SIGNING AND SEALING PLANS

A. SITUATIONER
Background
The signing and sealing of engineering documents involves fundamental issues relating to the
practice of engineering. It is indication that the signing and sealing of engineers is taking personal
and professional responsibility for the contents of there work. In the case of Engineer Asuncion as
the chief engineer in a large engineering firm he affixes his seal to some of the plans prepared by
people working under his general supervision.

Problem Statement
Engineer Asuncion finds it impossible to give a detailed review or check of the design, this was
due to the size of organization. He believes that it was legally correct to trust all working under his
supervision.

Problem Analysis
This scenario identifies the requirements for the appropriate signing and sealing of work by an
engineer and also describes situations where it is unethical for a professional engineer to sign
and seal work prepared by others.

B. ASSUMPTONS
Engineer Asuncion was unaware that he does unethical things in signing and sealing plans. As it
was stated that his confidence in the ability of those he hired and who were working under his
general direction and supervision.
Based on code of ethics Section II.2.b Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans or
documents dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence, nor to any plan or
document not prepared under their direction and control.

C. ALTERNATIVES
As based on the case, there was set of Code of Ethics to follow.
Section II.2.b. Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans or documents dealing with
subject matter in which they lack competence, nor to any plan or document not prepared under
their direction and control.
Section II.2.c. Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility for coordination of
an entire project and sign and seal the engineering documents for the entire project, provided that
each technical segment is signed and sealed only by the qualified engineers who prepared the
segment.
Section III.7.a. Engineers in private practice shall not review the work of another engineer for the
same client, except with the knowledge of such engineer, or unless the connection of such
engineer with the work has been terminated.

D. RECOMMENDATION
The signing and sealing of engineering documents involve fundamental issues relating to the
practice of engineering. The signature and seal on a set of engineering drawings is an indication
that the signing and sealing engineer is taking personal and professional responsibility for the
contents of the work.
We recognize that the role of the chief engineer in an engineering firm may be that of a "manager
who provides guidance, direction, and counsel to those within his responsible charge." Indeed, in
a large engineering firm this role is crucial to the successful operation of the firm. As in the facts
in the instant case, the chief engineer should be involved at the outset of the project in the
establishment of the design concept and the design requirements, as well as in the review of the
 various elements of the design or project status as the project develops. In addition, the chief
engineer should be available to consult on technical questions relating to the project design.

E. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Based from Code of Ethics Engineer Asuncion should reiterate the language contained in Code
II.2.c. noting that "each technical segment [shall be] signed and sealed only by the qualified
engineers who prepared the segment."

ALPHA ELECTRONICS
A. SITUATIONER
Background
In the mid-1980s, Engr. Samonte was Alpha Electronics’ project leader on a new contract to
produce manufactured weaponry devices for companies doing business with NATO government
agencies. The devices were advanced technology land mines with electronic controls that could
be triggered with capacitor circuits to go off only at specified times rather than years later when
children might be playing in old minefields. NATO provided all the technical specification, and
Alpha Electronics fulfilled the contract without problems. However, Sam was concerned that one
new end user of this device could negate the safety aspects of the trigger and make the land
mines more dangerous than any on the market.

Problem Statement
After the NATO contract was completed, Engr. Samonte was dismayed to learn that Alpha
Electronics had signed another contract with an East European firm that had a reputation for
stealing patented devices and also doing business with terrorist organizations.

Problem Analysis
In this case, Alpha Electronic didn’t care about public/society since there was no guarantee about
who is the East European company would be selling the devices to and how they would end up
being used.

B. ASSUMPTIONS
Base on the case, we know that Alpha Electronics has disobeyed an ethic code. Alpha
Electronics had signed another contract with an East European firm that had a reputation for
stealing patented devices and also doing business with terrorist organizations.
The ethic code that has been disobeyed is ethic code I.1 state that: Engineer, in the fulfillment of
their professional duties, shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

C. ALTERNATIVES
NATO and Alpha Electronics should have a agreement of correction on determining whether the
project can be used again with other firm/company or not.
Alpha Electronics should make an agreement with East European Firm that East European firm
would not use the project for criminal or any violence. This agreement, hopefully, can prevent the
misuse of the project.

D. RECOMMENDATION
Alpha Electronics should have enhancement program on public safety by having seminars and
trainings.

E. IMPLEMENTAION PLAN
Alpha electronics shoud have a education or trainings for all its employee about public health anf
safety.