GE 1301 Professional Ethics & Human Values

UNIT III
ENGINEERING AS SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION:
The design processing is important component of engineering technology for get
dynamic output with several experimental procedures is called experimentation.

Learn from past experience:

Engineer should learn not only from their own result, but also from other
experience.
Due to the following reasons, repeated mistake are in engineering field
1. not asking information
2. fear of litigations
3. lack of time
4. lack of trust
5. egoism
6. negligence of duty

ENGINEERING EXPERIMENTS VS STANDARD EXPERIMENTS:

Similarities to Standard experiments

1. Engineering project, like the Standard experiments are carried out in partial
uncertainties include
 design calculation
 exact properties of raw materials used
 material processing and fabrication
 nature of final product
2. The final outcomes of engineering project are also generally uncertain like other
experiments.
3. Require thorough knowledge.

Contrast with standard experiments:

1. Experimental control
2. Informed consent
 Knowledge
 Voluntaries
3. Conclusive remarks.(Knowledge gained)

Prepared by Mr. M. Arul Prasanna, 1 Dept of EEE/PSNA CET

 GE 1301 Professional Ethics & Human Values

ENGINEERING AS RESPONSIBLE EXPERIMENTER:

When introducing the new product to the public, every engineering product must
undergo various experiments, not only in the laboratory but also from the point safety to
the public.

Feature of responsible experimenter:

 Conscientiousness
 Relevant information
 Moral autonomy
 Accountability

CODE OF ETHICS:

 It is a trade mark of modern profession.

 It is propagated by various professional societies
 These codes of conduct are guidelines for specific groups of professional to
perform their roles.
 To know how to conduct themselves
 To know how to resolve various ethical issues.

Positive role of codes of ethics:

1. Inspiration
2. Guidance
3. Support
4. Deterrence and discipline
5. Education and mutual understanding
6. Contributing to the profession public image
7. Protecting the status
8. promoting business interest

Reputed engineering society codes:

1. ASME-American society of mechanical engineering

2. ASCE- American society of civil engineering
3. IEEE- Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
4. NSPE-National society of professional engineers
5. AICh.E-American Institute of Chemical Engineering

Prepared by Mr. M. Arul Prasanna, 2 Dept of EEE/PSNA CET

 GE 1301 Professional Ethics & Human Values

Limitation of Codes:

1. It cannot applicable to all situation directly

2. Engineering code often have internal conflicts
3. They cannot treat as a final moral authority for any professional conduct.
4. Only a few practicing engineers are the member of professional societies and so
they cannot be compelled to abide by their codes.
5. Many engineers who are member of professional engineer society are not aware
of existence of codes of their societies and they never go through it.
6. Codes can be reproduced in a very rapid manner
7. Codes are implemented by force.

BALANCED OUTLOOK LAW:

The role of engineering as social experimentation and its interaction rules with
engineering process the role of formal rules and their ethical implications are to be
studied.

Regulated society:

1. To work live with harmony in society there must be balance of individual needs
and collective needs.
2. Ethical conduct provides this balance.
3. Engineers should play an active role in engineering and enforcing them.
4. It is an argument that the engineers concern with ethics on the job is limited to
similar activities and following rules of conduct.

 Babylon’s Building code

 United States steamboats code.
Industrial Standards:

 Industrial are more specific towards standards.

 Standard are framed by companies for their internal use and by professional
association and trade association for industry wide use.
Standard facilitate:
1. Interchangeability
2. Accuracy in measurements
3. Ease of handling
4. Prevention of harms
5. Reduced production costs
6. Quality products.

Prepared by Mr. M. Arul Prasanna, 3 Dept of EEE/PSNA CET

 GE 1301 Professional Ethics & Human Values

TYPES OF STANDARDS:
The various types of standards are

Sl.No Criteria Purpose Examples

1. Uniformly of physical Measurement accuracy, Screw thread dimensions,
properties and easy hand lines, standard weights. Ect.
functions interchangeability
2. Safety and reliability Preventing accident, loss of Boiler code,
income property Environmental act.
3. Quality of product Fair price value Lamp life, Battery grades
4. Use of accepted Sound design, easy Test procedure, Drawing
producers communications symbols
5. Separability Avoid interference Radio frequency, Guard
bands

Advantages:
1. Standards help the manufacturers, the clients, and the public.
2. Standard maintain a steady and balanced competition among industries by
reducing do9wn demands for certain popular name brands.
3. Standards ensure a measure of quality and hence facilitate more realistic trade off
decisions.
Disadvantages:
1. Standards are not specific it create confusion.
2. Excessive operation and procedure may reduce the initiative and interest of
workers.
3. Some times manufacturers, trade unions, exporters and importers impose
unnecessarily changes in the provisions on standards for achieving their self
centered goals.

PROBLEM WITH LAW IN ENGINEERING:

1. This creates problem and whenever crisis occurs, special interest is threatened.
2. More emphasis on law can cause problems in regard to ethical conduct which
differs from the practical issues.
3. on other hand readymade situation updated by laws and regulations may be
counter productive.
4. The law will lags behind the technology and their will be over burdening the rules
and regulations.
5. Many laws are not enforceable. Such laws are window dressing or false caring.
PROPER ROLES OF LAW IN ENGINEERING:

1. The laws can authoritatively establish reasonable minimal standards of

professional conduct.
2. The law can provide a self interested motive for most of the people and
corporations to comply.
3. The laws act as a protector of ethical engineers.
Prepared by Mr. M. Arul Prasanna, 4 Dept of EEE/PSNA CET