13.8.2.5-1 Inclusion of Fault Messages

Fault messages should only be shown if they add value to the maintenance process.

Additional Information:
The presence of unnecessary fault messages can reduce the effectiveness of maintenance personnel by increasing the workload associated with locating and using messages that support diagnosis and repair. The flexibility of computer-based technologies and the needs of secondary users of the maintenance system can result in the inclusion of variables and capabilities that do not support the performance of primary users. Limiting messages to those that are valuable to the maintenance process can help personnel use the automated test equipment effectively. The status of some variables can be determined by direct observation without using automated test equipment. The appropriateness of including these variables in a test device should be based on consideration of their effects on maintenance performance. Thus, the burdens associated with viewing additional variables should be weighed against the potential benefits of having fault indications consolidated in a test device.