Human Factors in Product Design

Human factors in product design has emerged as a major competitive issue in manufacturing. In many ways, manufacturers have hit a technology ceiling, meaning that it is increasingly difficult to compete on functionality, technical reliability, or manufacturing costs. Design therefore has become a major battleground for manufacturers, and usability is recognized as its central tenet. This book explains current practice in human factors, identifying techniques that work under tight constraints and providing evidence of their effectiveness. Trends and the commercial implications of usability are also discussed. This book is essential for industrial designers and manufacturing executives.