MAP-01-011 HFI Technical Guide - Human Factors Integration ...

Chapter 3 – HFI Design Process3.1.1 Early Mission and Function AnalysisThe Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the platform and/or equipment isdeveloped from early studies into Mission Analysis and System Requirements.The Function Analysis and the Project Specific Target Audience Description(PSTAD) provide information to allow functions to be allocated betweenpersonnel and equipment. However, these documents may not be available untila later stage in the design process. The URD should therefore form the basis forsuch work until such time that the Concept of Operations and the TargetAudience Description (TAD) are derived. Formal structured methods areavailable to support detailed Allocation of Functions in critical areas (see Annex3). The remainder of the core process consists of an iterative process ofaddressing and understanding human task, skill, role, job and team implicationsof the evolving design so as to optimise the total system in terms of operability,habitability and health and safety.More of the defence budget is spent on personnel than on equipment. Forexample, the Whole-Life Cost (WLC) of each complemented billet in a frigate hasbeen estimated at £1M, excluding ashore support costs. Each crew memberaccounts for approximately 5 tonnes of displacement adding £70k per person tothe Unit Production Cost (UPC) of a platform. HFI provides an importantcontribution to gaining a full understanding of the manning implications of newSea Systems. This is essential in order to obtain the correct Balance ofInvestment (BOI). In order to achieve this, the human implications and whole-lifecosts must be explored from the earliest stage for new platforms, equipment ormajor modifications to equipment. Cost avoidance examples have beenestablished by the US Army MANPRINT programme, such as $3.29B on theComanche helicopter programme 1 .A Manpower Cost Model is available, which incorporates factors for rank,specialism and training 2 . This model should be used to assess futurecomplement cost implications. It extends the capitation rates to include morespecific details of the content and cost of training. Recruitment and basic trainingare also accounted for in the model.Early Human Factors Analysis (EHFA) provides a means of carrying out HumanFactors trade-off analysis and is used to explore system options proposed inresponse to mission and operational requirements.Examples of the sort of trade-offs that can be made in naval equipmentprocurement include the following:• Complement size versus the use of automation - for example modernRoyal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels have unmanned machinery spacesand can operate the Bridge with 2 personnel.• Skill levels versus use of automation – it currently takes from eight to tenyears to develop a fully skilled Warfare Officer and from three to six years afully skilled Artificer.1 See H R Booher ‘MANPRINT Cost Benefits on US Army Systems’ [Ref 13].2 See ‘Reduced Manning – The Way Ahead‘ [Ref 14].Nov 2006 Page 3-5 Issue 4