Assignment Title: Ethlcal Decislon$-$Making In Industrial Automation

Case Study Overview

Scenarlo: A large manufacturing company, TechAuto Ltd$,$ which produces automotive

components, is looking to improve the efficiency and profitability of its assembly line. The

company is considering three options to streamiline production, but each option has

significant implications for toth the company and its workforce. The primary goal is to

increase output while reducing costs. However, the ethical Impact on employees and the

broader socletal Implications must be taken Into account.

Techauto ttd has hired an engineering team to evaluate the economic and ethical

implications of each option. As part of the team, your task is to analyse the situation, consider

at aspects $($techntcat$,$ financhal, sociat, ethleal$),$ and recommend a solution. The decision will

impact hundreds of workers and the company's relationship with its stakeholders.

Three Options:

Option $1$: Full Automation

Replace a large portion of the manual workforce with fully automated systems. This will cut

down operational costs and significantly increase output. However, $405$ of the current

workforce would be retrenched.

Option $2$: Partial Automation with Worker Retraining

Introduce semi$-$automated systems while retraining the current workforce to manage and

maintain the new machines. This will reduce efficiency galns, but no workers would be

retrenched. The retraining costs are significant and would impact proffabillityl

Option $3$: Outsource Production

Close down the local manulacturing plant and outsource production to a country with lower

labour costs. This would save the company $25\%$ in praduction costs but would result in a

complete loss of joas for the local workforce. The ethical implications of displacing workers

and the lang term impact on the community must be considered.

Several additional challenges compilicate the scenario:

$($i$).$ Workers' Concerns:

$35\%$ of the workforce resides in a nearby township that suffers from high crime rates and

frequent vandalism of public infrastructure, including transportation systems. Many workers

fearthat they may not consistently be able to commute to work unless the company provides

private transportation for its staff.

$($II$).$ Municipallty Pressure:

The local municipality, under poilitical pressure, has had its budget reduced. It now expects

TechAuto Ltd to increase its Corporate Soclal Investment $($CSI$)$ into community projects to

compensate for the reduced public spending. This could range from contributing to

Infrastructure repair, supporting education, or providing social welfare programs.

Assignment Instructions:

Write a $1500-2000$ word report in which you:

$($a$)$ Assess the ethical Implications of each option using a professional engineering ethical

framework $($e$.$g$.,$ codes from ECSA, IEEE, or ASME$).$

$($b$).$ Evaluate the potential impact on quality, operations, and safety for each option.

$($c$).$ Analyse the financial outcomes, including cost savings and long$-$term economic viability

for the company.

$($d$).$ Recommend a decision, justifying your choice based on ethical considerations, long$-$term

viability, and the potential effects on employees, the community, and the company's

reputation.

Assessment Criteria:

Ethical Analysis $(25\%)$

Economic and Technical Evaluation $(20\%)$

Decision Justification $(25\%)$

Professional Communication $(15\%)$

OHS es socisi Considerations $(15\%)$I$\text{'}$m