Publications

Technical procedures systematically describe a series of steps for the operation, maintenance, or testing of systems or components. They are widely used as a method for ensuring consistency, reducing human error, and improving the quality of the end-product. This guide provides specific guidance to procedure writers to help them generate high-quality technical procedures. The guidance is aimed at reducing confusion or ambiguity on the part of the operator, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing errors and rework. The appendices to this document define key terms associated with the creation of technical procedures, list common error traps, and define a set of action verbs that should be used in technical procedures.

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Historically, “skill-of-the-craft” was the single measure of job qualification. In those days, no one gave workers a procedure to follow. Today, large complex industries rely on procedures as a way of ensuring the job will be performed reliably and safely. Typically, these procedures provide a layer of protection to mitigate the severity of an accident or prevent it from happening. While paper-based procedures have long been the standard way of doing business, there is increasing interest in replacing this format with Computer-Based Procedures. Though, the transition from paper to paperless can be more problematic than it seems. Some issues that have led to these problems are discussed here. It is hoped that, by knowing what these issues are, the same mistakes will not be repeated in the future. Mistake avoidance begins with a well-defined set of user requirements for the proposed system. Plus, it is important to realize that Computer-Based Procedures are likely going to be placed in a facility that has never used this type of technology before. As for any new technology, a new way of thinking must come with it. Otherwise, if attempts are made to intermingle old ideas with new ways of doing business, problems are destined to occur.

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The Air Delivered Weapons Tester Development Group (2256) is currently designing a new type of test system, the Universal Real Time Controller (URTCON). The URTCON will provide the surveillance community with technologies that advance the state of knowledge in stockpile stewardship. Success for its implementation depends on whether the components comprising the URTCON can be reliably and accurately maintained in the field. A system is maintainable when the worker has visual and physical access to the components that need to be serviced. To address this need, a layout was determined that best facilitates the worker's ability to easily see and reach components. A list of user-system requirements was initially prepared to guide decisions affecting the layout. Then, five design options depicting various ways to lay out the components were evaluated. Based on this effort, a best design option was identified for implementation. It is expected that the design recommended herein will provide the workers with a workplace that permits unhindered access to the components requiring their attention.

Units Under Tests (UUTs) will be serviced from a "countertop" that's located on the uppermost side of a new temperature chamber. An ergonomic assessment was performed to determine a working height that ensures the technicians will be able to reach the components inside the UUT in a safe and reliable manner. A review of the anthropometric data relative to elbow height was used to make this determination. Nominal work height was 41.89 inches for the population of interest, ranging from 5th to 95th percentile. After adjusting for the height and centerline dimensions of the UUT, the "countertop" was defined to be ~26.0 inches. Next, a range of working heights was defined to accommodate the tasks involved with servicing the UUTs: from 38.0 to 45.8 inches. These values were compared with design guidelines from the general literature. The results were found to converge relatively well with the external references.

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