Question

Your first job after completing your undergraduate engineering degree is with the Kitchen Shortcuts Company. Shortcuts manufactures microwave ovens and other time-saving kitchen equipment. You are hired into a low-level engineering position. Your first task is to test a series of microwave ovens to determine their defrosting capabilities. You proceed to your lab where you find a few dozen microwave ovens in their boxes waiting for you to start your testing. You notice that virtually every brand of microwave oven is here, including all of Shortcuts’ competitors’ brands. You unpack all of the microwave ovens and begin your tests. The process is rather slow. So while you are waiting for test items to defrost, you begin to dig through the cabinets in your lab to see what is there. You discover that this used to be the lab where they tested microwave oven doors for radiation permeability (the amount of radiation that could escape through the glass door of microwave ovens). You also find an intriguing little piece of handheld equipment that apparently was used to measure radiation levels. Because you are an engineer, you cannot resist trying it out. You switch on the meter and point it around the room and out the window. You notice that when you point the meter at some of the microwave ovens, it gives a surprisingly high reading. You turn off all the other microwave ovens and discover that the reading is not a fluke. The ovens in front of you are emitting much higher-than –average levels of radiation. You discover that one of the ovens is from Shortcuts and the other is from Home Helpers, Shortcuts’ arch rival. These microwave ovens are currently the two best-selling ovens on the market, primarily because they are the least expensive. It seems that these bargain ovens may not be as safe as they seem. You decide to look around a little more. You find the test report that discusses the radiation emissions from all of Shortcuts’ models of microwaves. You learn that only the top of the line and the mid-level microwaves were thoroughly tested. The bargain oven’s results apparently were extrapolated from the test results from the other ovens.

FIRST: Analyze the facts involved in this case: Which facts are not relevant? Which facts are relevant? Of these, which are known and which are unknown? Of the relevant facts, which are the most important (known or unknown)? Of any unknown relevant facts, which will be the most difficult to obtain? NEXT: Analyze the concepts in this case: Which key concepts are involved in this case that could prove to be relevant ethical issues? Are there any concepts that might lead to disagreements over their definition? If so, how might you go about reaching a consensus on their meaning? LAST: Discuss at least two possibly conflicting obligations you have as an engineer in this case. Can you think of any ways in which you might be able to meet both of these conflicting obligations? Explain how each obligation is met. (Be sure to consider whether there are any other conflicting obligations that these solutions leave unresolved.) Answer the Following Questions (label each question for each response)

Answer 1

QUESTION 1 : Which facts are not relevant ?

Test results of the bargain oven's must be taken from those ovens only as they are not safe compared to others. So the test results estimated using other ovens not seems to be relevant.

QUESTION 2 : Which facts are relevant ?

Hand held equipment, ovens, labs, testing etc everything seems to be relevant.

QUESTION 3 : Of these, which are known and which are unknown ?

Known are Shortcuts, Home Helpers ovens are the best selling ovens in the market because of low cost. Unknown are one of the oven from each of the companies are emitting radiation more than the safety factors.

QUESTION 4 : Of relevant facts, which are the most important(known or unknown) ?

Of the relevant facts, unknown is more important than all others because everything must be known, otherwise company will get loss in money and respect.

QUESTION 5 : Of any unknown relevant facts,which will be the most difficult to obtain ?

Testing is the most difficult to obtain as testing should be done on every oven to find the exact problem. In this case , if there is no handheld equipment, it will be late or noone will find that safety precautions are violated.

QUESTION 6 : Analyze the concepts in this case: Which key concepts are involved in this case that could prove to be relevant ethical issues ?

The key concepts are safety of customer, trust on company, safety of the employees in the company regarding job and health and respect towards the company by the customers and employees etc. Company will face this relevant ethical issues.

QUESTION 7 :  Are there any concepts that might lead to disagreements over their definition ?

As the company is violating the safety precautions that to be maintained for the welfare of the company and for the people, this will be a disagreement over their definition.

QUESTION 8 :  If so, how might you go about reaching a consensus on their meaning ?

I will reach the consensus of the company about the violating of safety precautions. If they are not accepting, I will file a complaint so that customer will be benefit atleast.

QUESTION 9 : Discuss at least two possibly conflicting obligations you have as an engineer in this case. Can you think of any ways in which you might be able to meet both of these conflicting obligations? Explain how each obligation is met.

Conflicting obligations are

1. If the test results obtained through general process gives safety precautions are not violated. But I believe hand held is good. Then general process should agree. But not agreed. Why?

2. Is the equipment used for safety precautions is good? If so , why conflictions ?

I think this conflicting obligations can be solved by one solution. That is by following only one procedure that is standardised by the government authorites and the procedure must be thoroughly checked over a period of time so that efficiency of the equipment is maintained at desire level.