Machines don't make mistakes – but as we know, to err is human. There's a long list of possible causes: misunderstandings, neglect, habits, and a lack of knowledge – all of us make mistakes from time to time. And Anna is looking into the reasons behind this. That's because what often appears to be a random mistake can normally be explained. An unfamiliar interface, incorrect lighting, incomplete instructions – all of this can up the number of mistakes.
But if an error results in an incident, it will be examined. However, "engineers tend to initially examine errors from a technical point of view," says Anna. "At ZEISS, this is something we do very well. For example, we can find the molecule that's responsible for tiny irregularities in a crystal lattice. But my job is to consider the human factor in order to make work environments less susceptible to error," says the PhD natural scientist.