A Handbook of Productive Industrial Ethics

By Professor Samuel C. Obi

A Handbook of Productive Industrial Ethics is written for all industrial workers, and also for all students who will be working in industrial environments upon graduation. The increasing need for good work ethics in industry was the major factor behind the conception of this book. American society and work environments are becoming so complex that individual workers are bombarded in different directions by ethical problems which they did not create. Too often, these workers are confused, in part, because society never really offered them the basic ethical foundation needed to respond adequately to the increasing demands of our complex world.

This book is divided into six separate chapters that closely follow the different tenets of values upon which it is based. Chapter 1 (Introduction to Industrial Ethics) explains why our many industrial organizations are in their present situation. It also discusses the meanings and ramifications of ethics, and why the study of ethics is needed by everyone associated with these organizations. Chapter 2 deals with the topic of Industrial Responsibility, specifically from an industrial point of view.

Chapter 3 discusses, from an organizational point of view, three key values that are closely identified with a worker as an individual: Honesty, Self-control, and Self-respect. The other critical values which the worker encounters in team or group work are covered in chapter 4, and include Fairness, Mutual Assistance, Tolerance of Diversity, and Respect for Others. To tie all the values together, the topic of Integrity is covered in chapter 5. Chapter 6 extends the ideas developed in previous chapters, by using real Case Situations to clarify misapplications of principles of industrial ethics.
Samples of industrial professional codes of ethics are included as Appendices to aid readers identify with the professional ethics of their affiliated organizations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491831793

Professor Samuel C. Obi

Professor Samuel C. Obi is a Professor and Director of Technology at San Jose State University where he has taught since 1989. He also teaches courses in the Manufacturing Systems program in the College of Engineering. His expertise is in Manufacturing Systems, including manufacturing processes, manufacturing planning and control, quality control, product prototyping and development, green and sustainability product design, computer-integrated manufacturing, general material processing, industrial ethics, and technology and civilization. Dr. Obi has helped to found and lead many programs and organizations throughout his career. He is also an active technology transfer agent. His specific research interests are in manufacturing systems, technology transfer to developing economies, and ethics and the technologist/industry. Presently, he is the Trustee of the Rho chapter of the honorary Epsilon Pi Tau, an honorary organization for professions in technology. He also served as the Regional Director for the Honorary for many years. He has served on numerous departmental, college, and university committees as well as being an adviser to various university student clubs. He has also helped to found programs and cultural organizations geared to helping Nigerian and African immigrants adjust to life in American society. Prevailing Love, which is his 12th book, is written to enlighten and encourage its readers to endeavor to go the extra mile to increase love in their lives, families, neighborhoods, workplaces, societies, and the world in general. His other books include: Altars of Living Sacrifices; Overcoming Your Losses, Giants, and Mountains; Building Attractive Christianity; Exalting God’s Faithfulness; In Remembrance of Christ; Purpose in Waiting; God’s Kingdom First; A Table Prepared Before Me; A Handbook of Productive Industrial Ethics; Introduction to Manufacturing Systems; and Readings for Amerigerian Igbo. He has also authored many peer-reviewed and technical articles in his profession, and has presented at numerous professional conferences and events.

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CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Outline And Learning Objectives

1.  Introduction To Industrial Ethics

Chapter 2 Outline And Learning Objectives

2.  Industrial Responsibility

Chapter 3 Outline And Learning Objectives

3.  Worker-Oriented Values: Honesty, Self-Control, And Self-Respect

Chapter 4 Outline And Learning Objectives

4.  Team-Oriented Values: Fairness,Tolerance Of Diversity, Mutual Assistance, And Respect For Others

Chapter 5 Outline And Learning Objectives

5.  Integrity: The Epitome Of Industrial Success

Chapter 6 Outline And Learning Objectives

6.  Case Readings In Industrial Ethics

Appendices

Codes Of Ethics From Professional Associations

Appendix A Code Of Ethics Of The American Industrial Hygiene Association

Appendix B Code Of Ethics Of The American Institute Of Architects

Appendix C Code Of Ethics Of The American Institute Of Chemical Engineers

Appendix D Code Of Ethics Of The American Society For Clinical Laboratory Science

Appendix E Code Of Ethics Of The American Society For Quality

Appendix F Code Of Ethics Of The Automotive Service Association

Appendix G Code Of Ethics Of The Board Of Environmental, Health & Safety Auditor Certifications (Courtesy Of Beac)

Appendix H Code Of Ethics Of The Construction Safety Association Of Ontario

Appendix I The Code Of Epsilon Pi Tau

Appendix J Code Of Ethics Of Florida Association Of Building Inspectors

Appendix K Code Of Ethics Of The Independent Automotive Damage Appraisers

Appendix L Code Of Ethics Of International Facility Management Association

Appendix M Code Of Ethics Of International Federation Of Purchasing And Materials Management

Appendix N Code Of Ethics Of The National Air Duct Cleaners Association

Appendix O Code Of Ethics For National Society Of Professional Engineers (Nspe)

Appendix P Code Of Ethics Of The Water Quality Association

References

About The Author

PREFACE

The increasing need for good work ethics in industry was the major factor behind the conception of this book. American society and work environments are becoming so complex that individual workers are bombarded in different directions by ethical problems which they did not create. Too often, these workers are confused in part due to the fact that society never really offered them the basic ethical foundation needed to respond adequately to the increasing demands of our complex world.

In terms of values, today’s American workers are lacking a lot when compared with their counterparts of yesteryears, because many parents in our modern society hardly have enough time to teach their children needed values which can lead to industrial success. Most American parents are engaged in the workforce since it now takes two incomes to make ends meet. The result is that many children are raised in daycare centers and by individuals who are not their primary parents, and whose values may be different from those of their parents. As a result many children grow up in a moral vacuum when it comes to ethical issues. Such individuals need to train themselves by reading this kind of book, to help them understand how to apply good values to their lives and work situations. In the absence of such self-help involvement, society will increasingly continue to witness unpleasant workplace occurrences, such as violent and criminal behaviors which are common in many of our workplaces today.

Students and workers who operate in industrial environments often encounter ethical situations which demand that proper decisions be made for the benefit of the individuals, their organizations, and other stakeholders. In an era when thousands of college graduates are being employed in industrial jobs, more should be done to instill good attitudes and work ethics into these young minds.

A Handbook of Productive Industrial Ethics is written for all blue and white collar industrial workers, college- and university-level industrial technology, engineering technology, engineering, health-related professions, transportation, technology education, technical and trade professions, business, retail, sales, government, social services, financial services, wholesale, leisure and hospitality, professional services, industrial education students and other related disciplines, who will be working in industrial environments upon graduation. Although ethics and values appear to have a general meaning to most people, the meanings and ideas discussed in this book are directed mostly to workers in those disciplines. Students who graduate from such disciplines often find employment in industry. These workers, whether they graduated or not, are referred to in this book as industrial workers. The book is also ideal for all industrial workers, either as a training aid or for personal improvement, on matters of ethics. Ordinary individuals or persons from other fields will also find the book useful for enriching themselves for ethical decision making.

This book is divided into six separate chapters that closely follow the different tenets of values upon which it is based. Chapter 1 (Introduction to Industrial Ethics), explains why our many industrial organizations are in their present situation. It also discusses the meanings and ramifications of ethics, and why the study of ethics is needed by everyone associated with these organizations. Chapter 2 deals with the topic of industrial responsibility, specifically from an industrial point of view. Chapter 3 discusses, from an organizational point of view, three key values that are closely identified with a worker as an individual: honesty, self-control, and self-respect. The other critical values which the worker encounters in team or group work are covered in chapter 4, and include fairness, mutual assistance, tolerance of diversity, and respect for others. To tie all the values together, the topic of integrity is covered in chapter 5. Chapter 6 extends the ideas developed in previous chapters, by using real case situations to clarify misapplications of principles of industrial ethics. Finally, a sample of industrial professional codes of ethics is included as Appendices to aid readers identify with the professional ethics of their affiliated organizations. Readers can find their professional (or related) codes of conduct in that section. If your profession’s code is not included and you would want it to be included, please contact the author at [e-mail] so that it will be included in a future edition of this book.

The above chapters are not necessarily arranged in any particular sequence. This book can be used (read) as arranged, or chapters can be read in any preferred order.

As the first edition of a book dealing on such a sensitive subject, it is hoped that some comments will be generated from different readers and professionals in the field. Therefore, helpful comments will be greatly welcomed, to help in improving future editions of the book. Also, interested parties can have their codes entered in future editions.

Professor Samuel C. Obi

San Jose State University

San Jose, California.

December, 2013.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Clearly, there is no way a book of this nature could be written without the assistance of key individuals and organizations. These entities generously contributed to this book in various ways. I am greatly indebted to them for their assistance and professionalism demonstrated in providing important materials and information upon request.

Amongst them is my employer, San Jose State University, which provided many direct and indirect resources that supported me throughout the writing of this book. Without the available resources such as faculty support personnel and facilities that San Jose State University provided, it would have been difficult to write this book. Also many professional organizations granted me permission to include their codes of ethics in the appendix section of this book. They include:

American Industrial Hygiene Association

American Institute of Architects

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

American Society for Quality

Automotive Service Association

Board of Environmental, Health & Safety Auditor Certification

Construction Safety Association of Ontario

Epsilon Pi Tau

Florida Association of Building Inspectors

Independent Automotive Damage Appraisers

International Facility Management Association

International Federation of Purchasing and Materials Management

National Air Duct Cleaners Association

National Society of Professional Engineers

Water Quality Association

Several individuals contributed their comments, suggestions and recommendations to this book. Amongst them is Dr. E. A. Dennis, Emeritus Professor of the University of Northern Iowa, who reviewed the first chapter and the layout of the book during its early stages. Also some colleagues from San Jose State University and other institutions encouraged me to write this book. Their comments and encouraging remarks were very helpful in the decision to complete the work.

My spiritual, moral, professional, and academic teachers, mentors, supporters, and advisors deserve mention here as well. It must be noted that I might not have been a professor today without their assistance. Also my native town relations, mentors, sponsors, supporters, and the cultural and religious milieu there provided the foundational base of my beginning and sustained endurance in the academic and career pursuits that lasted for a major part of my life. Some have gone on now to glory, but history will not fail to remember them for the sacrificial seed they sowed in me. My late parents Chief Gabriel Ilechukwu Obi (Akunne) and Mrs. Virginia U. Obi gave up a lot to see that I was given a good moral upbringing and that I received a good education. My Father’s first wife late Mrs. Cecilia U. Obi catered for me as if I was her son. My late aunt and godmother Mrs. Winifred O. Obi helped to build and strengthen my moral life. Space cannot permit me here to mention the names of numerous others who touched my life in so many ways.

Finally, but not the least, I want to thank my family (in particular my wife Dr. Adora Obi) whose encouraging words, prayers, and assistance during the writing and its review process helped in putting this book together. This book would not have been possible without their help.

Professor Samuel C. Obi

San Jose State University

San Jose, California.

December, 2013.

Chapter 1 Outline and Learning Objectives

Introduction to Industrial Ethics

Introduction

Industrial Ethics and Values: Some Definitions

Some Benefits of Ethics to Industry

Some Ethical Roles of the Industrial Worker

Relative to the Employer

Relative to the Profession

Relative to the Society

Relative to Colleagues

Could Ethics Be Taught and Learned?

What Should Be Taught and Learned?

Productivity, Quality, and Ethics: Interrelationships

Components of Productivity

Components of Quality

Components of Ethics

Interrelationships

Too Few Teachers of Industrial Ethics

Teaching and Learning Industrial Values

Conclusions

Chapter 1 Questions

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Industrial Ethics

Introduction

The industrial workforce is the most important and expensive resource of all industrial resources in the United States’ industry. Workers are the ones who will use their expertise and initiative to produce products or services for their employers. These employees must be sought, hired, and trained.

And yet, one of the biggest problems facing employers today is how to tell a bad employee from a good one. A study of 81,000 people on integrity, work attitude and drug use by Orion PE System (cited in Obi, 2004) found that 24.9% of them admitted to stealing from previous employers, 28.5% admitted to some drug use, 24.0% admitted they had problems with absences in previous jobs, while 30.0% admitted tardiness in previous jobs. When the same system was used to screen 230,000 potential employees, researchers obtained similar results: 25.3% of them have high risk of workplace theft attitudes, 29.6% have high risk of drug use attitudes, and 23.2% have below average work attitudes (Select, Assess & Train, 2013). Clearly, no employer who intends to be on a competitive edge would want to hire such employees.

Industry is increasingly faced with issues of ethics (principles of moral values) in the sundry activities that help to carve and provide its progress. There have been moves in American industries and higher education to pursue solutions and studies in ethics to counteract ethical problems in the country. Science, technology, and society (STS), for example, is an established field of study in the United States generated by the environmental movement and the critique of technology in the 1960s and 1970s. Similarly, there is also the case of corporate ethical misconduct which has become a growing concern in recent years, leading to more and more companies instituting ethics programs. This trend has largely been brought about by lack of ethical values in decision making processes in the governments, industrial enterprises, educational institutions and such likes.

To help combat dishonest practices in the country, the United States Government created the House Ethics Committee to look into the ethical issues of the society. Similarly, the Ethics Resource Center in Washington, DC, helps scandal-ridden companies develop ethics philosophies and repair battered images. Such exemplary steps have set the tone for many subsidiary public and private organizations, including industrial enterprises and institutions of higher learning. In engineering disciplines, for example, students are taught about the effects of scientific and technological developments on man and society. In these courses, the learners get to be aware of the advantageous and disadvantageous impacts of introducing different technologies in society. Some professions also now have written ethical codes which their members are expected to abide by. An example of such code from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) is shown in Figure 1-1. Selected samples from different industrial entities are also included in the Appendix section of this book.

However, very little effort is made to teach students and workers the fundamental values which will help mold them into becoming moral decision makers in the workplace. All there are today are codes of ethics for various professions, and it is questionable whether knowledge of ethical code alone enables an industrial worker, engineer, or technologist to behave ethically. It is clear that programs that do not recognize these fundamental values inhibit moral development of students and workers and hinder the link, which makes science-technology-society programs effective ones.

Some institutions of higher learning (especially in professional schools) are now offering courses of study designed to inculcate moral values into their students. Many business schools are now de-emphasizing financial aspects of management and instilling business ethics in students. Individuals of all ranks are faced with ethical issues which they must find solutions to in order to responsibly accomplish their many tasks.

A%20Handbook%20of%20Productive%20Industrial%20Ethics%20(Gaphics)_Figure1-1.jpg

Similar challenges are now facing industrial organizations which are in dire need of ethically moral workers in the demanding and competitive businesses which they operate. The need to meet government standards and regulations, societal expectations, quality of products and services, domestic and foreign competition, and safety of their workers and the public is forcing many companies to examine and modify the way they do things in order to survive and, at the same time, receive maximum productivity.

Industrial Ethics and Values: Some Definitions

Although knowledge of ethics is needed in all professions, the discussions of ethical issues in this book are limited to industry-related occupations and professions as defined by the U. S. Department of Labor. Ten major industry groups employing well over 100 million workers are included in that definition. Those workers, irrespective of their ranks, are often referred to in this book as industrial workers. These 10 categories and their different population figures are shown in Table 1-1.

A%20Handbook%20of%20Productive%20Industrial%20Ethics%20(Gaphics)_Table%201-1.jpg

Of the many frameworks for the definitions of ethics that have been put forward, only two are of real value to the industrial worker. The first is called deontologism, and holds that every act is inherently evil or good by itself irrespective of its ramifications. This view is held mostly by religious organizations and societies which hold that God is the Author of all laws. Aspects of this view are seen in most Christian, Islamic and Jewish societies where virtues like hard work and honesty are valued. Believers in this view always hold to what has been defined as the truth whether it has any immediate advantages or not.

The second view of ethics is called consequentialism, and holds that an act is considered good or bad based on its results or consequences. Another way to express it is that what favors or brings most happiness to most people should be upheld; this is often called utilitarianism. This view is practiced mostly in democratic societies where a majority vote usually dictates the law. For example, if most individuals in a community decide that a certain kind of industry should not be allowed to establish in the area, then that will be upheld.

An examination of the two views reveals that both are actually designed for the benefit of mankind. While, agreeably, there are differences of opinions on how and when to apply each view, the two ideologies, for the most part, work for the benefit of man. In the light of its general definition as the principles of moral values, it then lies on the society to determine what its moral values will be. This is where it goes to the heart of the term morality which, by itself, can be good or bad according to the opinions of the individuals in the society. For all discussions in this book, good morals are taken to mean those values that benefit organizations, workers, and societies in positive ways.

Although ethics and values appear to have a general meaning to most people, the meanings and ideas discussed in this book are directed mostly to industrial workers and students who are pursuing coursework in the disciplines or programs of college- and university-level industrial technology, engineering technology, engineering, health-related professions, transportation, technology education, technical and trade professions, business, retail, sales,