J. W. Rigney, D. Schuster, T. L. Runyan, I. J. Budnoff
{"title":"Analysis of Fault-Location Behavior in Electronic Equipment","authors":"J. W. Rigney, D. Schuster, T. L. Runyan, I. J. Budnoff","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503311","url":null,"abstract":"Two analyses of maintenance technicians' intermediate behavior in trouble-shooting electronic equipment are reported. In the first, 422 records of this behavior were analyzed to describe the characteristics of the process. It was found that technicians frequently accumulated sufficient symptom information from test points to isolate a malfunctioning stage or to identify a faulty component, before they recognized this fact. Typically, either they continued to make redundant or irrelevant checks before entering the correct stage or replacing the correct part, or they never did use the information and thus failed to solve the problem. Also, 71 per cent of the first replacements of components were incorrect. Evidently, searching for symptom information and interpretation of that information occur on two different behavioral levels, which are not necessarily closely coordinated.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"101 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122085166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Why Design for Maintainability","authors":"J. Wohl","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503312","url":null,"abstract":"The relationships among down time (a system-maintainability measure), time between failures (a system-reliability measure), equipment availability, number of equipments, number of on-call technicians, and system-readiness reliability are developed under the assumption of constant failure and repair rates. Design trade-off between reliability and maintainability is shown to be feasible with resulting reduction in both design and operating costs. A technique for specifying combined reliability, maintainability, and availability constraints to manufacturers is reported which allows the latter a great deal of design flexibility in meeting operational requirements at least cost. Finally, the need for research to establish the quantitative effects of maintainability-design practice upon down time is explored.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"61 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126266479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research Data on Maintainability","authors":"J. Wohl","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503318","url":null,"abstract":"The dearth of research data on maintainability prevents objectivity in making design recommendations to reduce equipment down time. This paper summarizes the results of the few published attempts to determine experimentally the effects of equipment design variables upon only one source of down time, namely, fault localization time. All data are normalized and plotted as probability distributions on semilog paper to emphasize their apparent exponential nature. The results are compared with similar data on effects of training to indicate the efficiency of design considerations for maintainability. Finally, a plea is made for more research data in this important area.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129891131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Designing Maintainable Circuits","authors":"J. M. Mckendry, J. F. Corsco, G. Grant","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503313","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503313","url":null,"abstract":"A study was conducted to answer certain questions basic to the design of more maintainable circuits. The subjects were 210 engineers, all of whom had considerable experience in electronics. Questionnaires, designed to elicit information on the primary factors affecting fault-location time, were devised for 13 representative circuits varying over a wide frequency range. A statistical analysis of the subjects' responses was conducted to determine whether any general conclusions could be drawn from the replies taken as a group. Results indicated that certain parameters yield more trouble-shooting information on all circuits and that these parameters remain approximately the same for the whole frequency range studied. In addition, it was found that oscilloscopes were considered to be the most efficient test device available. This result points out a problem, since a number of studies have shown that technicians have difficulty in using oscilloscopes and, as a result, prefer meters. Suggestions are made for circumventing this problem. A number of other analyses pointed out areas in which no generalities could be drawn, e.g., regarding the most efficient test-point locations. An attempt was made to reconcile these problems temporarily until more data are available.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125815065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Designing the Human Element into Maintenance","authors":"R. Demaree","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503317","url":null,"abstract":"Some degree of automation for the checkout and trouble-shooting of complex equipment may be necessitated by the little time available for performing these maintenance actions. Although seldom is there a requirement for a high degree of automation, so much attention has been drawn to the elimination of human errors that maintenance may be automated even though automation is not required. To capitalize upon both the merits of automation and the capabilities of humans, an integrated program is proposed for the analysis of maintenance requirements and the evaluation of man-machine alternatives for meeting these requirements.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127793618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Overview of Human Factors in Electronic Maintenance","authors":"B. H. Manheimer, J. R. Kelley","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503309","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503309","url":null,"abstract":"Electronic equipment is becoming increasingly complex, and proper performance and high availability are becoming more crucial. A recent emphasis on improving maintenance planning and implementation is one method being used to assure meeting availability requirements. Human-factors contributions are essential to electronic-maintenance planning and implementation in all phases of equipment design and support. Much effort has been devoted to preparing guides for designing more maintainable equipment, but results have been little used. In the areas of equipment support, maintenance methods and procedures (both in general and for specific equipments) are being improved, but they still reflect too little knowledge of the maintenance man in the maintenance environment. Human-factors skills are being applied, with varying degrees of effectiveness, to the formulation of maintenance-manpower data, planning of support environment, installation, publications, and training. Trends, particularly those noted in manned space-travel programs, indicate that human-factors efforts in the area of electronic maintenance will improve and form a very valuable contribution to the over-all efforts to improve maintenance.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115566564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of Trouble-Shooting Overlay Designs","authors":"Walter L. Wasserman","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503315","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503315","url":null,"abstract":"An experiment was conducted to compare two parameters of trouble-shooting overlay design: type of point-to-point connection and type of coding. Eighteen subjects were used in the experiment. They were asked to trace four tests on each of four different designs encompassing the two parameters. The results indicated that the optimum design is straight-line point-to-point connection with color coding.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"15 10","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"120946680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quantification of Expert Judgment in Maintenance Design Decisions","authors":"M. R. Munger, M. Willis, J. W. Altman","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503314","url":null,"abstract":"Generalized findings, based on work carried out in the development of the Index of Electronic Maintainability for the U. S. Army Signal Corps, are reported on the quantification of expert judgment in the area of maintenance and maintainability. Results of this study indicated that judgments of maintenance consequences can be reliably obtained from field-maintenance personnel if proper precautions are observed in the development and utilization of the rating instruments. Further, these results revealed considerable consistency of ratings across various types of equipment, thus implying that this generality may be extended to new equipments. This generality also eases the problem of obtaining adequate numbers of raters, since the type of experience that the rater bases his judgments on does not appear to be highly specific. No evidence was presented concerning the amount or degree of experience required for competent raters. Finally, three suggested applications of the techniques described are presented, and some of the benefits to be derived from these applications are briefly discussed.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"29 1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117045316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Diagnostic Process in Men and Automata","authors":"E. Bennett, J. Degan","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503308","url":null,"abstract":"Diagnostic skill involves recognizing symptoms of unusual or atypical functioning or structure, understanding the meaning of these symptoms, and evolving the ways in which such knowledge can be applied in the discovery of other existing symptoms and in the isolation of existing defects. The talents involved in diagnosis and the characteristics of the search for symptoms and defects are outlined.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"70 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128353078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Influence of Teaching Machine Technology on Electronic Systems Maintenance Training","authors":"L. Silvern","doi":"10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/THFE2.1961.4503310","url":null,"abstract":"The evolution of electronic systems maintenance philosophy is explored in terms of performance requirements, studies of behavioral patterns, technical training requirements, engineering design, and management competences. The probable degree of success in utilizing the teaching machine for employee and customer technical training involving the maintenance of complex electronic systems is considered.","PeriodicalId":410568,"journal":{"name":"Ire Transactions on Human Factors in Electronics","volume":"80 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1961-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132415104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}