Ethical issues

in production
Ethics in production
Ethics in production is a subset of business
ethic that is meant to ensure that the
production function or activities are not
damaging to the consumer or the society.
While maintaining high ethical standards and
complying with laws and regulations are
important for all businesses, manufacturing
companies face additional challenges because of
the potential for harming employees and
consumers.
 When you operate a manufacturing line,
the potential for injury to workers and
the possibility that your products are
unsafe for consumers is always present.
Implementing policies, procedures and
controls to reduce these risks is not only
ethical -- it is often a legal requirement.
 There are ethical problems arising out of use of new
technologies that are deleterious to health, safety and
environment. Technological advancements like
genetically modified food, radiations from mobile phones,
medical equipment etc are less problems are more of
dilemmas.
Defective services and products or products those are
innately deleterious like alcohol, tobacco, fast motor
vehicles, warfare, chemical manufacturing etc.
Animal testing and their rights or use of economically or
socially deprived people for testing or experimentation is
another area of production ethics.
Ethics of transactions between the organization and the
environment that lead to pollution, global warming,
increase in water toxicity and diminishing natural
resources.
Dilemma of Ethics in
Production
There are certain processes involved in the production of goods
and a slight error in the same can degrade the quality severely.
In certain products the danger is greater i.e. a slight error can
reduce the quality and increase the danger associated with
consumption or usage of the same exponentially. The dilemma
therefore lies in defining the degree of permissibility, which in
turn depends on a number of factors. Bhopal gas tragedy is one
example where the poisonous gas got leaked out due to
negligence on the part of the management.
Usually many manufactures are involved in the production of
same good. They may use similar or dissimilar technologies for
the same. Setting a standard in case of dissimilar technologies
is often very difficult. There are many other factors that
contribute to the dilemma, for example, the involvement of the
manpower, the working conditions, the raw material used etc.
The issues
Safe Manufacturing Environment

Ethical businesses prioritize safety in the workplace. In a

manufacturing environment, the presence of machines and raw
materials make adequate safety procedures both legally
mandatory and ethically necessary. In addition to basic safety
rules, such as wearing protective gear and refraining from
engaging in risky behavior, the main issues relate to a reasonable
balance between inconvenience, productivity and safety. Applying
too many rules creates compliance problems, while not addressing
safety issues can lead to injury. If you give the employees a role in
developing safety regulations for a production line, it helps in the
implementation of effective rules that strike the right balance.
Reduced Environmental
Effects
Manufacturing processes use energy and produce waste.
Legal restrictions govern how companies can produce
energy while limiting emissions and how they have to
treat waste to reduce environmental damage. Ethical
concerns influence the overall approach of a company
toward environmental degradation caused by its
manufacturing operations. Taking into account both legal
and ethical factors, you have to reduce your energy use
by increasing energy efficiency and exploring the use of
alternative technologies. At the same time, you can
reduce waste by looking at where it is generated and
changing your manufacturing process to produce as little
as possible
Secure Workplace
Employers have a legal and ethical
responsibility to ensure workers are not
subject to sexual harassment or other forms
of workplace hostility and to treat all
employees fairly. If your manufacturing
environment has mostly male workers, you
have to be especially vigilant that female
employees feel welcome and comfortable. To
meet both the legal and ethical challenges,
institute detailed policies against harassment
and make sure all employees comply.
Safe Products

manufacturing companies face liability once their

products leave the factory. Product safety is
governed by legislation, and ethical concerns
mean you should only ship products that have
been tested for safety. While knowingly shipping
dangerous products is illegal and unethical, the
use of your products also may have unintended
and harmful effects. Going beyond legal
requirements to thoroughly test all aspects of the
use of your products reduces your exposure to
possible law suits and fulfills your ethical duties.
Advantages
Goodwilland Publicity
Shareholders and Investors
Competitive Edge
Moral Obligations
Knock-On Effects
Long term gains
disadvantages
Business ethics reduce a company's freedom to
maximize its profit. For example, a multinational
company may move its manufacturing facility to a
developing country to reduce costs. Practices acceptable
in that country, such as child labor, poor health and
safety, poverty-level wages and coerced employment,
will not be tolerated by an ethical company.
Improvements in working conditions, such as a living
wage and minimum health and safety standard,s reduce
the level of cost-savings that the company generates.
However, it could be argued that the restrictions on
company freedom benefit wider society.
How to make business more
ethical
Set standards of your own, and
strictly monitor and enforce
adherence to them.
Lead with Morals
Give Back to the Community
Be Consistently Ethical
Compliance Audits
Zero Tolerance