Response to case study scenario 1

Recalling the products is the best option for the customers safety and the company's integrity, it will win the trust and admiration of customers. While sacrificing a few hundred/thousand pounds (in terms of delivery cost, sales cost and loss of production time) is in the long term worth it. If I let the company allow usage of the faulty Flash drives, I have failed in my duty as a reasonable human being and in my duty to the company as a Test/Professional Engineer. Ignoring the test results is irresponsible, inhumane and criminal.
The Managers decision is obviously detrimental to public safety, my career and the Interest of the Company, it also means numerous violations of both IEEE and Royal Academy of Engineering Ethical principles in terms of respect for life, the law, public good, accuracy and rigour in execution of my duties just to mention a few.
If I ignore the test results, I would be equivalent to a liar, a cheat, a fraudster or a murderer who would do anything for a quick buck (and the same can be said about the company).

Although I might be afraid to challenge my manager, I would still try to use a diplomatic approach by being respectful and persuasive in my final discussion with him. If I fail to convince my manager, I will inform higher ranking officials in the company in the same manner using memos and through one on one meetings about how urgent the issue is and of the need to stop the usage of the flash drives immediately. I will also inform the department in charge of handling such urgent issues like customer care and legal department and advise them to act immediately.
I will include evidence of test results and elaborate on the dangers involved.

Avoidable accidents happen no matter how unlikely the odds. During my internship with an energy company, a technician lost his life because a manager on site thought it was a formality to conform with safety guidelines as he (the superior) had occasionally worked without insulating hand gloves for 26 years without getting electrocuted. The staff went ahead but was unfortunately electrocuted and died on the spot. The other staff who were witnesses to negligent act, were not spared by the disciplinary committee.

From a UK fire service statistic about fires, "7,000 fires are caused a year in England due to faulty electrical appliances". If the manager thinks that a fault rate of 3 out 200 is low there have been defect rates of much lower figures but which lead to unfortunate outcomes.
An example of the dangers defective products pose was the Firestone tire crisis in the year 2000 which lead to about 250 deaths and 3000 catastrophic injuries due to a defect rate of about 241 tires per million. This was perhaps the most deadly auto safety crisis in American history.

Consequences of ignoring this could be loss of lives/injuries and damage to property, loss of customer trust, loss of customers, loss of Thousands of pounds spent on marketing and advertisements, legal prosecution, getting fired for negligence of duty, ruining my career and that of others in the test department.
Legal prosecution could be based on Vicarious liability, Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, Sale of Goods Act 1979, Customer Protection Act 1987.
These allegations all to relate to deceiving the customer about the quality and safety of the product and in effect endangering their lives and damage to their property due to the
company being aware of the fire hazard possible as a result of usage of the flash drives.

Even though I might risk my manager impeding my progress within the company or even ensure I loose my job. It is a small price to pay in comparison to putting people lives in danger.
I will take all possible measures to convince the company to retrieve the delivered flash drives.