Available online
Description
The programme focuses on the way manufacturing contracts were set up for the BART system and the effects on contracts of political pressure to get a system operating as soon as possible.
The programme focuses on the way manufacturing contracts were set up for the BART system and the effects on contracts of political pressure to get a system operating as soon as possible.
| Module code and title: | TD342, Systems performance: human factors and systems failures |
|---|---|
| Item code: | TD342; 07 |
| First transmission date: | 25-05-1976 |
| Published: | 1976 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:30 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Andrew Millington |
| Contributors: | Ronald John Beishon; John Kiely; Willard Wattenburg; Bill Rhine; Wayne Keithly; Ray Carroll; Harre Demorro; Tony Venturato; Richard Clark; Alfred Alquist |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Contracts; Diagrams; Manufacturing process; PBTB; Planning of maintenance; Political pressures; State Legislative Analysts Office; Systems engineering |
| Footage description: | John Kiely (BART Consultant Engineer) opens the programme by explaining how political pressure curtailed some of the BART system testing which had been planned before the system was finalised. Bill Rhine (BART Director of Engineering) lists, very briefly, same of the problems which resulted from this. John Beishon introduces the programme. With the aid of an animated systems diagram, he lists scene of the aspects which must be taken into account when analysing the development of BART. John Kiely and Beishon explain how contracts for the BART system were awarded. Systems diagram of BART and film shots of a BART train illustrate the discussion. Kiely goes on to discuss the advanced technology which was planned for BART and some of the development controls which were intended to be put into operation. John Beishon, Ray Carroll (BART Director of Maintenance) and Harre Demoro (journalist) discuss the problem of starting an advanced technology system with a workforce which has little experience with this technology, John Beishon, Ray Carroll and Tony Venturato discuss the role of maintenance in the BART system. They point out areas in which problems could have been eased if the maintenance role had been perceived differently during systems planning. Beishon, Richard Clark and Wayne Keighly discuss the importance of monitoring contractual arrangements once a system has been decided on. The discussion goes on to examine use of third party independent analysis of systems problems as they arise. Bill Rhine explains what changes were made inside the BART organisation to cope with system failures. Tony Venturato joins in and they discuss further changes which could have been made. Beishon introduces California State Senator, Alfred Alguist, who then gives a politician' s view of what went wrong with BART. He contends that greater State intervention might have avoided many of the mistakes. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72230 |
| Production number: | 00525_5242 |
| Videofinder number: | 761 |
| Available to public: | no |
