Reliability Ethics

Abstract

Carl and Fred discuss the broad subject of reliability ethics, what it means, and how it impacts reliability professionals.

Key Points

Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the role of reliability engineers when facing ethical decisions and circumstances.

Topics include:

• The role of company culture in defining acceptable behavior
• Social barriers to speaking up
• Valuing profits over quality and safety
• Reliability engineers are not on mission to get along, especially if it means compromising safety or reliability.
• What if you are shy or have trouble speaking up in front of management?
• You have to be willing to ask the questions that no one wants to hear.
• What do you do when company culture does not value speaking up about potential problem issues?
• What to do when the pressure to be a “team player” conflicts with raising safety and reliability issues?
• What communication skills can help with this subject?
• Talking in a meeting vs one on one conversations?
• What to do if company is moving ahead with what you believe to be an unsafe design or process?
• How to overcome introversion, when needed?
• You have to be sure you are on solid ground (do your homework) when you propose a different direction than the team.
• Discussion of the trade off when balancing team direction vs safety issues.
• Reference the last two chapters in the book The Process of Reliability Engineering.
• The most important thing is to not be silent when you are certain there is a safety issue.
• Part of being a team player is knowing when to speak up when it goes against the grain to the team.
• When is it appropriate to go to higher management.

Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches.

SOR 1006 Reliability EthicsCarl S. Carlson

share

• Social:
• Link:
• Embed:

Download Audio RSS

Show Notes