Identify Workload Reduction and Human Performance Enhancement Concepts

This step develops alternative concepts for manning, design of human-machine interfaces to enhance human performance capability and safety, personnel management, and training concept definition in a reduced manning environment.

The issues to be addressed are how to develop concepts for manning optimization, and how to ensure human performance effectiveness and safety in a reduced manning environment. The first issue entails applying technology to reduce human workload. The latter issue involves application of human engineering methods and data to ensure human performance and safety. The potential to reduce workloads and manning while improving human performance and safety will be identified in this step. HSI will be improved through function: (a) automation; (b) simplification; (c) elimination; and (d) consolidation.

The potential for function automation to reduce workload entails defining tasks for which increased automation is feasible, identifying the role of the human for these tasks, and determining how automation will modify task sequences and/or reduce the likelihood of human error.

The potential for function simplification to reduce workload/manning focuses on reducing physical, cognitive, and perceptual-motor function/task demands to reduce: amount of information to be processed, complexity of the information processing, number of decisions and options to be handled, complexity of actions, needs for interactions with other operators, extent and complexity of communications, function/task performance accuracy required, special skills and knowledge required, levels of skills, the level of stress associated with the performance of function/task under representative mission conditions, and time constraints.

The potential for function elimination to reduce workload is based on a determination of the potential with which system functions performed onboard can be offloaded to shore-based elements, to other ships or platforms, or to other ship systems.

Finally, the potential for function consolidation and cross training to reduce workload entails determination of functions and tasks for which consolidation and cross training is feasible; identification of the role of the human for functions and tasks for which consolidation/cross training has been implemented, and determination of how consolidation/cross training will modify function and task sequences and/or reduce the likelihood of human error.

This step will also address the integration of the elements of HSI into the system acquisition process. Essentially this will involve developing concepts for insertion of technology, integration of humans and automation, and development of approaches for human-machine interfaces which will support and enhance the development of human capabilities, through training, and human utilization, through personnel management.