Transcript Back to Basics - The basic quality tools and their Applications to

Chapter 3
Introduction to Engineering
Ethics
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering
College of Engineering - University of Hail
2010
Ethics and ethical reasoning is
vitally important in engineering.
It can be
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
Consider a worst case scenario
The Challenger
Disaster
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
ABET
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology
 responsible for accrediting undergraduate
engineering degrees in the U.S.
 Mandates ethics to be incorporated into
education to educate future engineers in
ethical practice
What is Engineering Ethics?
Ethics is:
 the study of the characteristics of morals
 The moral choices made by people in their
relationships with others.
Engineering Ethics:
 The philosophy indicating ways that
engineers should conduct themselves in
their professional capacity
Why Study Engineering Ethics?
The widely publicized cases that have
occurred in recent years has drawn attention
to the need for more education in ethical
behavior
Moral Autonomy
 the ability to think critically and
independently about moral issues
 Apply this moral thinking to situations that
arise in professional engineering practice
Moral autonomy is at the heart of engineering
ethics.
The Challenger
Lift-off on January 28, 1986.
The Space Shuttle, Challenger’s exploded 73 seconds after
launching. The explosion resulted in the deaths of all seven crew
members.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
The Challenger crash involved an
exceptionally disastrous neglect of
engineering ethics
Thankfully, most ethical problems you’ll encounter
will be less catastrophic than the Challenger
disaster.
But, though less catastrophic, ethical problems will
arise frequently in your careers as engineers and
they will have profound influence on your success.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
First, we need to understand that
ethical reasoning uses different
methods from mathematics and
the sciences.
Every ethical problem involves a
conflict of goals and Interests.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
Basic goals that often come into conflict
for engineers:
A goal to maintain professional competence.
A goal to be loyal to interests of employers and clients.
A goal to be honest to employers, customers and the public.
A goal to be non-discriminatory to co-workers and
clients regarding their race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity,
age or disability.
A goal to use your skills and knowledge for the
enhancement of human welfare and the environment.
So let’s consider a case.
To pay for your education. You need to find summer work.
You find a highpaying job as a
forklift operator.
It helps you to
avoid taking out
student loans.
You find yourself
staring at a 50-gallon
drum filled with used
machine coolant,
wondering what to do.
Your supervisor, at the
company, tells you to
“Dump half of the coolant
down the drain. Then
dilute the rest with tap
water and pour it out.”
You know the coolant is
toxic; It may kill people
or cause cancer.
What do you do?
You could say to
yourself. “I’ll go
along with this jerk
for now. I’m out of
here in a month
anyway, then I’m
back to UoH.”
Or maybe you think to
yourself: “Max is just the sort
of people who’s wrecking the
environment. I’m out of here
NOW. AND, I’m going to think
about reporting the company
to the Environmental
Protection Agency.”
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
This is how we meet most ethical
problems, as a choice between two
disagreeable alternatives. In this
case, obeying the supervisor or
quitting. They are “dilemmas” in
the strict sense of the word.
‘Dilemma’: a choice between two
equally unfavorable or disagreeable
alternatives.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
Although sometimes we are up against a wall facing
a choice between two undesirable alternatives and
must choose one of them, we usually can find a
better solution.
Finding the better solution requires we become
skilled in ethical problem-solving. This skill
consists in arriving at a third alternative that
answers both sides of the dilemma and resolves
the conflict.
In ethical problem solving, we consider paradigm
cases that would ideally satisfy either side of the
goals that bear upon the case.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
So let’s apply it to your Case.
What would a paradigm case of disposing of toxic coolants
consist in?
The removal of toxic substances from the used coolant.
The highest toxicities come from the heavy metals copper,
lead and zinc.
A less toxic substance in engine coolant is ethylene glycol.
It is treatable at wastewater treatment plants.
So, the ‘heavy metal captured’ coolant must be disposed of
in sewers that connect to wastewater treatment plants and
never into surface or storm water collection systems.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
You think more about the first feature of the
paradigmatic disposal of coolants.
The first feature: “The disposal of engine coolants requires the removal of the
heavy metals copper, lead and zinc from the used coolant.”
What if the removal the copper, lead and zinc would result in recyclable coolant?
You look more in the recycling of engine coolant. You locate a firm, Dawn
Recycling Systems Inc., that sells a coolant recycling system.
The Recycling system captures the heavy metal contaminants, copper, zinc and
lead, and leaves non-toxic the treated coolant that can be stored in tramp oils.
The Dawn Recycling Systems manager demonstrates that the system will pay for
itself within six to nine months through the sale of recycled ‘tramp oils’, that is,
through detoxified engine coolant.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
So by considering the paradigm of safe coolant
disposal, you’ve opened up a way to resolve the
conflicting goals (and probably help your own
career). Here is a possible course of action:
You inform the supervisor that you’ve found a way to detoxify the 50
gallon drums and to also make money for Natural Disposal Inc.
You tell him to accompany you to discuss the matter with his company
management.
There, you explain to management how the company can
avoid likely lawsuits coming from toxic dumping,
make money on the recycled coolant in the long-run,
and do the ecologically right thing.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
When facing any engineering ethical
problem, always review the fundamental
principles in the Code of Ethics of
International Professional Societies:
 The American Society of Civil Engineers;
The American Society of Mechanical
Engineers. ;
 National Society of Professional Engineers
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
In general, your goals as
engineers are spelled out in
engineering professional
codes.
For example:The National Society of
Professional Engineers (NSPE)
Code of Ethics
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
Engineering Ethical Code declares:
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity,
honor and dignity of the engineering profession
by:
1. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of
human welfare and the environment;
2. being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the
public, their employers and clients;
3. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the
engineering profession; and
4. supporting the professional and technical societies of their
disciplines.
The code spells out your general professional
goals. But, it can’t tell you what to do in any
particular case, such as the problem with the
forklift part-time job case.
The code, in fact, underlines the conflict
you’re trying to resolve.
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
Thank you
Any Questions ?
PREP004 – Introduction to Applied Engineering , College of Engineering, UoH
23