Document

Author
Colin G. Drury, Catherine Drury Barnes
Abstract
Hierarchical Task Analysis is one of the better-known tools for Ergonomics / Human Factors: here it is employed as a step between data collection and the production of Good Practice for industry. The specific example used in this paper is non-destructive inspection in aviation. For the continued airworthiness of civil aircraft, regular inspections are required to ensure that defects do not develop to potentially dangerous levels. These inspections use a variety of technologies all of which require both the human and the technology to function reliably. In this study seven inspection technologies were analysed using this methodology to produce good practices usable directly by the aviation industry. One specific technology is used as an exemplar. Each good practice derives from a consideration of the success/failure of a specific step in the task. In addition to providing the good practices, this work includes details on why these practices are indeed good as a further aid to usability. Finally, the good practices formed the basis for audit checklists for self-checking of implementations of the technologies.