Why is it crucial to include humans in the early stages of system development? In this webinar presentation, NASA Fmr Product Lead Dr. Jennifer Rochlis makes the case for Human Systems Integration (HSI). She emphasizes the importance of considering humans in product design and development. HSI involves integrating human capabilities and limitations with system design to increase performance and minimize costs. It looks at the entire lifecycle of a system and involves various domains such as training, safety, usability, and occupational health. HSI requires coordination between different domain specialists and early engagement of all stakeholders. The presentation highlights the challenges of justifying the investment in HSI and gathering suitable evidence. It also emphasizes the role of humans in ensuring safety and compensating for design and operational errors. Dr. Rochlis stresses the need for early involvement of operations teams and addressing cultural differences among teams. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of considering HSI in the early stages of system development and ensuring ownership of lifecycle costs.

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Webinar Notes:

  1. Dr. Jennifer Rochlis has expertise in human design and operation in unusual or stressful environments.
  2. She especially encourages product designers to consider humans as part of the design and development process.
  3. HSI (Human Systems Integration) is a process that integrates human capabilities and limitations with system design and development.
  4. HSI also looks at the entire lifecycle of a system and considers the interactions between humans and systems.
  5. Additionally, the goal of HSI is to increase total system performance and minimize total cost.
  6. HSI also involves various domains, including training, safety, usability, and occupational health.
  7. Furthermore, humans play various roles throughout the design, development, and operation of a system.
  8. HSI also requires coordination between different domain specialists and understanding their concerns and metrics.
  9. HSI can be challenging to justify in terms of return on investment and to gather suitable evidence.
  10. Humans cause safety and often compensate for design and operational issues.
  11. HSI is the integration of human capabilities and limitations into system design and development
  12. The system should include the human, not just hardware and software
  13. HSI focuses on all users, not just operators and maintainers
  14. Additionally, HSI aims to increase system performance and minimize costs
  15. HSI is crucial in the early stages of system development to ensure the intended design is achieved
  16. More than 85% of lifecycle costs are committed during the design and development phase
  17. Lack of involvement from operations teams and different team cultures hinder HSI implementation
  18. Lifecycle cost ownership is often neglected
  19. Early engagement of all stakeholders is necessary for successful HSI implementation.
About the speaker
Jennifer Rochlis, Ph.D. NASA, Fmr Chief, Human Systems Engineering and Integration Division Member

Dr. Jennifer Rochlis has spent her career bridging the sciences with the human element and strives to bring that synergistic approach to her clients. She is the President and CEO of Advancing Frontiers, a consulting company providing spaceflight integration services. Prior to that she was the Vice President for Products and Solution Architecture at Teledyne FLIR, and in her 20 years at NASA, she was a Division Chief in the Human Health and Performance Directorate, a Branch Chief in the Engineering Directorate, and an Associate Director Human Resources. She received her B.A. in Physics at Mount Holyoke College, her M.S. and Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has authored numerous publications and book chapters in the areas of human factors engineering, human-machine interfaces, telerobotics, bioastronautics, and human systems integration - including the agency-wide NASA Human Systems Integration Practitioner’s Guide. She also has 15 years of non-profit board and advisory experience, and is a STEM career mentor, and active speaker in the areas of human-centered design and leadership. Dr. Rochlis is also an entrepreneur with her own coaching company, providing integrative coaching for individual clients and teams, towards both personal and professional advancement. She is Miracle Minded Master Coach trained by Marianne Williamson, Board Certified as an Alternative Medical Practitioner and Holistic Health Practitioner, and a certified Quantum Human Design Practitioner and Family Coach.

About the host
Deba Sahoo Fidelity Investments, SVP, Head of Product for Customer Journeys
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