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This study evaluates engineers' mental workload while maintaining digital systems in nuclear power plants (NPPs). First, according to the factors affecting the mental workload, a questionnaire was designed to evaluate the mental workload of maintenance engineers at the Second NPP in Taiwan. Then 16 maintenance engineers from the Second NPP participated in the experiment survey. The results indicated that the mental workload was lower in maintaining digital systems than that in analog systems. Finally, a mental workload model based on the neural network technique was established to predict the mental workload of maintenance engineers in maintaining digital systems. Through predicting mental workload, the manager can organize the human resources for each daily task to sustain the appropriate mental workload as well as improve maintenance performance. C 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In the reworking department of integrated circuit (IC) production, both inspection and repair are visual tasks, and reworking operators frequently complain about eyestrain problems that lead to human error and a low yield rate. In this study, we evaluate the relationship between the operators' visual fatigue and actual defect data gathered from May to June 2008 and find a positive relationship between visual fatigue and the number of defects. To prevent eyestrain overload, we develop a visual fatigue prediction model using as significant predictors working time, rest time, number of inspections, number of repairs, and task difficulty. After the model was implemented in a real workplace, both visual comfort and yield rate improved. C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Therefore, the MAS should be considered for implementation with the control panel to increase the safety of NPPs. Furthermore, the MAS could reduce the mental workload might decrease the health hazard of the operators.

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