Abstract
This paper reports on an investigation into the causes of error in the design process based on a series of case studies in three companies. An initial study attempted to identify the points of occurrence of error in the case studies based on formal process models of the design activities. However, it was found to be difficult, if not impossible, to make a clear identification of a point of introduction of error in any of the case studies. In general, there was no single error source, but instead there was an accumulation of a number of contributory factors that when combined led to the error situation. Furthermore, it was generally not process issues that led to error but human factors. The paper identifies four categories of error inducing circumstance: unrecognised change of circumstances; lack of design effort; lack of integration of information and want of knowledge. Overall, it is asserted that the underlying issue is one of uncertainty handling and risk management.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Blockley, D.I., The Nature of Structural Design and Safety, Chichester: Ellis Horwood, 1980
Petroski, H., To Engineer is Human, New York: St. Martins Press, 1982.
Shibata, H., Problem solving: definition, terminology and patterns, http://www.mediafrontier.com/Article/PS/PS.htm, 1998
Stewart, M.G., Simulation of human error in reinforced concrete design, Research in Engineering Design 4(1), 1992, pp.51–60
Brown, C.B. and Yin, X., Errors in structural engineering, ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 114, 1988, pp.2575–2593
Petroski, H., Paconius and the pedestal for Apollo: a case study of error in conceptual design, Research in Engineering Design, 3, 1991, pp.123–128
Piésold, D. D. A., C/vz7 Engineering Practice: Engineering Success by Analysis of Failure, London: McGraw-Hill, 1991
Kaminetzky, D., Design and Construction Failures: Lessons From Forensic Investigations, New York: McGraw Hill, 1991
Norman, D.A., Categorisation of action slips, Psychological Review, 88, 1981, pp. 1–15
Ravindra, M.K., Gross errors, seismic margins and seismic PRAs, Modeling Human Error in Structural Design and Construction, ASCE, Ann Arbor, Mi, 1986, pp.113–121
Fitzsimmons, N., On modeling errors in the construction industry, Modeling Human Error in Structural Design and Construction, ASCE, Ann Arbor, Mi, 1986, pp. 190–194
Kletz, T., An Engineer’s View of Human Error, 2nd Edition, London: Institution of Chemical Engineers, 1991
Bañares-Alcántara, R., Representing the engineering design process: two hypotheses, Computer-aided Design, 23, 1991, pp.595–603
McMahon, C.A., Observations on modes of incremental change in design, Journal of Engineering Design, 5(3), 1994, pp. 195–209
McMahon, C.A., Cooke, J.A. and North, M.R., A classification of errors in design, International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED’97, Tampere, 1997, pp.119–124
Prabhu, P., Sharit, J. and Drury, C., Classification of temporal errors in CIM systems: development of a framework for deriving human-centred information requirements, International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 5(2), 1992, pp.68–70
Busby, J.S., Why designers don’t learn effectively from feedback, International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED’97, Tampere, 1997, pp. 105–110.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cooke, J.A., McMahon, C.A., North, M.R. (2003). Sources of Error in the Design Process. In: Gogu, G., Coutellier, D., Chedmail, P., Ray, P. (eds) Recent Advances in Integrated Design and Manufacturing in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0161-7_41
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0161-7_41
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6236-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0161-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive