Ford's was a Board policy decision--I don't think it had anything to do with engineering ethics.
Actually, there were engineers on the board that made the decision and certainly many more involved with the testing and analysis that discovered the problem and they had to be aware of the decision not to make the improvement. All of them shared an ethical obligation to protect the safety of the public above their obligation to their employer.
It's a pretty standard case study for engineering ethics classes as an example where the line between right and wrong is pretty clear.
It's a pretty standard case study for engineering ethics classes as an example where the line between right and wrong is pretty clear.
As a former SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) member and it's sibling STS (Service Technician's Society) Board of Governors member, I have come across some rather interesting and lengthy documents regarding some of this before in SAE. Seems they were tucked away in a corner somehow, and next time when I went to look for them, they were no longer accessible.
When I was looking for a new car I looked at these...my 14yrs old daughter said "NO! I will NOT be seen getting out of a toaster on wheels!"
I drive one of these "toasters on wheels." I love it. Best car I ever owned. Cheap to buy, gets 30 mpg, and it's a toyota, so it will run forever. Go buy a toaster - they're great!
i cant believe youve seen that car! i know the girl who drives it she used to go to teh church i went to before i moved
how weird is that?
Small world, huh? I was walking with my friend, and we saw it just driving round and round ... I was lucky enough to fumble my camera out to get the pics I did. :)
i cant believe youve seen that car! i know the girl who drives it she used to go to teh church i went to before i moved
how weird is that?
Small world, huh? I was walking with my friend, and we saw it just driving round and round ... I was lucky enough to fumble my camera out to get the pics I did. :)
