Question - Briefly describe how training requirements are determined:

Answer - A. Personnel skill levels and quantities are identified by evaluating the complexity and frequency of tasks in the detailed task analysis. Job proficiency levels are established for each location where prime elements of the system are operated and where maintenance support is performed. These requirements are compared with the personal goals initially specified for the system. Given the requirements for personal as dictated by the system design, one must determine the personal resources that actually will be assigned to operate and maintain the system in the field. The difference in skills between the specified requirements and the personal that will be assigned is the basis for a formal training program (i.e. that effort required to upgrade personal to the desired proficiency level). Training needs are defined in terms of program content, duration of training, training data, software, and training equipment requirements. Human factor engineers are interested in the personal and training requirements to ensure these requirements are realistic for the system. If skill level requirements are high and a large amount of training is anticipated, then the system design should be reevaluated to see if changes can be made to simplify the situation.

Instructor's Question - Thanks for your response Ron! In your experience with training... how adequate has it been and did training consist of learning how not to accomplish a task?

Criteria - None.

Reference - Blanchard B.S. (2004) Logistics Engineering and Management. (6th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, pp. 292 & 366-367.