THE QUANTIFICATION OF HUMAN RELIABILITY. A FEASIBILITY DEMONSTRATION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a method of calculating the probability of human errors during prelaunch testing. Completion of studies described herein will permit the following statements: (a) The probability that the test can be completed without human error, (b) The probability that human errors will remain undiscovered, (c) The probability that undiscovered errors will result in failures. In addition to a reliability number for the total test, such studies will provide a breakdown of reliabilities for all human tasks in the test. Areas of greatest risk can then be pinpointed and corrective efforts focused on them. A proposed method for calculating system reliability is described. Development and application of this method will permit assessment of the contribution of each preflight test to over-all system reliability, and will also point out the need for adding or removing tests. This method takes into account the probabilities: (a) that the hardware was manufactured correctly, (b) that the hardware will not be damaged by human handling, (c) that the tests administered to the hardware will reveal all malfunctions, and (d) the inherent reliability of the hardware. Reliability thus determined would be a function of the following: R = f (CI) where R = reliability, C = confidence, and I = inherent reliability.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0614134

Entities

People

  • Allan M. Stave

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Control Systems Engineering
  • Efficiency
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • High Pressure
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Industrial Production
  • Malfunctions
  • Motor Skills
  • Oscillographs
  • Pressure Regulators
  • Regulators
  • Reliability
  • Solenoids
  • Task Performance And Analysis
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Software Engineering
  • Theoretical Analysis.