Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ethics in Engineering
Ethics in Engineering
(CH-161)
Engineers . . .
→Build products such as cell phones, home appliances, valves, bridges, & cars. In general they
advance society by building new technology.
→Develop processes, such as the process to convert salt water into fresh water or the process
to recycle bottles. These processes change how we live and what we can accomplish.
P ro d u c t s a n d p ro c e s s e s h a v e c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r s o c i e t y :
If the bridge has an inadequate support, it will fail.
If the gas tank is positioned too close to the bumper, it might
explode from a small accident.
If the process for refining gas produces too much toxins, it harms
the local community.
Coming to
Parking in A Class
space with C
sticker while Illegal & Legal &
taking Ethical Ethical
roommate
to emergency
room
Illegal & Legal &
Unethical Unethical
Cheating on
Selling an outdated
an Exam.
textbook to an
unaware student
6
Engineering Ethics
Engineering
is based on Think effectively about
“Preventative Think ahead and anticipate consequences and decide
possible consequences of what is the ‘ethically’
Ethics” which
professional actions correct manner to handle
is based on
the situation
two
dimensions:
Preventive ethics consists of guidelines for preventing harm to the public. Preventive ethics is stated in rules and is
considered mandatory for all members of a profession
7
Ethics in an Engineering Course????
Hold paramount (vital) the safety, health and welfare of the public in the
performance of their professional duties
Perform services only in areas of their competence
Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner
Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees
Avoid deceptive acts in the solicitation of professional employment
11
Important Notes about the Code of Ethics
• Software piracy
• Copying of homework or tests
• “Borrowing” office supplies from employer
• Copying of Videos or CD’s
• Plagiarism
• Expense account padding (Adding unnecessary material or
expenses for the purpose of increasing the cost claim )
• Personal use of the copy machine at work
13
Ethical Issues are Seldom Black and White
Loyalty to
Conflicting company and
Demands colleagues
Ethical standards
are usually Personal gain, Concern for
relative and ambition public welfare
personal, there is
seldom an
absolute standard
Consider the history of industrial accidents, like !! 14
Boeing 777
• Support system was changed in the shop drawings by the steel fabricator
• Engineer failed to review the shop drawings and therefore did not discover the change
• The change doubled the load on the supports
• 32 ton walkways collapsed
• 114 deaths, 200 injuries
• Engineers prosecuted
Design Construction
18
Ask yourself (When Making Decisions)
Is it safe?
Is it legal?
Does this choice lead to the greatest good for the greatest number?
19
Final Thoughts
• Read carefully the code of ethics of your profession, better yet, memorize it!
• Never disclose information given to you in confidence, unless it violates ethical codes
• Assume responsibilities of your mistakes
• Never accept gifts that compromise your ability to perform with freedom
• Start applying (no plagiarism, no software pirating, no abuse of office resources,…)
Try it yourself
You are supervising a product with specifications that only U.S.-made parts may be
used.
Late in the project you discover a sub-contractor has supplied a part with foreign-made
bolts.
They aren’t very noticeable and would function identically to U.S.-made bolts.
&
A. The public will trust engineers more if they know engineers have a code
of ethics.
D. It raises the image of the profession and hence gets engineers more pay.
Clicker Question
24
Should you:
A. Say nothing and deliver the product with the foreign bolts because the
customer won’t notice.
C. Tell the customer about the problem, and let them decide what you
should do next.
C (tell the customer): because it lets the customer decide what is in their best interest given new information.
This may be tough, because your job may be on the line and your company’s reputation
may be at stake.