Principles of Human Factors Engineering
Course Background
This course is an introduction to the topic of Human Factors Engineering (HFE).
The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF).
Human Factors Engineering is the study of how humans interact with systems, products, and environments. It is a scientific discipline that seeks to optimise the design of these systems and products, by taking into account human capabilities, limitations, and behaviours.
If you’re a project manager or engineer, taking the Principles of Human Factors Engineering course can greatly benefit you and your organisation. By understanding the principles of human factors engineering, you’ll be able to design products and systems that are more user-friendly, efficient, and resistant to human error, leading to increased customer satisfaction and improved system performance.
Additionally, you’ll develop the skills and knowledge needed to identify and mitigate potential human factors issues early in the design of equipment and systems, reducing the likelihood of costly errors or delays down the line.
For those working in regulated industries, such as healthcare, medical devices, or aviation, a thorough understanding of human factors principles is often a legal requirement. Taking this course shows that you’re serious about compliance with these regulations and contributing to a safer, more efficient workplace and working environment. So, if you’re looking to improve human performance, increase customer satisfaction, and avoid costly mistakes, the Principles of Human Factors Engineering course is the right choice for you.
This course is suitable for engineers, project managers, clinicians, and personnel from any profession that might have HF as part of their job, but not the main responsibility.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course you will be able to:
- Understand what HFE is (and what it isn’t)
- Understand the systems approach and principles that lie behind HFE thinking
- Appreciate a simple HFE lifecycle and the integration of human factors activities
- Understand the benefits and characteristics of HFE
- Be able to recognise human factors issues (such as workload and human error), and understand what causes them
Course Format
The course has three modules, the first of which is available as a free sample.
The modules are entirely on-line and self-paced, and are supported by video lectures, written notes, case studies, and interactive exercises.
You will be assigned a personal tutor from Liv Systems consultancy when you enrol on the course. Interaction with the tutor is encouraged: you will be provided with an initial orientation call where the tutor will understand what you want to get out of the course. Follow-up messages and questions are encouraged and on-line question and answer sessions are to be expected, so that you can develop your expertise.
This course has three assignments that should take you 1-2 hours to complete. The assignments will be marked and reviewed by the Instructor, who will give you guidance and recommendations on your progress. A pass mark is required on each assignment before the course can be completed.
The lessons have ‘open book’ tests which require an 80% pass mark in order to demonstrate competence and proceed to the next stage of the course.
At the end of the course, a certificate of completion (endorsed by Liv Systems) will be awarded.
The course is compatible with the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (Ergonomics Society) competency framework.
Once you are enrolled on the course, this is what you will get:
- One years access to the on-line course material, videos, and interactive exercises
- A downloadable booklet of the course text, images, and case studies.
- On-line personal note taking
- A messaging system to ask questions of your instructor and to schedule 1x one-to-one time with them
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Chris Lowe
Chris has worked in Human Factors Engineering for 30 years in the transport, medical, defence, nuclear, and aviation industries. He is a Fellow and chartered member of the UK Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Although there was a lot of information in this course, it was well presented, and at a very manageable pace. The assignments, together with feedback from the instructor, ensure that the learner is taking away the right messages and are enjoyable in their own right.