Engineering Ethics

Engineering Ethics
Making the Right Choices
October 27, 2015
What Are Ethics?
 The basic concepts and fundamental principles
of decent human conduct.
 It includes study of universal values such as
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The essential equality of all men and women,
Human or natural rights,
Obedience to the law of the land,
Concern for health and safety,
Concern for the natural environment.
 The standards that govern the conduct of a
person, especially a member of a profession
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A Little History
 19th Century
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Engineering: a distinct profession
Independent professionals
Technical employees
 Four professional societies founded
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American
American
American
American
Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE (1851)
Professional
Institute of Mining Engineers, AIME (1871) Technical
Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME (1880) Technical
Institute of Electrical Engineers, AIEE (1884) Professional
 Series of structural failures
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Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster (1876)
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Tay Bridge Disaster (1879)
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Quebec bridge collapse (1907)
Boston molasses disaster (1919)
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Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster
 December 1876
 Bridge collapse
 92 killed
 Bridge designed by railroad president
 Causes
 Improper design
 Inadequate inspection
 Bridge members not fastened
together
 Survivors robbed by those helping
 Designer committed suicide
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Tay Bridge Disaster
 Scotland, 1879
 Violent storm
 Train on bridge when it collapsed
 59 killed
 Causes
 No account for wind loading
 Flaws in design, maintenance,
and quality control
 Engineer died within a year
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Quebec Bridge Collapse
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First collapse: 1907
Inexperienced engineer
Calculations unchecked
Dead load > carry capacity
Noticed distortions
75 killed
Collapsed again: 1916
Killed 13
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Boston Molasses Disaster – Jan 1907
 Molasses storage tank burst – 2.3 million gallons
 25 foot wave at 35 mph
 21 killed, 150 injured
 Poorly constructed and inadequately tested
 Leaked so bad they painted it brown to disguise the leaks
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Challenger Disaster – Jan 28,1986
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Pressure to launch
Extremely cold
Launch Commit Criteria
Morton-Thiokol engineers said No!
Rockwell International said No!
MSFC demanded they prove it was unsafe
Engineers refused to back down
Launch approved over their objections
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The Worst Chart Ever
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Why Didn’t They Do This?
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Response 1: Codes of Ethics
 AIEE (1912), ASCE & ASME (1914)
 AIAA Code of Ethics
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The AIAA member to uphold and advance the honor
and dignity of the aerospace profession and in
keeping with high standards of ethical conduct:
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I. Will be honest and impartial, and will serve with devotion his
employer and the public;
II. Will strive to increase the competence and prestige of the
aerospace profession;
III. Will use his knowledge and skill for the advancement of
human welfare.
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Response 2: Formal Credentials
 National Society of Professional Engineers
 PE License
 Almost all Civil Engineers are licensed
 US practice
 Engineers practicing independently must have
PE License
 Most engineers working in industry do not
 Education
 Government
 Codes of Ethics and Licensure are fine
 Engineers must use sound judgment
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An Engineer’s Responsibilities
 Obligation to society
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Paramount value: safety and welfare of the public
Care and respect for the environment
Cultural and historical heritage
Whistleblowing
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Duty to report
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Possible risk to others
Overrides the duty to client or employer
Conduct
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Relationships with clients, consultants, competitors, and contractors
Ensuring legal compliance by clients, contractors, etc.
Conflict of interest
Kickbacks and bribes
Treatment of confidential or proprietary information
Outside employment (moonlighting)
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Case Studies
 Case Study #1
 Suppression of Data
 Arbitrary decision → ethical dilemma
 Case Study #2
 Machine Failure
 Stupid decision → suspicion and loss of trust
 Case Study #3
 Fabricated Data
 Foolish decision → permanent as a tattoo
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Suppression of Data
 You are hired by Larom Engineering
 Your boss: Homer Simpson
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Wants a decision on Catalyst A or B: 2 days
Catalyst B has promise, but you need more time
 Homer: “No more time, must look decisive”
 You are told to write the recommendation and not mention the
possible advantages of Catalyst B
 What do you do?
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Write and sign the report as instructed
Write the report but don’t sign it
Refuse to write the report, threaten to go around Homer to his boss
Other
 The Suppressed Data Strikes Back
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Machine Failure
 XYZ is an old customer of R&M Machine
 XYZ has returned a failed unit
 Meeting
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Kim Kardashian: XYZ rep
Charlie Sheen: R&M returned goods rep
Johnny Depp: R&M engineer
 Johnny becomes convinced it’s R&M’s problem
 Charlie does not want to admit fault – “lessen XYZ trust in us”
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Agrees to replace unit at no cost to XYZ
 Should Johnny say something with Kim present?
 Should Mr. Depp be concerned?
 Would an admission of fault really be damaging?
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Case Study #2
 Machine Failure
 Should Walt say anything in front of the customer or
should he wait until after the meeting?
 What do you think of R&M’s solution?
 Should Walt Winters be concerned or is this just a
“management problem”?
 Could this be endemic of R&M management?
 Would R&M pay a price for honesty?
 For leaving the customer with unanswered questions?
 If management will compromise its integrity in a
trivial situation, what if the stakes are high?
 What is the problem with the “image” of infallibility
and unwillingness to admit fault?
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Fabricated Data
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Jennifer Aniston, project manager
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Under pressure to complete prototype
Component repeatedly fails
Need to test a new material
Jenn asks Brad Pitt, Material Science Manager, for help
Brad assigns co-op Justin Bieber to perform the test
Justin completes the test, writes report and goes back to State U
A few weeks later, the new component fails
Jenn and Brad study Justin’s data – looks too good to be true
If the data were fabricated, what are the ethical implications?
Brad calls State U Co-op coordinator, Dr. Jack Nicholson
Should Brad talk to Justin before talking to Dr. Jack?
Should Brad refuse to have Justin back?
Who is responsible for preparing Justin to be an engineer?
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Case Study #3
 Fabricated Data
 What ethical issues, if any, does this scenario raise?
 Other possibilities
 Jack may have performed the test correctly but the test
was inadequate for the operating conditions.
 Results may have been in error in some other way.
 Was Jack properly supervised?
 Was it appropriate for Tom to talk to the University coop coordinator before talking to Jack?
 Should he talk to Jack about his concerns?
 Find out what really happened (maybe).
 Impress Jack with the consequences of his poor performance
 Who should discipline Jack?
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FINIS
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