Human Factors (HF) is the study of how people use technology.  For mission-critical products, human factors engineering must be considered in all phases of product development—planning, analysis, design and development, test, and evaluation.

A primary focus of HF studies at RBC is on the product’s user interface, including the controls, displays, logic of operation, form and shape, labels, and instructions.

The goal of these efforts is to design products that users can operate safely in real-world situations. In mission-critical situations, HF can improve human performance and reduce injury, even death.

Other benefits of HF include:

• Better understanding of device status and operation
• Easier to use (or more intuitive) products
• Reduced need for training
• Reduced reliance on user manuals
• Easier to read controls and displays
• Safer connections between devices (i.e., power cords, leads, tubes, etc.)
• More effective alarms
• Easier repair and maintenance

Better communication between human users and machines is not only a good business goal, it’s an opportunity for innovation that can add value to Clients and strengthen the bottom line.