What is the main purpose of Threat and Error Management (TEM)?

The main purpose of Threat and Error Management (TEM) is to understand the relationship between safety and human performance. TEM is a framework used primarily in aviation and other high-risk industries to identify and mitigate the dangers posed by various threats and cognitive errors that personnel may encounter during operations. It focuses on enhancing safety by fostering a better understanding of how human performance can affect safety outcomes.

By examining how human factors, decision-making, and external threats interact, TEM aims to develop strategies to reduce errors and improve operational safety. This includes training and developing systems that help individuals and teams recognize and respond to potential threats before they escalate into incidents.

In contrast, assessing financial performance, evaluating equipment maintenance schedules, or managing crew scheduling pertain to other functions within an organization that do not directly address the objectives of TEM, which centers entirely on improving safety through insights into human behavior and situational awareness.