EARLY HUMAN FACTORS INTERVENTION FOR THE MILITARY AFLOAT REACH AND SUSTAINABILITY CAPABILITY

摘要

The early application of Human Factors is essential to have maximum benefit in the design and development of systems. This approach is being adopted by the MoD for the UK's Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) programme, which is currently in the early stages of acquisition. MARS is intended to replace a large part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet as they are progressively withdrawn from service. It will provide the Royal Navy with three core capabilities: solid and liquid consumables for embarked forces, joint sea-based logistics and forward aviation support for rotary wing operations. Current planning for the MARS requirement envisages acquiring three types of ships consisting of Fleet Tankers, Joint Sea-Based Logistics (JSBL) vessels and Fleet Solid-Support (FSS) ships. The MARS Integrated Project Team (IPT) has commissioned Quintec Associates Ltd to conduct an Early Human Factors Assessment in order to provide a baseline set of Human Factors data which will be used to calculate the three complements, determine where ship design lessons should be incorporated into the MARS platforms, and compile a draft set of Human Factors requirements. This paper describes the approach taken in conducting such an early human factors assessment. Concepts such as "people related requirements", "manpower capability modules" and a bespoke Quintec complement aggregation tool called Q-CAT are described.