AE, BME and ME 410 Engineering Ethics Assignment This semester we will not have a guest lecturer on the topic of engineering ethics. As an ABET requirement, we need to gather quantitative data on your understanding and appreciation of engineering ethics. To gather these data, we will add a paper on the topic of Engineering ethics. Paper Requirements Convince the reader that you have an understanding of the importance of engineering ethics. Typed 500-1,500 words Due October 13, 2011 7.5% of your class grade Paper Requirements Due to the number of papers collected we need to follow these guidelines for all papers. Name Class and Section (ex. ME 410 sec 002) Paper Title (ex. Engineering Ethics) Important Dates Activate Hire-a-Vol - Done Resume Critique Scheduled October 16 Mock Interview Scheduled October 16 Job Fair September 25 Job Fair Report October 16 Presentation Proposal October 9 Lifelong Learning Paper October 16 Engineering Ethics Paper October 2 Break into Sections Let s talk about Engineering Ethics 1
Many Clear Cases You are working for a company that builds automotive brake parts. You become aware that a batch of calipers your company shipped has bad seals that could lead to catastopic brake failure, you should: Keep quiet and hope there are no failures. Tell your boss and suggest the parts be recalled. Complications The question can become less clear with more details. You determine that the probability of failure is very small. Cost for the recall is huge and might threaten the future company. What if it is your fault that the parts are defective and you feel like your job will be in jeopardy? Ford pinto This car had a less expensive fuel tank design that greatly increased the chance of fire in the car in the event of a rear end collision. Endurance Testing Jet Engine Test Example. Ford knew this existed risk existed what do you do? How did Ford handle it? Was it ethical? Is any risk acceptable? Ethical Examples These are some examples from the CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF ETHICS IN SOCIETY WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY Conflict of Interest Paul is employed at Bluestone Ltd. as a manufacturing engineer. He regularly meets with vendors who offer to supply Bluestone with needed services and parts. Paul discovers that one of the vendors, Duncan Mackey, like Paul, is an avid golfer. They begin comparing notes about their favorite golf courses. Paul says he's always wanted to play at the Cherry Orchard Country Club; but since it is a private club, he's never had the opportunity. Duncan says he's been a member there for several years and that he's sure he can arrange a guest visit for Paul. Should Paul accept the invitation? Discuss. Is this legal, moral, etc? 2
Conflict of Interest T&D has an internal tool and die department. In the past this department has been used primarily to sharpen and repair the tools that are purchased outside. However, now the head of the department has requested management to allow them to offer a price to produce the tooling internally. This request is approved. Next the department head places a call to the Purchasing Department and asks for the prices obtained from the outside vendors before he submits his quote Discussion Is there anything wrong with the department head making this request? How should Purchasing respond? 1. Send the department the outside quotes and allow a week to produce their own price. 2. Refuse the request as being unethical. 3. Tell the department head that he will receive the outside prices after the job is awarded. 4. Other. Part Failure R&M Machinery had for years provided XYZ with sophisticated equipment. XYZ returned a failed piece of equipment. A meeting was held which included Archie Hunter, a representative from XYZ; Norm Nash, R&M's returned goods area representative, and, Walt Winters, an R&M engineer intimately acquainted with the kind of equipment XYZ had returned. Norm Nash represented R&M's "official position": the piece of equipment is all right. However, during the course of the meeting it becomes apparent to Walt Winters that the problem has to be R&M's. He suspects that the equipment was not properly tested out by R&M, and that it failed because of an internal problem. Should Walt say anything about this in the presence of the customer, or should he wait until after the meeting to discuss this with Norm Nash? R&M Options? Admit to the customer that it is R&M fault and replace the part. Keep quite about the fault and tell the customer that the part will be replaced but not disclose the fault. Bill the customer to the repair to the part. Safe but Ethical? Clarke contracted with USAWAY to supply a product subject to the requirement that all parts are made in the United States. One of Clarke's suppliers failed to note that one of the components has two special bolts that are made only in another country. There is not time to design a new bolt if the terms of the contract are to be met. USAWAY is a major customer, and not meeting the deadline can be expected to have unfortunate consequences for Clarke. 3
You realize that the chances of USAWAY discovering the problem on their own is slim as the bolts in question are not visible on the surface of the product. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that those who work on repairs will notice that the bolts are foreign made. In any case, Clarke is under contract to do the repairs. Meanwhile, it can work on a bolt design so that it will be ready with USA bolts when, and if, replacements are needed. Options 1) Keep quiet and allow the product to go out as is. When the new bolts are ready, ship future parts with the proper bolts. 2) Discuss the problem with his superiors. 3) Other. Vacation Dan Dorset had been looking forward to a trip for weeks. Once he was assigned to help Rancott install its equipment for Boulding, Inc., he arranged his vacation at a nearby ski resort. The installation would be completed on the 12th, and his vacation would begin on the 13th--a full week of skiing with three of his old college buddies. Unfortunately, not all of Rancott's equipment arrived on time. Eight of the ten identical units were installed by mid-morning on the 12th. Dan was informed that it might take as long as two more days for the units to arrive. "Terrific," Dan sighed, "there goes my vacation-- and all the money I put down for the condo." "No problem," replied Boulding engineer, Jerry Taft. Jerry had worked side-by-side with Dan as each of the first eight units was installed. "I can handle this for you. We did the first eight together. It's silly for you to have to hang around and blow your vacation. For years Rancott trusted its clients to follow the carefully stated directions for installation. But several recent accidents were directly traceable to failure to follow proper installation procedures. It was now Rancott's policy to send one of its engineers to supervise all installations. Options Dan was confident that Jerry was as fully capable as he to supervise the installation of the remaining two units. What should Dan do? 1. Decline Jerry's offer and stay until the job is complete. 2. Call Rancott's home office and ask if it is alright to let Jerry take care of the last two units. 3. Accept Jerry's offer, and leave for his vacation. 4. Other. 4
Cost/ Quality Control XYZ orders 5000 custom made parts from company ABC. When the order is originally made ABC indicates it will charge $75 per part. This cost is based in part on the cost of materials. After the agreement is completed, but before production of the part begins, an ABC engineer determines that a much less expensive metal alloy that is only slightly inferior can be used. Using the less expensive alloy would cut ABC's costs by $18 a part or $90,000 for the contract. The engineer brings this to the attention of ABC's Bob, who authorized the sales agreement with XYZ. Bob asks, "How would anyone know the difference?" The engineer replies, "Probably no one would unless they were looking for a difference and did a fair amount of testing. In most cases the performance will be virtually the same -- although some parts might not last quite as long." Vernon says, "Great, Christine, you've just made a bundle for ABC. Puzzled, the engineer replies, "But shouldn't you tell XYZ about the change?" "Why?" Vernon asks, "The basic idea is to satisfy the customer with good quality parts, and you've just said we will. So what's the problem? Questions? What is right? 5