The general rule in human factors for increasing automation is that normal performance can be improved at the expense of performance when the automation malfunctions. A group of researchers reviewed the results of 18 different studies to try to better understand the implications (Onnasch, L., Wickens, C.D.,Li, H., and Manzey, D., Human Performance Consequences of Stages and Levels of Automation: An Integrated Meta-Analysis, Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, May 2014, 56: 476-488.). From their analysis, they developed a general model of the impact of increasing automation on human performance. (Note: They use the acronym DOA for degree of automation, which, depending upon your view point, may have positive or negative connotations.) The basic model (shown below) has two performance and two secondary variables impacted by automation:
Performance Variables
Secondary Variables
Increasing automation results in increasing benefits for normal operation and workload, BUT results in decreasing situation awareness and ability to respond upon loss of automation. Since performance on automation failure is non-linear, the degree of automation should be at the inflection point. Where is that point? The authors suggest that that point is when automation that aids information acquisition/analysis changes to automation for action selection. When operators actively select actions, they have better situation awareness and are, therefore, better able to manually control the process if automation fails.
So where is that point in a process plant? We don't know yet. But finding it may be very important as procedure automation increases in use.
Copyright 2014 Beville Operator Performance Specialists, Inc., All Rights Reserved
For further information, visit the links below.
| Alarm & Display System Analysis Overview | Alarm Management | Display Design | Alarm & Display Design Seminar | Beville Shape Calculator -Excel download | Alarm Distribution Estimator - Excel download |
RELATED EXTERNAL MEDIA
Article | Published By |
Consortium Reports New Findings on Alarm Rates | Automation World |
How Many Alarms Can An Operator Handle | Chemical Processing |
Operator Interfaces: Moving from Comfortable to Most Effective | Automation World |
The 2024 Spring Meeting of the Center for Operator Performance will take place on April 16-18, 2024, in Pine Bend, MN/Hybrid. For more information on this and future meetings, please contact Lisa Via. Guests are always welcome!
Our most recent newsletter is now available. Click here!
David Strobhar's book, "Human Factors in Process Plant Operation," is now available in both hardcover and Kindle e-book.
Copyright 1996-2024 Beville Operator Performance Specialists, Inc. All rights reserved. (937)434-1093. Beville@Beville.com