APPLICATION OF A NEW HUMAN-CENTERED REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCT ENGINEERING

Abstract

Public transport systems must accommodate diverse passenger needs, yet seating designs for special-needs groups—such as the elderly, pregnant women, and adults with children—often lack tailored functionality and ergonomic refinement. Moreover, the design process is compounded by the inherent complexities of the public transport engineering environment, such as stringent spatial constraints, diverse and conflicting user needs, and rigorous safety regulations. To address this challenge, this study proposes a new technology for human-centered requirement analysis that integrates the requirement categorization and ergonomics for systematic product application. Based on field observations and KJ-based interviews with eight volunteers, nine key user needs were identified and hierarchically structured. A Kano questionnaire was administered to 12 passengers, resulting in eight valid responses that classified requirements into must-be (e.g., safety), one-dimensional (e.g., spaciousness), and attractive (e.g., seat availability) attributes. Ergonomics constraints guided the translation of these demands into quantifiable design parameters. The proposed seat features a 20° central-axis tilt for easier access, a modular 0.02 m² triangular area for enhanced utility, and a biomechanically optimized backrest. Experimental validation confirms improvements in functionality and user satisfaction. The study demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed technology in navigating real-world engineering complexities, providing a systematic framework for transforming ambiguous user needs into feasible and optimized design parameters under multiple constraints.