Reliable Human-Machine System Developer: A decision support system for the design of human-machine systems

A new decision support system synthesis process model for human-machine systems called the Reliable Human-Machine System Developer (REHMS-D) has been developed as a major advance in system and reliability engineering. By means of a new synthesis-oriented, cognitive human reliability model, the integration of the operational sequence diagram technique into reliability analysis, and a six-stage system engineering process, REHMS-D guides the designer through the formulation of system human functions that meet customer reliability requirements. The model is formulated for widespread desk-top use. REHMS-D has broad application to systems and processes. REHMS-D has proven its value in addressing a major competitiveness concern of U.S. industry--improving manufacturing processes--and should be equally valuable for synthesizing or improving systems to meet customer reliability requirements and for synthesizing or improving maintenance tasks to meet customer maintainability requirements.