Timeline analysis is relatively minor and easily performed extension of task analysis. Gantt charts are related in structure to the kinds of chart produced in timeline analysis. See Figure 4.18 Products temporal relationships among tasks durations of individual tasks times which each task should be performed Link Analysis Definition A method for arranging the physical layout of instrument panels, control panels, workstations, or work areas to meet certain objectives, e.g. reduce total amount of movement, increase accessibility. Example Chapanis gives the example of reconfiguring the physical layout of an information centre aboard a navy ship. He shows the original layout of the information centre in Figure 4.19.
Linkages are then calculated bewteen people, and between people and machines.
These linkages could be derived by counting the number of times that each pair of people interacts with each other, or the number of times that each person interacts with a machine, device, or workstation. A link diagram, as shown in Figure 4.21 is then used to summarize the existing pattern of linkages. The link diagram can then be used to diagnose problems in the layout. For instance, Figure 4.21 can be used to determine that the layout is inefficient. Paths that crossed tended to result in people actually bumping into each other, which was a clear sign that a problem existed in the layout.