systems Engineers, and Academics.