I've had management pressure me in the past. The issue wasn't so much that it wasn't going to be done eventually, but they wanted to hit some targets with units that were demonstrated not to comply with emissions. That is to say they needed some redesign, not just that the test and paper mill had to be completed stating they were compliant. I set up a meeting with the engineering VP, explained the legal, financial and potential trade issues and lay the appropriate corporate and government documents on his desk. I told him I wasn't going to sign them. They all had neatly typed lines that contained his name, and title and where he needed to sign them. I'd love to say that stopped the shipments, it didn't. But the build lot was dramatically reduced and there was an agreement to retrofit those units that did get out - not an easy task, and a top priority was set to implement the proper designs. Not perfect by any means - but about as much clout and control as I had, and at least it elevated the issue of design for safety and EMC. I never had to refuse to signoff on any future products.
Fortunately this wasn't a "commodity" product that has very large volumes and very low margins or I doubt I would have been even that successful and it would have meant thousands rather than 10's of units in the field. This brings up the issue of "situational ethics". Is it any more ethical to be just a little bit wrong for just a short time than it is to just ignore the issue and try to do better some time when its more convenient? I'm voting no on that. I suppose the risk was mitigated but not sure the ethics of the situation were affected. Gary This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to [email protected] Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/listserv/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas [email protected] Mike Cantwell [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
