Application of Cognitive Task Analysis in mining operations
Abstract
Through the advancement of human-machine interactions in various fields, understanding beyond the technical components has become prominent. The field of cognitive engineering focuses on the most efficient interaction between machines and human as a whole. It is considered to be a large area of study, which requires extensive research in every aspect. In this sense, traditional methods for analyzing human behavior in a work setting, which mostly centralize in identifying material and observable traits, are in need of improvement for the sake of a well-designed project. The concept of Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA), in this regard, has gained interest in academic and business settings in the last few decades. The fact that cognitive task analysis expands the observation of worker’s interactions to a more cognitive and behavioral level makes it a more sophisticated tool for many scholars. Taking this into account, this research essentially aims to fully comprehend the five steps of CWA through cases and finally, seeks for possible applications in the mining industry, where it is most needed. In this paper, a CWA framework that can be used in mining industry is developed, based on a previous model for quantifying human error in maintenance for a more generalized industry.
Keywords: cognitive work analysis, work domain, human behavior.
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