A review of methodologies for integrating human factors and ergonomics in engineering design

Abstract

The requirements of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) in engineering design must be satisfied, including usability, safety, reliability, and operability in the workplace and work environment. This study presents a review of the methodologies for integrating HF/E information in engineering design. The primary purpose of this review is to identify and summarise the current research in this field, thereby giving the recommendations of future research. The focus is on the interaction design between the system (product) and its user (human), including the design of a complex machine, equipment, system, and simple product. Publications in this field between 1982 and 2017 were reviewed from two aspects: (1) the stage of HF/E information integration in engineering design, including conceptual design, embodiment, and detailed design, and (2) the category of the HF/E, including physical ergonomics, cognitive ergonomics, and organisational ergonomics. The benefits and limitations of the reviewed design methodologies were stated in their respective sections. A critical analysis of the research topics from these two aspects was performed with comparison summarising the applicability of these methodologies for researchers and designers. The suggestions for future research were also offered according to the main findings.