Naval Sea System Command's Approach to Human Factors in the 1980's: Changing Times

Abstract

There is an emerging concern for applying human factors to the design and support of naval ships and weapon systems. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is making significant progress in the application of human factors technology for the ultimate benefit of those who must operate and maintain the fleets of the future.

This paper will address the current status of human factors within NAVSEA. In doing so, we shall review what has been done in the past, then assess the present, and finally we will suggest additional requirements that need attention.

Higher level recognition of the role of human factors is evidenced by promulgation of formal directives from the Department of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Naval Material, and Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command. Principal contributions expected from the application of an effective human factors program are to define human functions in man-machine systems and to design procedures and equipment to ensure that those functions can be performed under all expected operational conditions. The specific outcome would be realized in the form of a high level of personnel readiness in the fleet to assure that a system's assigned functions can indeed be performed, with the ultimate aim being to sustain a high level of system readiness and ship's effectiveness.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

GAO, Effectiveness of U.S. Forces Can Be Increased Through Improved Weapon System Design U.S. General Accounting Office PSAD-81-17 of January 29, 1981.

Human Factors in the Naval Material Command CHNAVMAT Instruction 3900.9A of 9 April, 1984.

Human Factors in the Naval Sea Systems Command NAVSEA Instruction 3900.8 of 20 March 1985.

Malone

T.B.

Feaga

R.P.

Andrews

P.J.

Kopp

W.H.

, Human Factors in Early Ship System Design. In Proceedings of the Human Factors 27th Annual Meeting (pp 879–881). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors Society, Oct., 1983.

NSIA, The Warning Signs of a Labor Shortage In Proceedings, National Security Industrial Association, First Annual Conference, San Diego, May, 1981.

Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Engineering and Systems), Navy Research Advisory Committee Report on Man-Machine Technology in the Navy, Washington, D.C., Dec, 1980.

Stein

N.K.

Benel

R.A.

Malone

T.B.

, An Overview of the Role of the NAVSEA Human Factors Engineering Program in Ship Design. Naval Engineers Journal, July 1983 (and presented at the 19th Annual Technical Symposium of the Association of Scientists and Engineers, April 1982).