Passenger-Centric Train Car Design

A HUMAN FACTORS ASSESSMENT OF METRO (WMATA) TRAIN CARS USING

SIX SIGMA METHODOLOGY
A Human Factors Engineering Study
ENPM644 Spring 2014

Jonathan Candari | Ruiqi Mu |

Institute of Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Table of Contents

Part I The Project .......................................................................................................... 3

1.

Project Scope ......................................................................................................... 3

2.

Objectives .............................................................................................................. 4

Part II Methodology .................................................................................................... 5

3.

Defining the Metrics ........................................................................................... 5

3.1

Human Factors and Passenger Satisfaction .................................................... 5

3.2

Initial Identification of Survey Measures ....................................................... 6

4.

Project Framework ............................................................................................... 8

4.1

Six Sigma ............................................................................................................... 8

4.2

SITE ...................................................................................................................... 11

Part III DEFINE Phase............................................................................................... 14

5.

Defining the HF Measures ............................................................................... 14

5.1

Function and the Human-to-Machine Interaction ....................................... 14

5.2

CTQ and Effect Measures................................................................................. 16

5.3

TASK Measures [Project YTASK] ...................................................................... 17

5.4

INDIVIDUAL Measures [Project XINDIVIDUAL] ............................................. 20

5.5

SITUATION Measures [Project XSITUATION] ................................................. 22

6.

Data Collection Plan .......................................................................................... 24

Project Data.............................................................................................................. 26

7.1

YEFFECT: [Determining the Current Level of YEFFECT] .................................. 26

7.2

YTASK: [Determining YTASK that affect the YEFFECT] ..................................... 28

7.3

XINDIVIDUAL: [Determining XINDIVIDUAL factors that affect the YTASK] ...... 30

Part V ANALYZE Phase ............................................................................................ 40

8.

Gender Differences ........................................................................................... 40

9.

Noise Level .......................................................................................................... 42

10.

Vibration Analysis ............................................................................................. 43

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11.

Illumination and Glare Analysis .................................................................... 44

12.

Information and Communication Systems .................................................. 45

13.

Emergency Evacuation Access .......................................................................... 46

Part VI IMPROVE Phase .......................................................................................... 49

14.

Recommendations for Seat Design and Layout ........................................... 49

15.

Proposed Improvements to Reduce Noise Level ......................................... 52

16.

Proposed Improvements to Improve Stability and Minimizing Jerk ..... 52

17.

Information Display and PA System ............................................................. 53

18.

Lighting system .................................................................................................. 53

19.

Emergency evacuation access ........................................................................... 53

Part VII CONTROL phase ....................................................................................... 54

20.

Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 54

Appendix 1 Project Y Survey Questions ............................................................... 55

Appendix 2 Instruments Used ................................................................................. 57
Appendix 3 Human Body Data ............................................................................... 61
References....................................................................................................................... 66

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