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An Introduction to Mechanical Engineering, 3rd Edition Wickert & Lewis Chapter 3: Technical ProblemSolving © 2013 Cengage Learning Engineering. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 3 Lesson Objectives • Be able to explain engineering ethics. • Explain the meaning of engineering codes. • Consider the Challenger Disaster as an example of engineering ethics. • Demonstrate proper engineering communication. Introduction to Engineering Ethics Why Learn Engineering Ethics? BS in Mechanical Engineering Technical Education Workplace Dilemmas 5 Technical Choices Ethics & Morality Preparation Personal Conflicts Define Ethics, Engineering Ethics, & Morality Morals: Right vs. Wrong / Good vs. Bad Ethics: Activity of understanding moral values o Resolution of moral issues Engineering Ethics: Incorporating moral values considering all issues involved o Frequently no easy answer 6 An Engineer’s Responsibilities Family, Upbringing, Personal Values & Ethics Firm: Engineers, Managers, Colleagues Industry, Other Firms Global Environment, Society, & Nature Engineering Profession Law, Government, Public Agencies Clients or Consumers 7 We Each Bring Something Different to the Table Objectivity People Skills History Emotion Culture Background Upbringing Expertise Experience Problem Solving Skills 8 Consider One Example: The Hanford Green Run o Late 1940’s – Hanford Site Center of Plutonium Production o Iodine 131 – Byproduct of Plutonium Production o Air Force needed to test viability of new radiation monitoring system o Dec 2nd & 3rd 1949 “The Green Run” o Not disclosed until 1986 From a George Washington University Analysis (http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/radiation/dir/mstreet/commeet/meet8/brief8/tab_ h/br8h7.txt) … In the Green Run, the value of national security seems to have trumped other ethical concerns. In addition, if today's environmental regulations were in place in 1949 they could have been circumvented by the executive branch. We can ask whether the Green Run should have happened, but perhaps more importantly, we should ask whether current regulations provide sufficient protection against analogous cases in the future 9 Professional Codes of Ethics 10 What Defines a Professional? • Advanced Expertise – skills and knowledge • Formal Education – not just practical training and/or apprenticeship • Self-Regulation – setting standards, drafting codes of ethics, enforcing these • Representing Profession before the public and government • Public Good – occupation serves some aspect of public good. Consider how this defines Mechanical Engineering 11 National Society of Professional Engineers Engineers' Creed As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare. I pledge: • To give the utmost of performance; • To participate in none but honest enterprise; • To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of professional conduct; • To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations. In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge. Adopted by National Society of Professional Engineers, June 1954 12 Source: http://www.nspe.org/Ethics/CodeofEthics/Creed/creed.html Risk & Liability in Engineering Source: www.readin.com On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the Twin Towers by flying two hijacked 727’s into them. Each jet impacted approximately 2/3 of the way up. The resulting fire, fueled by high-octane aviation gas, isolated more than 2000 workers in the floors above the impact. Only 18 of these workers made it to safety, while in contrast almost all of the workers in the floors below escaped. In the hour following the crashes, the intense heat (above 1000F) caused the steel floor beams in each tower to sag. The floor structures broke away from the external vertical load-bearing beams. As the floors fell, they created loads the lower floors could not support. As a result, the towers collapsed. Question 1 How could this structural failure happened? Question 2 Why did building codes not better protect the public? Question 3 How can we prevent such a disaster in the future? What about acceptable risk and our approach to that risk as engineers? The Engineer’s Approach to Risk To assess a risk – an engineer must first identify it To identify a risk – an engineer must first understand the risk What constitutes a risk to an engineer? Communicating Risk – an Engineer’s Responsibility Be clear – risk probability of harm Be careful saying there is no such thing as zero risk – not easily understood Be aware public does not always trust experts – acknowledge limitations Government has obligation to protect public. It is not always about cost-benefit approach Be objective and listen to all sides Consider the Space Shuttle Challenger "The future is not free: the story of all human progress is one of a struggle against all odds. We learned again that this America, which Abraham Lincoln called the last, best hope of man on Earth, was built on heroism and noble sacrifice. It was built by men and women like our seven star voyagers, who answered a call beyond duty, who gave more than was expected or required and who gave it little thought of worldly reward." - President Ronald Reagan January 31, 1986 CNN Video 18 Communication! Wide variety of audiences Multiple levels Engineering is social Effective Communication Written Communication • Format • Audience • Spell check, grammar check, cultural check, flow check • Professionalism! Oral Communication • • • • • Professionalism Presence Preparation Technical Content and Clarity Practice!