Case study:

You are a new engineer working as part of a design team for a large automobile manufacturer. The company is doing a major redesign of one of its product lines.

Your team is responsible for designing part of the frame of the new car. As part of the company's drive to make cars lighter and more efficient, your team is directed to make some of the structural members out of carbon fiber composites. The cross member that holds the rails of the frame apart was ideally suited for composite replacement.

You test several different composite materials and lay-ups, and finally choose one that you have reason to believe will work. Several prototypes of the car are built, which you checked carefully. Your design is then approved and is about to go into production.

Just today you found a problem with your cross member. A few inches of the cross member from a car that was winter tested showed extensive cracking. After looking at the design, you realize that the cracked portion is in proximity to the exhaust system. You conclude the hot pipe in cold weather created thermal stresses and caused cracking.

question:

1. Do you agree? Please refer to the case above and provide your view on same?0

2.If you were in this situation, what do you think is your ethical obligation in this situation?

3.What can and should you do and how do you go about it ?