Human Systems Engineering Program
An Introduction

Considering today’s business environment and the widespread process movement, there is a strong need in all sectors and at all levels of the economy to apply engineering principles and new technology throughout the enterprise.

Human Systems Engineering involves concepts that can be more easily understood and appreciated by students if they can have actual use of the equipment and be more familiar with them, observe demonstrations of human biomechanics and the body’s tendencies, and how these can be applied in the design of products and workplaces. It can also make UPLB BSIE graduates more competent and equipped. Additionally, since UPLB is a research base on its own, DIE HSEP can provide other researchers with inputs and data analysis they need related to human factors.

Moreover, Region IV houses an ever-growing community of industrial estates where many manufacturing companies are based. This poses an opportunity for a facility like DIE’s HSEP to be able to provide the needs of companies in terms of product and facility designs that require the human element in their system.

The attractiveness of the facility to organizations shall increase with the availability of the necessary equipment and software for the creation of a virtual environment for the design of human systems which will enable lower costs needed on the design process itself for new product development.

Background

Humans are part of almost all the systems that we design, whether in manufacturing, construction, transportation, communications, or services. Thus, it is essential that we have a scientific understanding of the properties of human capability and limitations to be able to apply them to the design, development, and deployment of systems and services to ensure their optimum performance and safety. Due to this, the Human Systems Engineering Program (HSEP) was created by the Department of Industrial Engineering of the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT) at UP Los Baños.

HSEP conducts studies on theoretical and applied ergonomics, human factors, methods engineering, and occupational safety and health to address the human element needs for all system types.

Mission

DIE HSEP’s mission is to provide students, local and national organizations, and researchers with capability and expertise in human systems for better product designs and work environments.

Vision

An income-generating program that serves clients from the industry and the government who need to establish standards in their processes, design of systems, training, and other human factors studies while cultivating the academic and research and extension capabilities of UPLB.

Academic Relations

Course offerings support research focus areas, just as research focus areas support the curriculum. The department offers courses for Human Systems Engineering at the undergraduate level. The following list defines the current course offerings that are directly related to the focus area and those under consideration for development.

HSEP related undergraduate courses:

Human Factors Engineering
Ergonomics
Methods Engineering
Occupational Safety and Health

Accomplished Research

Title	Involvement	Funding Agency
Optimizing the Combination of Commercially Available Handle Grips and Engine Mounts To Reduce the Vibration Transmitted to Hand Tractor Operators	Haerold Dean Z. Layaoen (Project Leader) Mikel Angelo B. Yap (Assistant Project Leader)	UPLB Basic Research Fund
Baseline Measurement and Analysis of Hand-Arm Transmitted Vibration of UPLB-AMD Ergonomically Designed Two-Wheeled Tractor	Josefa Angelie D. Revilla (Project Leader) Mikel Angelo B. Yap (Assistant Project Leader)	UPLB Basic Research Fund
Determination of the Best Combination of Commercially Available White and Beige Colored Paints and Floor Tiles Based on IESNA Standards	Haerold Dean Z. Layaoen (Study Leader) Roderick L. Catriz (Co-Leader)	UPLB
Evaluation of the Different Lighting Alternatives for the World Class Setting of UPLB Classrooms and Offices	Haerold Dean Z. Layaoen (Study Leader) Roderick L. Catriz (Co-Leader)	UPLB
Development of a Program for the Determination of the Best Lighting Alternative Based on IESNA Standards and Lowest Equivalent Annual Cost	Haerold Dean Z. Layaoen (Study Leader) Roderick L. Catriz (Co-Leader)	UPLB