Human Factors Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (HF PFMEA) Application in the Evaluation of Management Risks

Abstract

Human errors in engineering processes do not usually get analyzed and evaluated in terms of their risks, much less management errors. Not much effort is expended on management errors and risks analysis, probably because not many have come to realize the connection between those errors and the product functional problems. Product functionality is influenced by a number of factors, including its design and production. Design and production are controlled by humans: operators, engineers and managers. Operators run production. Engineers create product designs and systems for production. Managers come into play with their supervision, planning, task scheduling and decision making. This research aims to answer Felix Redmill’s call for research on the evaluation and estimation of management risks. This work suggests that manager’s errors indeed contribute to issues that lead to product functional problems. These errors and issues need to be addressed. The result of which is beneficial in the achievement of total quality. The research employed the Human Factors Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (HF PFMEA) methodology to get to the root causes of product issues. Results from the research project revealed that management errors, in resources management and development and in project planning and communication tasks, contribute to product functional problems. The research method also allowed management risks to be evaluated in terms of priority number values that are helpful and important in determining priorities for improvement action plans.