Ethics Code

IE4350 Spring 2020

Assignment for Incident at Morales

Unfortunately, we cannot discuss in class during the viewing, but we will set up a discussion room after you have a chance to view the materials and watch the video. After viewing, please the complete written assignment in response to the instructions below. (Suggested length: 2 to 3 pages). (An alternative viewing is available via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLPzr7vKOs )

Due date: Upload to Canvas by 8:00am Thursday, March 26th.

1. List in priority order (from most critical to least critical) the ethical issues you observed in Incident at Morales. Specify which part(s) of the Code of Ethics for Engineers was violated.
2. Discuss the video from three additional perspectives:
3. a) Fred’s Perspective: Assume you are Fred:
4. i) What specific ethical issues do you (Fred) face?
5. ii) What are some things that you should consider?

iii)  From whom or where would you seek guidance?

1. b) Wally’s Perspective: Assume you are Wally:
2. i) What specific ethical issues does Wally face?
3. ii) What do you think Wally’s motivation was for having “One Rule”?

iii)  What do you think about Wally’s “One Rule”?

1. iv) What decisions would you change if you were Wally?
2. c) Responsibility Perspective: If you were in charge and had the authority and the funding to make any changes you wanted to make in company policies:
3. i) What specific steps would you take to improve the company culture?
4. ii) Who would you involve in this process?

iii)   How and when would you communicate the company policies to:

(a)  Your employees?

(b)  Your clients?

(c)  The public?

3. Discuss how this video has helped you develop an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and to make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

Please stay safe during this difficult time. We will get through it together!

We are IE’s and We are UTA Mavericks!!!

To Assist in Responding to the Assignment, the Synopsis and Cast of Characters are Repeated Here

Synopsis:

Phaust Chemical manufactures “Old Stripper,” a paint remover that dominates the market.  On learning that Phaust’s competitor, Chemitoil, plans to introduce a new paint remover that may capture the market, executives at Phaust decide to develop a competing product.

To save money in manufacturing the product, Phaust decides to construct a new chemical plant in Mexico and hires chemical engineer Fred Martinez, a former design engineer for the consulting company Chemitoil, to design the plant.

Problems arise when Chemistré, Phaust’s parent company in France, slashes budgets 20% across the board.  In response, Chuck, the vice president of engineering at Phaust, strongly encourages Fred to reduce construction costs.

Fred confronts several engineering decisions in which ethical considerations play a major role: a) whether to use expensive controls manufactured by Lutz and Lutz, which has an inside connection at Phaust, b) whether to line the evaporation ponds in order to prevent the seepage of hazardous substances in the effluents into the groundwater, and c) whether to purchase pipes and connectors made with stainless steel or high pressure alloy.

When samples of Chemitoil’s new paint remover, “EasyStrip,” become available, it is clear that to be competitive with “EasyStrip,” Phaust must change the formulation of its new paint remover, which requires higher temperatures and pressures than originally anticipated.  Some unexpected problems arise: a) leakage occurs in one of the connections, and b) the automatic control system fails; therefore, the plant manager offers to control the process manually. After the plant goes into full operation, an unfortunate accident occurs, resulting in serious consequences.

Cast of Characters

Fred: ….. Chemical Engineer hired by Phaust

Wally: …. Fred’s supervisor at Phaust

Chuck: .. Vice President of Engineering at Phaust

Dominique:    Corporate liaison to Phaust from parent company Chemistré

Maria: … Fred’s wife, a compliance litigator for the U.S. EPA

Hal: …….. Market Analyst at Phaust

Jen:……… Research Chemist at Phaust

Peter: ….. Project Manager of construction of the new plant in Morales

Jake: …… Plant Manager for the SuisseChem plant in Big Spring, Texas

Manuel: . Plant Manager for the new Phaust plant in Morales

Answer preview…………..

apa 1302 words