ASUMEE

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

WHY ARE LAW & ETHICS A SPECIAL PROBLEM FOR ENGINEERS?

Slide 692

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

“ The products of your mind are the most precious things you own. You must protect them, and must not do wrong with them, you must do the right thing. You must always have in mind that the products of your mind can be used by other people for good or for evil, and that you have a responsibility that they be used for good. You cannot avoid this responsibility….”

Michael K. Boelter

Dean of Engineering

UCLA

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Why are Ethics Especially Required for Engineers?

• Engineering is a Profession

• Engineering is usually done in large teams

• Engineering is becoming Globalized

• Time Pressure is usually significant

• Technical Risk is inherent in Engineering

• Product Integrity is a must!

• While the Business Judgment Rule protects employees against being directly liable for many engineering decisions, your work can cause injury or death!

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Recall: The Need for MAE 400….

“ Most graduating engineering students are extremely smart and amazingly computer literate – yet they have almost zero ability to be an engineer. The issue is a People Problem! They all lack;

- Communication Skills

- Business orientation

- An Understanding of the Culture and the System”

John MacMasters

Boeing Technical Fellow

This year we will do a new Ethics Video showing what happened to the “Culture and the System” at Boeing

Slide 695

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Applied Ethics Case of the Month Club

National Institute for Engineering Ethics

Guidelines for Facilitating Solutions to Ethical Dilemmas in Professional Practice

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation - obtain all of the unbiased facts possible

Step 2: Define the Stakeholders - those with a vested interest in the outcome

Step 3: Assess the motivations of the Stakeholders - using effective communication techniques and personality assessment

Step 4: Formulate alternative solutions - based on most complete information available, using basic ethical core values as guide

Step 5: Evaluate proposed alternatives - short-list ethical solutions only; may be a potential choice between/among two or more totally ethical solutions

Step 6: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate - engineering codes of ethics, previous cases, peers, reliance on personal experience, prayer

Step 7: Select the best course of action - that which satisfies the highest core ethical values

Step 8: Implement the selected solution - take action as warranted

Step 9: Monitor and assess the outcome - note how to improve the next time

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

WATCH TEN STEPS VIDEO

Slide 697

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Boeing 737-MAX CRASH / GROUNDING

Slide 698

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Were the Engineers Negligent? Or did the problem lie in Management?

• On-going investigations indicate the relationship between the regulated and the regulator processes are key contributing factors to the accident.

– The FAA uses DER consultants to “sign-off” on critical certification elements

– Boeing pays these DERs as full-time contractors

• Management desires “minimal change” upgrade from the existing design

– On a “derivative” design, re-used parts that have passed “certification” are presumed to be safe

– Only “changed parts” need to be recertified – Boeing sold the 737 MAX program as a minimum

change upgrade (new engines / new winglets) to the airlines – with no need to retrain pilots

• MCAS Software “Fix” for Aerodynamic Stability Issues escaped regulatory scrutiny during initial certification process

– The Elevator active control system was certified, but was the safety implication of the new software was not carefully considered. Slide 699

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Fourth Writing Assignment - Ethics Paper

• This assignment based upon viewing of the video: “Ten Steps” – WatchVideo

– Pick ONE ethical problem that arises in the film

– Expand and discuss the problem, and possible solutions using the previously discussed Nine step process

– Keep Essay Around 1,000 words Long

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Remember when writing….

• Please continue to use the style guide – Exec summary

– Margins / Headings

– References in APA format (think about the script!)

• Please refer back to the slides on Argument & Expression – Once you get to Steps 4,5 and 7, use “since” “like” and

“because” to connect facts to rules.

– These steps demand “IRAC” thinking

Slide 701

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022

Example Ethics Paper

Slide 702

MAE 400 – SPRING 2022