HEDOMS - Human error and disturbance occurrence in manufacturing systems: Toward the development of an analytical framework

Demands on modern manufacturing systems include those for increased flexibi lity, higher quality standards, and higher innovative capacities; these dem ands emphasize the need for high levels of overall system reliability. This article focuses on the reliability of all human elements of a manufacturin g system and the way these interrelate with overall system performance. A c ontrast is made with how human reliability has been approached typically in high-risk industries. The concept of "disturbance" is used for assessment of the influence of human reliability on manufacturing system performance. An analytical framework has been proposed, currently under development, whi ch is aimed at assessing the potential for human error and disturbance occu rrence in manufacturing systems, and which accounts for active and latent f ailures and direct and root causes. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.