MEC600 ASSIGNMENT 1 PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS APRIL 2015

MEC 600 ENGINEER IN SOCIETY
ASSIGNMENT APRIL 2015
SUBMISSION 14 MAY 2015

THE PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
CODE OF ETHICS QUESTIONS (To be answered in about 2500 to 3000 words, 12 pt Times
Roman, 1.5 spacing)
1. Discuss the dilemma engineers face in balancing capital expenditure versus optimum design for efficient operations and maintenance, bearing in mind the impact of capital expenditure on the engineer’s fees.
2. Technological and economic efficiencies in providing service to the public are the expected benefits from the privatization of public utilities companies in Malaysia. Discuss with examples whether the technological benefits of privatization have been achieved.
3. Are the present safety practices of your industry adequate? What steps do you consider should be taken by the industry to address the present situation?
4. The manifestation of professionalism among engineers occurs through their interactions with other segments of the society, which can be viewed essentially as an exercise in group dynamics. In this regards, the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)) is ideally constituted to serve this purpose.
Discuss the various functions that can be provided by the IEM in promoting professionalism.
5. In this technological age, the power of the engineers in shaping the society and environment in all pervading and can profoundly affect the lives of many members of the society. Enumerate, from your personal experience, how largely positive impacts have accrued from the contributions of engineers. 6. Engineers are often entrusted with the responsibility of implementing large-scale project involving millions of dollars. In view of the large amount of money changing hands, the integrity and ethical standards of engineers are being put to test. What measures can an engineer take of cutting corners in order to safeguard the good image of the engineering profession?
7. As an engineer responsible for the development of a new project, your first task according to the planning schedule is to clear the land and prepare the site for construction. To do so, you will need to clear vast stretches of land that will undoubtedly cause land erosion and subsequently contaminating of streams and rivers around the site. You are under tremendous pressure to finish the task as the job is already behind schedule. Given the constraints that you have with regards to deadline, limited technical solutions and the preservation of the environment, discuss the ethical considerations, which confront you under the circumstances.

8. In recent years, there is stronger awareness by the public at large for better quality works in a construction project. How can a professional engineer ensure better quality construction without conflicting with the profit objectives of both the owner and the contractor?
9. ‘Conflict of professional interest frequently arises in the working environment of an engineer’.
Discuss the statement and propose the appropriate solutions for overcoming the problem.
10. Recent years have seen increased national and international Protocols and Regulation and National
Acts and Legislations on control of many forms of pollution. Discuss the needs and consequences of observing these regulations with special reference to the particular industry you are involved in.
11. “In today’s dynamic marketplace, many organizations/industries are initiating cost reduction measures to remain competitive”. Discuss the contradictory demand of cost reduction programmes of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) in the industry. Is it possible to be cost-effective yet meeting the ever-increasing HSE requirement?
12. Engineers are increasingly playing significant role in the nation’s fast pace development. Please suggest how engineers can make greater contributions with awareness in safety, health and environment and how engineers can keep abreast with the development of technology without confining to one’s specific roles or disciplines.
13. With the rapid development in IT, would virtual Laboratories be good substitute for real ones in
Engineering? Elaborate on the merits and demerits of the issues.
14. The expected benefits of privatization of public utilities companies in Malaysia are technological and economic efficiency. Discuss with examples whether those benefits have been achieved.
15. Select an industry. Study the present safety practices of the industry. What steps do you consider should be taken by the industry to address the present situation? You can use OSHA 1994 as your reference frame.
16. The manifestation of professionalism among engineers occurs through their interactions with the other segments of the society. In this regard, the UiTM Engineering Student Union was hoped to serve this purpose. Discuss the various functions that can be provided by the union in promoting professionalism. 17. Presently there are strong public protest with respect to the siting and building of rare-earth processing plant in the country. Highlight the issues involved and how can such issues be treated?
18. Is industrial experience and professional qualification of the lecturer important in the teaching of engineering subjects in the universities? Or would just an academic qualification be sufficient. The accreditation of the university engineering programme by the Engineering Accreditation Council
(EAC) requires teaching staffs with professional qualification. However, industrial experience and professional qualification is not an important requirement to the university and therefore do not carry much weight in the university. This may hinder the development of teaching staffs with professional qualifications. Discuss this conflicting issues.