The Emerging Role of Human Factors Engineering in Naval Ship Design

Traditionally the U.S Navy has not systematically applied HFE principals to the design of surface ships. Hovever, recent investigations by the DOD's Naval Research Advisory Cormnittee (hRK) and the General Accountiung Office (GAO) have clearly deliniated serious problems of fleet readiness due to inadequate attention given to human factors in the ship design process. As a result there has been a noted increase in HFE participation in the design of neii ships such as the LHD, LSD-41, AOE-6 and AE-36. In addition, organization changes with NAVSEA, and the issuance of a new NAVN4T Instruction mandating HFE participation in the ship design process, provides even further opportmity for HFE to make meaningful contributions to the ships of the future. Based on the HFE participation in the above programs it is now evident that these contributions can be made without disrupting design nr construction schedules, adding significant costs, or negatively impacting the design and construction process.