HUMAN RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL SUPPORTING SAFETY ISSUE ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT

• US 20110258021A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: BREUHAUS, Richard S., KENNEDY, Richard J., FUCKE, Lars, MUMAW, Randall Jay
• Application Number:
  US12/763,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20110258021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a human reliability assessment tool includes at least one performance assessment worksheet regarding at least one of the group of the evaluation of a scenario, the making of a decision selecting a response to the scenario, and the carrying out of the response. The performance assessment worksheet is an electronic structured information entry document on machine-readable media enabled by a processor of a computerized device. A plurality of checklist information entry items is incorporated into the performance assessment worksheet. A modeling portion of the performance assessment worksheet is structured for recording an information entry relating to a step in a model of human performance. A linkage is formed between the checklist information entry items and a plurality of related effects within a relevant operational environment. An automated determination is made as to whether specific performance levels are achieved within the relevant operational environment.

Claims

1. A human reliability assessment tool, comprising:

at least one performance assessment worksheet regarding at least one of the group consisting of the evaluation of a scenario, the making of a decision selecting a response to the scenario, and the carrying out of the response, wherein the performance assessment worksheet is an electronic structured information entry document on machine readable media enabled by a processor of a computerized device;

a plurality of checklist information entry items incorporated into the performance assessment worksheet;

a modeling portion of the performance assessment worksheet structured for recording an information entry relating to a step in a model of human performance; and

a linkage between the checklist information entry items and a plurality of related effects within a relevant operational environment, wherein an automated determination is made as to whether specific performance levels are achieved within the relevant operational environment.

2. The human reliability assessment tool of claim 1, wherein the information entry items are incorporated into a spreadsheet program.

3. The human reliability assessment tool of claim 1, wherein the information entry relating to a step in a model of human performance provides for recording of information relating to assessment of the system interface and procedures for accomplishing a claim made on the operator under the scenario for a given operational environment.

4. The human reliability assessment tool of claim 1, wherein the information entry relating to a step in a model of human performance further comprises a hinder factor associated with the information entry, utilized to arrive at an error rating for the scenario to evaluate if the error rating is acceptable.

5. The human reliability assessment tool of claim 1, wherein the information entry relating to a step in a model of human performance comprises a help factor associated with the information entry ameliorating the impact of a hinder factor, utilized to arrive at an error rating for the scenario to evaluate if the error rating is acceptable.

6. The human reliability assessment tool of claim 1, wherein the performance being evaluated comprises the performance of at least one member of a flight crew of an aircraft.

7. The human reliability assessment tool of claim 1, wherein the information entries are grouped as helps and hinders.

8. The human reliability assessment tool of claim 1, further comprising a decision-making module in communication with the performance assessment worksheet, whereby the decision-making module validates an action to take based on the automated determination.

9. A method of assessing human reliability, the method comprising:

utilizing a performance assessment worksheet regarding any one or more of the group consisting of the evaluation of a scenario, the making of a decision selecting a response to the scenario, and the carrying out of the response;

the performance assessment worksheet comprising an electronic structured information entry document enabled by a processor of a computerized device;

recording an information entry into the electronic structured information entry document, the information entry relating to a step in a model of human performance;

recording additional information entry items into the electronic structured information entry document;

linking the additional information entry items and a plurality of related effects within a relevant operational environment; and

automatically determining whether specific performance levels are achieved within the relevant operational environment based on the additional information entry items recorded.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic structured information entry document comprises a database entry form.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing for recording of information relating to assessment of performance in accomplishing a claim made on an operator under the scenario for a given operational environment, wherein the information relating to assessment of performance includes the information entry relating to the step in the model of human performance.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of

utilizing a hinder factor to arrive at an error rating for the scenario;

and

evaluating if the error rating is acceptable, wherein the hinder factor is associated with the information entry.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

utilizing a hinder factor to arrive at an error rating for the scenario;

utilizing a help factor to modify the error rating; and

evaluating if the error rating is acceptable, wherein the help factor and the hinder factor are associated with the information entry.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the information entry items are grouped as helps or hinders.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising utilizing the performance assessment worksheet to assess a performance of at least one member of a flight crew of an aircraft.

16. A computer program usable as a human reliability assessment tool stored on a computerized system having a processor, the computer program having computer readable program code for program executables embodied therein, the program executables comprising the steps:

defining a scenario;

defining a desired action to be taken by at least one member of a flight crew for the scenario;

defining a required performance level for the scenario;

defining a reliability needed for the required performance level; and

receiving data from at least one member of the flight crew documenting effects in the operational environment and summarizing results from the action.

17. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the program product executables further comprise the step:

receiving data from at least one member of the flight crew identifying at least one hinder within a checklist, wherein hinder is utilized to define the reliability needed.

18. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the program product executables further comprise the step:

receiving data from at least one member of the flight crew identifying at least one help and at least one hinder within a checklist, wherein the help and hinder are utilized to define the reliability needed.

19. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the program product executables further comprise the step:

recommending a procedure modification.

20. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the program product executables further comprise the step:

assessing a performance of at least one member of a flight crew.