Posts

What Does “Good” Look Like – Part 4

Video Training Series - Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC – Video Training Series – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Identifying Human Error Likely Situations – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Episode 4

Since 2008, Procedure Solutions Management, LLC, has taught over 9,000 (correction over 10,000) students on a variety of procedure-related topics.  When we teach our classes there are 5 main principles that we want to convey:

  1. Level of Detail – What to do OR how to do it.
  2. Identify Common Error Likely Situations – What does “Good” look like?
  3. General Technical Writing Guidelines – Writing Fundamentals
  4. Organizing and Sequencing of Steps
  5. Utilizing Templates or Human-Factored Writing Tools

This is part 4 of a 4-part “What Does “Good” Look Like” series that will focus on the second principle, Identifying (and Eliminating) Human Error Likely Situations.  It will cover the following:

  • Complex Calculations Without a Peer Check
  • Non-Typical/Unusual Steps or Terms
  • Time Constraints

We had fun putting these videos together and hope you will enjoy them.  Please remember that this is only a very small part of a comprehensive training curriculum that was designed to help eliminate human performance challenges in procedures.

For more information on our Procedure Writer Certification Courses, visit our Training Page or Register NOW for one of our upcoming classes.  Blog readers can use the following coupon code to save $100 on course registration:  VTSBlog18

For more articles on technical writing and to be notified when part two is released, be sure to subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.

What Does “Good” Look Like – Part 3

Video Training Series - Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC – Video Training Series – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Identifying Human Error Likely Situations – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Episode 3

Since 2008, Procedure Solutions Management, LLC, has taught over 9,000 (correction over 10,000) students on a variety of procedure-related topics.  When we teach our classes there are 5 main principles that we want to convey:

  1. Level of Detail – What to do, OR how to do it.
  2. Identify Common Error Likely Situations – What does “Good” look like?
  3. General Technical Writing Guidelines – Writing Fundamentals
  4. Organizing and Sequencing of Steps
  5. Utilizing Templates or Human-Factored Writing Tools

This is part 3 of a 4-part “What Does “Good” Look Like” series that will focus on the second principle, Identifying (and Eliminating) Human Error Likely Situations.  It will cover the following:

  • Inconsistent Place-keeping Methods
  • Precautions, Notes, Cautions, and Warnings Without Value
  • Actions or Implied Actions in Precautions, Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
  • Unrelated Actions in the Same Step

We had fun putting these videos together and hope you will enjoy them.  Please remember that this is only a very small part of a comprehensive training curriculum that was designed to help eliminate human performance challenges in procedures.

For more information on our Procedure Writer Certification Courses, visit our Training Page or Register NOW for one of our upcoming classes.  Blog readers can use the following coupon code to save $100 on course registration:  VTSBlog18

For more articles on technical writing and to be notified when part two is released, be sure to subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.

What Does “Good” Look Like – Part 2

Video Training Series - Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC – Video Training Series – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Identifying Human Error Likely Situations – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Episode 2

Since 2008, Procedure Solutions Management, LLC, has taught over 9,000 (correction over 10,000) students on a variety of procedure-related topics.  When we teach our classes there are 5 main principles that we want to convey:

  1. Level of Detail – What to do, OR how to do it.
  2. Identify Common Error Likely Situations – What does “Good” look like?
  3. General Technical Writing Guidelines – Writing Fundamentals
  4. Organizing and Sequencing of Steps
  5. Utilizing Templates or Human-Factored Writing Tools

This is part 2 of a 4-part “What Does “Good” Look Like” series that will focus on the second principle, Identifying (and Eliminating) Human Error Likely Situations.  It will cover the following:

  • Steps With Conflicting Information
  • Inappropriate Use of Verifications and Peer Checks
  • Inadequate Defenses and Depth
  • Excessive Branching
  • Excessive Physical Challenges

We had fun putting these videos together and hope you will enjoy them.  Please remember that this is only a very small part of a comprehensive training curriculum that was designed to help eliminate human performance challenges in procedures.

For more information on our Procedure Writer Certification Courses, visit our Training Page or Register NOW for one of our upcoming classes.  For more articles on technical writing and to be notified when part two is released, be sure to subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.

What Does “Good” Look Like – Part 1

Video Training Series - Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC – Video Training Series – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Identifying Human Error Likely Situations

Identifying Human Error Likely Situations – What Does “Good” Look Like? – Episode 1

Since 2008, Procedure Solutions Management, LLC, has taught over 9,000 (correction over 10,000) students on a variety of procedure-related topics.  When we teach our classes there are 5 main principles that we want to convey:

  1. Level of Detail – What to do, OR how to do it.
  2. Identify Common Error Likely Situations – What does “Good” look like?
  3. General Technical Writing Guidelines – Writing Fundamentals
  4. Organizing and Sequencing of Steps
  5. Utilizing Templates or Human-Factored Writing Tools

This is part 1 of a 4-part “What Does “Good” Look Like” series that will focus on the second principle, Identifying (and Eliminating) Human Error Likely Situations.  It will cover the following:

  • Identify in-field decisions without clear guidance
  • Excessiveness of in-field decisions
  • Steps that are vague or missing critical detail
  • Excessive Administrative and Technical Detail

We had fun putting these videos together and hope you will enjoy them.  Please remember that this is only a very small part of a comprehensive training curriculum that was designed to help eliminate human performance challenges in procedures.

For more information on our Procedure Writer Certification Courses, visit our Training Page or Register NOW for one of our upcoming classes.  For more articles on technical writing and to be notified when part two is released, be sure to subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.

Procedure Solutions Management: Video Training Series: Ask An Expert

Ask an Expert – How Can Management Improve Human Performance?

Procedure Solutions Management: Video Training Series: Ask An Expert

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC – Video Training Series – Ask An Expert – How Can Managers Improve Human Performance?

Ask An Expert – Episode 5 – “How can management teams help improve human performance?”

Human Performance is more than a catchy phrase.  It is essential to the success of any company and improving human performance should be the goal of any successful manager.  But, when it comes to managing a procedure program and/or a team of writers, it can be difficult for managers to identify the most important elements for improving and ensuring optimal human performance.  How do they ensure that they are setting their writers up for success?

In this segment of “Ask An Expert,” Procedure Solutions Management’s Managing Member, Darlene McCord, answers the question, “How can management teams help improve human performance?”

 

For more information on Technical Writing, subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.  Or, visit our services page for more information on our staffing, training, or consulting services.

Procedure Solutions Management: Video Training Series: Ask An Expert

Ask an Expert – Is Human Factored Writing Applicable In Non-Nuke Industries?

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC - Video Training Series - Ask An Expert - Human Factored Writing Applicable to all Industries?

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC – Video Training Series – Ask An Expert – Is Human Factored Writing Applicable In Non-Nuke Industries?

Ask An Expert – Episode 4 – “How are the Nuclear Standards for Human Factored Writing Applicable to a Variety of Industries?”

PSM’s leadership is known for their work in helping to establish standards for human factored writing throughout the nuclear industry.  Part of this process involved reviewing information from organizations/industries, like NASA and the Airline Industry, that had already successfully implemented similar standardization.   Best practices were gleaned and ultimately, the Nuclear Industry was able to develop and adopt a set of guidelines for its controlled documents that was tailored to meet its needs.  Are the principles, standards, and lessons learned by the nuclear industry applicable to other industries?

In this segment of “Ask An Expert,” Procedure Solutions Management Founder and Chairman of the Board, Stephen McCord, addresses the question:  “How are the Nuclear Standards for Human Factored Writing Applicable to a Variety of Industries?”

 

Procedure Solutions Management has successfully applied the knowledge gained from developing nuclear industry standards to clients in a variety of industries, including: Pharmaceutical, Fossil, Petro-Chemical, and many more.  Furthermore, we believe this information and the lessons learned are applicable wherever you have human beings referencing documents to perform work.  For more information on how we can design a program to meet your company/industry’s needs, visit our services page.  Or, for more information on Technical Writing, subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.

Procedure Solutions Management: Video Training Series: Ask An Expert

Ask an Expert – Procedure Writer’s Challenges

Procedure Solutions Management: Video Training Series: Ask An Expert - Procedure Writer Challenges

Procedure Solutions Management, LLC – Video Training Series – Ask An Expert – Procedure Writer’s Challenges

Ask An Expert – Episode 3 – “What are some common challenges faced by procedure writers?”

Procedure writers/technical writers have complex jobs.  Amongst other things, they are responsible for understanding and writing for the appropriate level of detail, avoiding the creation of human performance error-likely situations , formatting complicated documents, ensuring consistency, fostering collaboration, and sometimes even project managing.  These responsibilities present procedure writers plenty of opportunities for problem solving…

In this segment of “Ask An Expert,” Procedure Solutions Management’s Managing Member, Darlene McCord, answers the question, “What are some common challenges faced by procedure writers?”

 

For more information on Technical Writing, subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.  Or, visit our services page for more information on our staffing, training, or consulting services.

Procedure Solutions Management: Video Training Series: Ask An Expert

Ask An Expert – What do you mean by, “Human Factored”

Procedure Solutions Management: Video Training Series: Ask An Expert

Procedure Solutions Management – Ask An Expert – What do you mean by, Human Factored?

 

 Ask An Expert – Episode 2 – What do you mean by, “Human Factored”?

Procedures have been around for a long time and there has been a lot of emphasis on making sure that they were “technically correct”.  As things have evolved and the workforce has changed, industries have come to realize that the way in which end users read/follow the procedures is just as important as making sure the content is accurate.  But, what does that really mean and how is it achieved?  Does it matter where a warning is inserted?  How does “Human Factored” affect the end user?

In this segment of “Ask An Expert,” our Founder and Chairman of the Board, Stephen McCord, answers the question, “What do you mean by, Human Factored?”

 

For more information on Technical Writing, subscribe to our blog using the link to the right of this post.  Or, visit our services page for more information on our staffing, training, or consulting services.