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.

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)

FIRST: Analyze the facts involved in this case:

1. Which facts are not relevant?
2. Which facts are relevant? Of these, which are known and which are unknown?
3. Of the relevant facts, which are the most important (known or unknown)?
4. Of any unknown relevant facts, which will be the most difficult to obtain?

NEXT: Analyze the concepts in this case:

1. Which key concepts are involved in this case that could prove to be relevant ethical issues?
2. Are there any concepts that might lead to disagreements over their definition?
3. If so, how might you go about reaching a consensus on their meaning?

LAST: Discuss at least two possibly conflicting obligations you would have as an engineer in this case. Can you think of any ways in which you might be able to meet both of them?

Answer 1

FIRST-analyze the facts involved in this case

Which facts are not relevant?

• the process is rather slow
• to unpack all microwave oven and begin your test.
• the testing lab used for radiation permeability.

which facts are relevant? out of these which is known and which is unknown?

KNOWN relevant facts

• first task-test series of the microwave oven to determine defrosting capability.
• shortcut manufacture microwave oven and other time-saving kitchen equipment.
• oven emit higher than average level of radiation.
• a little piece of handling equipment apparently used to measure the radiation level.

UNKNOWN relevant facts

• about the temperature at which we can test the oven.
• the proper guidance needed before starting testing.

of the relevant facts what are most important( known or unknown)

most important-

• guide book before testing. (unknown)
• the temperature on which we test oven.
• the task is to determine the defrosting capability of the microwave oven. (known)
• a little piece of handling equipment apparently used to measure radiation level(known)

for any unknown relevant facts, which will be the most difficult to obtain.

• both unknown easily obtain.

NEXT- analyze the concept of this case.

for testing competitor's brand oven also present Thich can create an ethical issue as you cant test some other brand oven without owner permission. also searching inside the lab can lead to ethical issue

NO, not any concept that leads to disagreement over their definition.

LAST- discuss at least two possible conflicting obligations

• digging through the cabinet in the lab to see what is there.
• roaming in a lab and finding facts about bargain oven.

if the CCTV footage check-in the lab we are possible will meet both the conflict. as both conflicts arise due to privacy concern and leaking confidential information from lab