Question

A new junior engineer in a design company notices a detail in a design that she feels has the potential to be dangerous to the end-users. Her superiors explain that this detail was added to save manufacturing time. Furthermore, they assure her although the analysis is technically correct, this "shortcut" has been used for several years and the company has never been accused of any wrongdoing. What should the engineer do?

A) Go along with the advice of the more senior engineers. They have more experience in the field and are most likely right. Besides, if some harm does come from the design, they will take the blame, not her.
B) Ask of one of her college professors, an expert in the field, to look at the plans and make a recommendation
C) Bring the issue to the attention of the company's upper nontechnical management.
D) Report the company's violation to the state board and any other appropriate regulatory agencies.

Answer 1

The junior engineer should bring the potential danger to the attention of the company's upper management to prioritize safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The junior engineer in this scenario has noticed a potential danger in a design that was implemented to save manufacturing time. In this situation, it is important for the engineer to prioritize the safety of the end-users over time-saving measures. Therefore, the engineer should bring the issue to the attention of the company's upper management, specifically the non-technical management.

By raising the concern to higher management, the engineer can ensure that the issue is addressed and appropriate measures are taken to prioritize safety. This is necessary to prevent any harm to the end-users. Reporting the company's violation to regulatory agencies or seeking the opinion of a college professor are also valid options, but bringing it to the attention of the company's upper management should be the engineer's first step.