Human Factors Engineering (HFE) Checklists

Human Factors Engineering (HFE) Checklists serve as an effective tool across various industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and consumer products, enabling design teams to systematically assess how well a product or workstation accommodates users. For instance, in healthcare, these checklists can be applied when designing medical devices, where user interactions must be safe and efficient to avoid errors that could impact patient outcomes. Their use is particularly beneficial during the prototyping and testing phases of product development, allowing participants such as engineers, designers, and end-users to collaborate in identifying usability issues early in the design process. Checklists are grounded in principles of human factors like anthropometry and cognitive load, which help designers consider physical dimensions and cognitive capabilities of users, thereby reducing ergonomic risks and enhancing overall user experience. The structured approach of these checklists allows teams to document findings clearly, facilitating communication and ensuring that human considerations are not overlooked as the design iterates. They play a fundamental role in fostering a culture of user-centered design, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing costs associated with redesigns after market introduction. The iterative feedback encouraged by HFE checklists can lead to innovations that better meet user needs by facilitating engagement during workshops and design reviews, where collective insights can be harnessed to refine products.