This manual is in response to the industry’s requests for a simple and manageable list of actions to implement a Maintenance Human Factors (MHF) program. A panel of experts selected the following six topics for such a program to be successful:
- Event Investigation
- Documentation
- Human Factors Training
- Shift/Task Turnover
- Fatigue Management
- Sustaining & Justifying an HF Program
For each of the six topics that contribute to the success of any MHF program, this manual offers the following:
- Why is the topic important?
- How do you implement it?
- How do you know it is working?
- Key references
Like any good operator’s manual, this document tells you what to do without excessive description of why you should do it. This manual recognizes you already know the importance of Human Factors. For detailed information, see the “Key References” at the end of each topic.
The selected six topics are critical because they are based on operational data and practical experience from the US and other countries. Transport Canada (TC), United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations contributed to this manual. The steps are derived from a panel of ten industry and government contributors who have worked in aviation maintenance for an average of twenty-five years and in MHF for fifteen years. The contributors characterized these six topics and related steps as “information they wish they had known 15 years ago.”
These straightforward suggestions provide the key components for implementing a successful MHF program that will benefit your company, business partners, external customers, and the entire industry. Information is presented in summary bullets as follows:
- These are six topics, from many, that a MHF program may consider.
- Topics are not necessarily in order of importance, except that the data obtained from Event Investigation (Section 1) provide the foundation for many Human Factors activities.
- You may implement any or all of the topics, however, they should be coordinated.
- Your MHF activity should be based on the identified requirements and resources of your organization.
- You are encouraged to supplement this Operator's Manual with additional references.
- This document satisfies the industry request for a short and straightforward list of important actions.