Case study based laboratories for an undergraduate human factors engineering curriculum

This paper describes the ongoing implementation and evaluation of a set of design-oriented laboratory exercises for two undergraduate Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) courses, which draw from a case study model. The case material, based on the automotive manufacturing industry, includes the description of the overall manufacturing system, seven multi-period laboratories across the two courses, and computer modules intended to support the design and analysis activities in the laboratories. Over the duration of the project, the courses are being taught using the modified laboratories, and evaluations, including student surveys, grade comparisons, and comparison of test question answers, are being conducted to compare student performance before and after the implementation of the proposed laboratories. Results from completed evaluations are discussed.