MEC-325 Introduction to Engineering Design

Mid-Term TEST #2b, Nov. 2011

NAME & S.N.:________________________________________ SECTION #: _____

Read each question carefully answer only what is asked.

Answer in space provided use the back side of the page if needed
TIP: Read through all questions before you begin
TIP: Keep your answer SHORT and specific full sentences not needed.
Write neatly! (not legible = 0 marks)

1. What are the main aims of Human Factors? (2)

2. Of these two aims (from Q1), which did Helander find saved IBM more money in their production operations?
(1)
5. Use the Yerkes Dodson Law to explain how noise or vibration affects system users' performances. Provide 2
examples of design scenarios that illustrate this relationship - one with performance benefits and a different
scenario with performance decrements. (remember to specify how Y-D's law works) (2+2+2)
21. How would you consider Design for Manufacturability (DfM) in your design for a (conventional) bicycle? (6)
3. Consider a company that manages all aspects of their product's life-cycle (fully integrated industrialisation). In
this context describe how applying ergonomics in the design of the product can help this company reduce costs and
improve profitability? Use the case of a toaster-oven to explain your answer (don't repeat your points) (6).
22. DfM might also stand for 'Design for Maintenance'. What four key design requirements did Helander specify
for this form of DfM and how might you achieve that in the design of an elevator control sub-system. (4+4)
26. You have been charged with acquiring the power tools for a new car assembly facility. How would you go
about doing this and what factors would you consider at each stage of your process? (5)
14. There has been an accident in your workplace with an operator cutting his hand while using a band-saw.
Apply a "systems perspective" to explain what may have contributed to this incident. (5)
27. "Situation Awareness" (SA) is a critical aspect for flight controllers monitoring air traffic. What are the
critical elements of situation awareness? How might you foster SA in the design of a radar display system? (3+2)
4. You are preparing to install a new automated cutting machine in your machine shop. How would you consider
noise in the design of this new system? Provide a specific example for each noise management strategy you might
apply (4+4)
6. Your design for a hand-held powertool has more vibration than you would like. No one on your team knows
what is causing the vibration. A/ Why might the vibration be a problem? B/ How might you identify what is
causing the vibration in order to make design changes? (2 + 2)

20. I am having problems with excessive contrast when working on my computer which is making it difficult to
see. What is the common term for this problem? (1) What aspects of the design of my workstation would you
check to see what might be causing the problem? (3)
8. Your engineering manager suggests attention to usability "is a waste of time" and wants the team to focus on the
necessary technical design so as to "deliver the product on time". What arguments might you present on the
benefits to the company of attending to users in design? (5)
12. What is the relationship between the number of times you have assembled a product and your performance
time for each assembly? What factors might influence this relationship? (2+2)
10. You are designing a control panel for a remote control toy dump-truck. What options would you consider for
'coding' the controls to make it inuitive for users to play with this toy? Make a specific example for each approach
for this case (6)
7. You have been put in charge of 'interface design' for the design of a new game console aimed at the family
market. How would you approach this task in terms of managing the design process and the assessment methods
you would use? (8)
11. What is 'Hierarchical Task Analysis', what is it good for, and how do you do an HTA? Use the example of the
tasks relating to the use of a 'data projector' to (briefly!) illustrate your answer (4)
25. Your boss wants 'objective' quantified data on the quality of users experience with your team's new countertop oven. A) What kind of variables might you study to provide this? B) Why might this type of information not
be sufficient? C) What other data might you suggest to your boss should be considered and why? (5)
13. Why is putting all blame for an accident on the operator (eg 'pilot error') not helpful? (2)
For the case of an elevator, what steps would you apply to ensuring your design is easy to maintain? (4)
1. What is anthropometry and what are the two golden rules of anthropometry for designers? (3)
2. What % of the population should you try to accommodate in your design of products? Why? (2)
3. In James Reason's terminology, errors might be classified as mistakes, slips, or lapses. What is the
difference between these three? Use the case of a car accident to explain your answer. (3)
18. What critical factors contribute to musculoskeletal disorders in manual work? (4) What kinds of body tissues
might be damaged due to exposure to these factors (up to 6 examples) ? (6 * 0.5 = 3)
15. You are driving on a country road approaching a patch of ice. Use Ramsey's 'Information Processing' Model
to explain what will determine whether or not you have an accident. (make sure you relate the model to this
specific case) (10)
9. According to Rasmussen's model of naturalistic decision making there is a difference between skill-based, rulebased, and knowledge-based behaiviour decisions. For the case of a office-mail delivery worker, delivering mail
with a small cart, explain the difference between these three aspects. (3)
19. What considerations would you bring to the setting of a work-surface height for final assembly of a product?
for each factor explain how it would modify your design. What happens if you get this height wrong? (4)
2

23. By what "communication channels" can a designer arrange to have their design communicate with the user?
Provide an example of a design the utilises each channel. (5, for each channel for the example)
16. What are 'anthropometrics' and how can they help a designer? What happens if anthropometrics are not
considered in design? (2+1)
17. It has been suggested that designers should accommodate between the 5th and 95th percentiles of the
population. How could you design a door-way that ONLY allowed the 5th to 95th percentile of the population to
use it easily? What might a better 'rule' for anthropometrics be? (2 + 2)
Voluntary Survey: For each question, circle the description that best describes your study style (circle one). (0 no marks awarded)
S1. In terms of attendance to class:
5 I attended every class (perfect record)
4 I attended all but missed a few classes
3- I attended about 75% of classes
2 I attended less than 50% of classes
1 I dont usually go to lectures for this course
S2 . When attending class did you:
5 Make careful notes during the lecture
4 Make a few reminder notes in the lecture
3 Sometimes I make notes in lecture, sometimes I
just listen
2 - I dont generally make notes in class
1 What are notes?

S3. With regards to reading:

5 I read each chapter in synch with the lectures
making detailed notes
4 I keep up by reading each chapter after lecture and
making notes
3 - I read in batches and made some notes
2 I crammed all chapters in the last week, no time to
make notes
1 I dont have the book