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Trouble-shooting in mechanics: a heuristic matching process

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Denis Besnard

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Abstract

This paper deals with expert operators' reasoning processes in trouble-shooting. We want to know more about the information that experienced operators use. In a previous study (Besnard & Bastien-Toniazzo, 1999; Besnard, 2000), we studied electronics troubleshooting. We found that experts used surface cues in order to implement heuristic rules even if the latter are not relevant to the current fault. We now wish to study the field of mechanics. An experiment was conducted in order to test the hypothesis of a heuristic rule-based level of control responsible for errors among experts. This paper adopts a naturalistic and ergonomic point of view about trouble-shooting in mechanics. Our results show that expert mechanics operators' errors rely on heuristics in the trouble-shooting process. This strategy relies on an automated matching process between symptoms and procedures. Although this strategy is usually powerful, it is rigid and may lead the operator to not locate the fault if the latter is atypical.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Besnard D, Cacitti L

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Cognition, Technology and Work

Year: 2001

Volume: 3

Issue: 3

Pages: 150-160

Date deposited: 11/02/2011

ISSN (print): 1435-5558

ISSN (electronic): 1435-5566

Publisher: Springer UK

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/PL00011530

DOI: 10.1007/PL00011530

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