Product Liability:
The Role of Product Safety in Design
ME 498J/599J, 3CR
(SLN: 19405)
T TH 1:30-2:50, LOW 105
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will introduce the role of products liability in the design of engineering
products. Because U.S. industry is often driven by fear of losing major products liability
lawsuits, it is increasingly important for graduate engineers to have an understanding of
products liability and how the interaction between engineering and legal systems affects
the design process.
The course will consist of a mixture of regular lectures by the course instructors, guest
lectures by industry and legal experts, and case studies illustrating failures of a wide range
of products from all fields of engineering. It will involve the application of multiple
disciplines to analysis of intriguing failures of actual products and systems, and
consideration of the benefits and consequences of alternate designs.
COURSE TOPICS
· Designing, testing, and manufacturing for safety
· Products liability litigation and the law
· Failure analysis techniques
· Design of warnings and instructions
· Evaluation of defects
· Intellectual property protection
· The role of regulation on product design
The course will be multidisciplinary in nature and therefore has no specific prerequisites
other than senior standing (or permission from the instructor). Class activities will be
project-oriented and relevant to current events.
For more information contact Prof. Robert Scheibe, UW and GT Engineering, (425) 556-
5555, scheibe@u.washington.edu or Prof. Per Reinhall, (206) 543-5628,
reinhall@u.washington.edu
