THE DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF MAINTAINABLE PACKAGING METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT*

* This research was supported by the U.S. Navy under contract N 61-339-330, monitored by the Flight; Trainers' Division, Human Engineering Department of the U.S. Naval Training Device Center, Port Washington, N.Y. The opinions and conclusions in this report arc those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views or endorsement of the Department of the Navy. The authors would like to acknowledge the help of George Herlt who acted as a special engineering design consultant for equipment fabrication. Both he and Fred Scheihing were concerned with the difficult task of translating the packaging philosophies into actual hardware. Additional assistance was rendered by Mr. Karl Goosman and Mrs. Margaret McKendry.

Abstract

This study deals with the use of new packaging techniques to enhance the maintainability of electronic equipments. Three techniques were devised : (a) a ‘ component grouping ’ method, (b) a ‘ circuit grouping ’ method, and (c) a ‘ logical Bow ’ method. Each of these methods was evaluated against the present ‘ standard ’ packaging method by constructing the same equipments by each of the four methods and determining the degree to which the performance of technicians was effected by troubleshooting each different type.

The experiment employed two skill levels of technicians : (a) those just completing training, and (b) those with more training and experience. In addition, two levels of equipment complexity were employed : (a) a simple radio receiver, and (b) a complex radar simulator. Finally, two main measures of performance were used : (a) the time taken to localize a fault to a component, and (b) the percentage of the total number of possible failures eliminated per three-minute time interval.

Consistent with the theoretical hypotheses advanced, one of the new methods, the logical flow technique, was found to be superior to the standard method in many cases. For example, a significant decrease in fault localization time (a 40 per cent saving) was achieved by the use of this new technique when experienced men worked on complex equipment (the radar simulator). In addition, significant increases in the percentage of failure possibilities eliminated were gained by the use of the new method in the following cases : (a) when inexperienced men serviced simple equipment, (6) when experienced men located hard troubles in simple equipment, and (c) when experienced men serviced complex equipment.

The other new methods, the components and circuit methods, were found to be superior to the standard method, but their superiority was not as marked as that demonstrated by the logical flow technique. The advantages to be gained by use of the new methods easily seem to outweigh problems met in implementing a now construction policy based upon them.

Notes

* This research was supported by the U.S. Navy under contract N 61-339-330, monitored by the Flight; Trainers' Division, Human Engineering Department of the U.S. Naval Training Device Center, Port Washington, N.Y. The opinions and conclusions in this report arc those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views or endorsement of the Department of the Navy. The authors would like to acknowledge the help of George Herlt who acted as a special engineering design consultant for equipment fabrication. Both he and Fred Scheihing were concerned with the difficult task of translating the packaging philosophies into actual hardware. Additional assistance was rendered by Mr. Karl Goosman and Mrs. Margaret McKendry.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. F. CORSO

J. F. Corso is also a Professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University.