Final Case Study: Ventilators and Covid-19

ENG 1101 Renaissance Engineer 1: Problem Solving, Communication & Ethics

Winter 2021 Final Case Study: Ventilators and COVID-19

Background

This assignment is based on the global challenge around the allocation, design, and manufacture of ventilators to respond to the rapid growth in demand for these lifesaving machines due to COVID-19. It is designed to have you think about ethical issues discussed in class, analyze the different creative problem- solving processes taken by different companies/countries, and provide examples of how different types of communications around these issues impacted outcomes.

Please answer the questions by filling in the attached Answer Sheet and submit it via TurnItIn.

Part 1. Analyzing company responses to the demand for ventilators

Manufacturing ventilators

In the course we learned about the different stages of the creative problem-solving process, and the importance of defining the right problem. Based on what you learned in class - choose four different manufacturing companies from the links below (or add others using other online sources) that have been directly involved in the production of ventilators in response to the rapid rise in demand due to COVID- 19. To develop your answers, choose four companies that adopted fundamentally different solutions and/or approaches (cite the actual references you use).

References

• Eight US Manufacturers Selected to Make NASA COVID-19 Ventilator Asa.gov/press-release/eight-us-manufacturers-selected-to-make-nasa-covid-19-ventilator

• How GM and Ford switched out pickup trucks for breathing machines. https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/15/21222219/general-motors-ventec-ventilators-ford-tesla-coronavirus-covid-19

• How Old-School Manufacturers Learned To Make Ventilators — Virtually Overnight https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyfeldman/2020/04/08/how-old-school-manufacturers-learned-to-make-ventilators--- virtually-overnight/#21e883195063

• Tesla is using car parts to make ventilators https://www.massdevice.com/tesla-is-using-car-parts-to-make-ventilators/

• Canadian suppliers team up to help produce 10,000 ventilators for Ontario https://canada.autonews.com/coronavirus/canadian-suppliers-team-help-produce-10000-ventilators-ontario

• James Dyson designed a new ventilator in 10 days. He's making 15,000 for pandemic fight https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/tech/dyson-ventilators-coronavirus/index.html

• AdultLife Pro Ventilator https://www.neonatalrescue.org/adultlife-ventilator

• Eight Lessons Learned Designing a COVID-19 Response Ventilator https://www.engineeringforchange.org/news/eight-lessons-learned-designing-covid-19-response-ventilator/

Questions

1.1. Consider the “Simplexity” creative problem-solving process introduced in class. For each company (of the four you selected), what actions did they take that aligns with the phases of [1] problem finding, [2] fact finding, [3] problem definition? (4 x 2 = 8 marks)

1.2. For each company (of the four you selected), what are the characteristics of the solution

they developed. (4 x 2 = 8 marks)

1.3. What assumptions do you think led to each company's creative problem-solving process (4x2 = 8 marks) and solution developed (4 x2 = 8 marks)?

1.4. In your opinion, looking at each company in turn, was the outcome successful? In your

answer, you should also explain why you think they were successful/not successful (4 x 2 = 8 marks).

Total Marks 32 Communicating their response

In the course, we discussed the importance of communications in building relationships, providing information and stimulating a response. Based on what you learned in class, answer the following questions using data you can gather online about any two of the following companies (each responded differently to the need for ventilators): Dyson, G-Tech, Medtronic, and Tesla. References to the different communication strategies adopted by each company are provided below (you will likely need to find additional sources to answer the questions, in all cases. citing the actual references used).

References

• Dyson and Gtech answer UK call for ventilator design and production to support COVID-19 response https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/26/dyson-and-gtech-answer-uk-call-for-ventilator-design-and-production-to- support-covid-19-response/

• Medtronic is sharing its portable ventilator design specifications and code for free to all https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/30/medtronic-is-sharing-its-portable-ventilator-design-specifications-and-code-for- free-to-all/

• Elon Musk says he sent ventilators to California hospitals, they say they got something else instead https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/17/tech/elon-musk-ventilators-california/index.html

More Questions

1.5. For two of the four companies identified, how well did their communications help achieve their desired outcome? Identify things they have done well and areas they might have improved (in terms of using communications) to achieve their objectives (4 x 2 = 8 marks).

1.6. For the two chosen companies, identify two examples of how each used rhetoric to

communicate their ventilator project to their main stakeholders (employees and/or shareholders). For each company, be specific (where possible using exact quotes) to demonstrate ethos, logos, and pathos). Cite the source of each quotation (which can include transcriptions of video content) (2 x 2 = 4 marks). Explain how each

communication (in one – two sentences) demonstrates ethos, logos, or pathos (2 x 2 = 4 marks) and share any evidence of the impact of the communication (2 x 2 = 4 marks).

1.7. In class, we discussed the impact of company culture (cost cutting) in the Lac-Megantic Rail Disaster, and profit/future business at Morton-Thiokol in the Challenger Disaster, on the engineering and management decisions of companies. For any of the companies mentioned (or others you identify who produced ventilators), explain how the company culture, role of management and communication approach chosen, influenced the project outcome (3 marks).

Total marks 23

Part 2. Using technology for good

Imagine yourself as an engineering lead at hypothetical Company XYZ in Canada. You are aware of the reports indicating a shortage of ventilators to respond to patients with Covid is critical. You see this as an opportunity to apply your engineering skills and work with your company to have a positive impact in society. The following three scenarios present situations at different stages of the process of addressing the ventilator shortage. Please provide answers to each question, based on the knowledge and skills you have learned in ENG 1101.

Scenario 1 - Problem finding

Before leaping into designing a new ventilator from scratch, you want to try and find the root cause of the problem in order to help you focus on how your company might have maximum possible impact. Your problem statement is “How Might We Make More Ventilators Available to Covid patients”. Please feel free to access information online about how different approaches have evolved to identify your root cause and suggest your approach (in each case cite your source).

Questions

2.1 Use a fishbone chart to identify up to four (4) root causes of the problem. (2 x 4 = 8 marks)

2.2 Identify one of these root cause that you think your company should address. Explain why you chose this root cause in approximately 2 sentences (you can link it to factors in your company – based on assumptions you make about your company) (4 marks)

2.3 Define what a successful outcome will look like, in addressing the problem (2 marks) and for your company (2 marks).

Total marks 16

Scenario 2 – Providing your solution to users, an ethical dilemma

Suppose that the strategy your company has chosen is to use an existing open-source design to manufacture complete ventilators (cost $1000 each, maximum capacity 500 per month). You have the choice of supplying a local hospital (at cost), the federal government (at 50% profit) or a private hospital in the US (at 100% profit). Your management team is asking you to help them make a choice between these potential customers, as you can only choose one. They have suggested that as a professional engineer, you make the most ethical decision.

Items you may want to consider in making your recommendations:

a) Supplying the local hospital means that ventilators will go to the local community, where your employees and their family live, providing them increased access to ventilators if they get sick, however, it has a negative financial impact, reducing the profitability and viability of your company in the longer term.

b) Supplying the government means that the devices will be available to the broader community and repays some of government support previously received. However, it is not a profit maximization strategy.

c) Supplying the US hospital takes the devices away from your workforce and community, but maximizes the financial return to the company, enhancing its viability. In the long run, a viable company will be in a better position to offer jobs and provide financial returns to shareholders.

More Questions

The following three questions is based on the EGAD approach to ethical decision making. If you are making assumptions beyond what is stated in the question, please state your assumptions.

2.4 Please identify the different ethical dilemmas / challenges you face in choosing between these three options (3 marks)

2.5 Use a normative ethics framework of your choice to assess the ethics of each of the three

options (3 x 3 = 9 marks) 2.6 Based on your assessment above, what is the recommendation you would make to

management? (3 marks) 2.7 Based on this decision and your decision process, how would you communicate your

decision to (a) your workforce, (b) your shareholders, and (c) the local community. You may consider preparing different communications strategy or develop one communication strategy for all three. You may find it helpful to make your case using the format of an engineering argument used in class. (3 x 3 = 9 marks).

Total 24 marks