TRIZ Tools Research Articles

TRIZ-based Algorithm for Biomimetic Design

The article reveals opportunities and obstacles for cross-domain and cross-cultural knowledge transfer. Both interfaces are clearly present in biomimetics (the engineering branch that borrows ideas from biological field for introducing them into the technology). Biomimetic methodology needs to deal with key differences between domains (biology studies Life, engineering creates machines) and cultures (science describes and models, while engineering prescribes and produces). Due to the complexity of mentioned methodological issues biomimetics still remains case-study-based discipline with no guaranteed success of investments. Current paper offers the detailed explanation and procedures for biomimetic design. Authors discuss obvious and reveal invisible obstacles for mimicking living systems and the specifics of application of different TRIZ tools in cross-cultural and cross-domain knowledge transfers and present the algorithm for biomimetic engineering based on TRIZ.As a conclusion the list of axioms for biomimetic design is presented and the procedures for biomimetic design based on such axioms are suggested.

Product Architecture Definition: Evaluating the Potentiality of TRIZ Tools

Product Architecture definition plays more and more a crucial role for enhancing product customizability, easing after-sale management and reducing manufacturing costs. Despite major efforts have been dedicated to the development of methods and tools supporting Product Architecture definition for “Adaptive Design” tasks, no real means are available while addressing more radical innovation activities. The paper proposes a critical overview of TRIZ models and tools to evaluate their potential integration into a comprehensive methodology for Product Architecture definition. A comparison with the three major modularity methods is performed with the aim to establish how TRIZ can be located thereupon to current state of the art of Product Architecture management. An academic case study is discussed, in order to show how the OTSM Network of Problems approach can bring a significant contribution in that sense.

Collective Intelligence to Solve Creative Problems in Conceptual Design Phase

In industry, there is an interest in the collective resolution of creative problems found on the phase of conceptual design. In this work we introduce an information-based software framework for collaboration in the problem resolution process. This framework proposes the implementation of techniques from the collective intelligence research field in combination with the systematic methods provided by TRIZ theory. Both approaches are centered in the human aspect of the innovation process, and are complementary. While collective intelligence focuses on the intelligence or behavior that emerges in collaborative work, the TRIZ theory is centered in the individual's capacity to solve problems. The framework's objective is to improve the individual creativity provided by TRIZ method and tools, with the value created by the collective contributions. This work aims to expand the horizon in the field of computer aided innovation (CAI), to the next evolutionary step called Open CAI 2.0.

Preliminary Studies on Human Approaches to Inventive Design Tasks with a TRIZ Perspective

Among the open research issues in the field of inventive design, a careful attention should be dedicated to the definition of means to measure and improve the efficiency of educational and training processes as well as to assess the benefits of the introduction of TRIZ expertise into R&D and engineering teams. In fact, while TRIZ methods and tools have gained a certain acknowledgment as a means to improve problem solving and inventive design skills, a dominant model about its introduction in an industrial organization is still missing. The paper presents a study aimed at measuring the impact of TRIZ learning (tools and logic) with respect to individuals’ talent. The paper proposes an original methodology to investigate human approaches to inventive design tasks: definition of the test (Sample group and control group, Inventive problems); evaluation criteria (Aptitude to follow a logical problem analysis path; Aptitude to explore various perspectives of the problem; Aptitude to generalization; Overall correctness of the problem analysis task; Completeness of the analysis); comparison and correlation criteria (Pearson correlation). The proposed investigation methodology is clarified through the description of an exemplary application in design courses at Politecnico di Milano and at the Università di Firenze.

Method and Application of Patented Design Around by Combination of IPC Cluster Analysis and TRIZ

Patent barriers have become a major obstacle to China's enterprises in the market competition. With the technical information provided by the patents, the combination of patent's IPC cluster analysis and technical maturity is used to determine the circumvented patents and patent avoidance goals. Components weights analysis is applied to extract the technical characteristics of patent clusters, according to the patent circumvention target technology research and development direction is identified to design around existing patented technology range. Technology research and development direction guides the designer to construct TRIZ standardized model of invention problem which is solved to realize innovation, the designer applies knowledge tools of TRIZ to solve the invention problem and gets the original understanding of the patent design around. Combining the advantages of existing patented technology the designer can develop new products with innovative technology, enabling innovative design around to the existing patent group. Taking the packer as an example, the application patent group design around process of IPC cluster analysis and TRIZ is to design around packer patents, develop secondary seat packer and the apply for related patents.

Learning TRIZ: Impact on Confidence when Facing Problems

This paper explores the impact of learning problem solving tools such as Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) on self-efficacy. The paper utilises survey responses from 94 students who were enrolled in an RMIT-wide elective which taught students tools of TRIZ between 2006 and 2010. It was found that there were correlations between questions of self-efficacy and questions of attitude when facing future problems. A stronger correlation was observed between self-efficacy judged on enactive mastery experience (past performance) compared to self-efficacy judged on vicarious experience (peer comparison). Learning TRIZ was found to have a stronger influence on self-efficacy judged on past performance. The findings in this study suggest that learning specific tools of problem solving together with effective implementation can assist with the development of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is vital as it impacts the willingness to face future problems which has a role in the improvement of problem solving ability. We propose that learning TRIZ leads to the development of problem solving skills. This paper is part of an ongoing PhD research that addresses the issue of the measure and transferability of innovative problem solving skills within the engineering field.

OTSM-TRIZ Games: Enhancing Creativity of Engineering Students

Enhancing the ability of solving non-typical problems especially in engineers is an important issue for any R&D&I department. Consequently, some initiatives have been launched recently to foster new educational approaches and methods.The system of OTSM-TRIZ games, developed by Tatiana Sidorchuk and Nikolai Khomenko, proposes a series of games for 3-8 years old kids to lead them thinking according to the OTSM-TRIZ postulates and models, without learning TRIZ tools directly. This paper postulates that these games can be efficiently used also for stimulating creativity of engineering students, with interesting insights on their behaviors when challenged through unexpected situations and tasks. Some of these games have been tested both with 12 years old Iranian kids and with MS students in Mechanical Engineering of Politecnico di Milano. The research shows improvement in creativity indexes for MS engineering students under the condition of the proposed experiment.First, in the paper a thorough description of the classical OTSM-TRIZ games is provided. Then, after presenting the experimental activities run with kids and university students, their behavior is discussed so as to extract some general guidelines about the implementation of these educational practices in different contexts, as well as some preliminary assessment on the resulting outcomes.

Linking TRIZ to Conceptual Design Engineering Approaches

During the last decades, product design has yielded several interest by scholars, leading to a great amount of contributions concerning design methodology. Some of them, beyond modeling the whole design process, propose their model of the early design activities devoted to the development of the product concept, i.e. the conceptual design phase. These design approaches are widely diffused in academia. However, some uncertainties appear in literature, concerning their efficacy in performing innovative design. This observation forms the basis of this work, which aims at improving classical design processes by integrating their procedure with the TRIZ base of knowledge. To achieve such an objective, authors’ approach consists in considering generally valid steps of the conceptual design process, and then in identifying most suitable TRIZ tools for each of them. A structured list of suggestions concerning the proposed integration is finally presented, together with an explanatory case study application of the proposed improvements.

TRIZ-evolution of Programming Systems

The procedure of systematization programming languages on the TRIZ-evolution base is considered in the report. The procedure of systematization programming languages is illustrated on the example of the programming languages paradigms development. The algorithm of presentation TRIZ-evolution map [1] of the programming languages paradigms is described.The complete analysis of programming paradigms as specified in the evolution of programming languages allowed to determinate the progressing and inheritance paradigms of programming languages. The major contradictions had been arisen in the modern programming languages is established [2]. With the using of TRIZ tools it is derived solutions of contradictions and defined set of the properties, which will be included to the new programming paradigm.The Imperative Paradigm, the Object-Oriented Paradigm, the Functional Paradigm, and the Logic Programming Paradigm are considered in the report. It is determined the principal contradictions which became the “moving force” of each new paradigm, solution of this contradictions on the base of TRIZ tools [3]. The evolution of programming languages by the criterion “from contradiction to contradiction” is formed. The TRIZ-evolutionary map on the base of TRIZ-tools which is used for transition on development programming paradigm is formed.The present approach usage allows forecast the appearance of new programming paradigms, new programming languages and new methods of programming. It becomes possible to determine the tendency of programming languages development and prediction of the next languages generations.

Application of TRIZ in Improving the Creativity of Engineering Experts

Numerous researchers have extensively studied two causes of problem solvers’ inflexibility which impede creativity: the Einstellung effect [1] and design fixation [2]. The former has been demonstrated experimentally on numerous occasions and is induced by prior experience. The latter is a result of our fixedness on the functions of things which we regularly use. This paper focuses on the third cause of inflexibility, which has not been researched adequately – the detrimental effect of professional expertise on creativity [3]. This detrimental effect is a natural consequence of extensive professional experience and the possession of large amounts of domain knowledge. After approximately 10 years in a profession, due to the construction of effective knowledge schemas, the short-term memory limitations which normally impede effective idea generation can partly or even completely disappear. As a result, experts attain an ability to search for solutions to problems quickly – without significant cognitive and time effort. Although this ‘quickness’ of experts in suggesting solutions is advantageous, it also creates negative consequences. Experts’ solutions are usually confined to their domain-specific knowledge and do not utilize novel ideas. This study reviews existing evidence related to the detrimental influence of expertise on creativity and discusses how the application of TRIZ tools of Substance-Field Analysis and Method of the Ideal Result can minimize this negative influence.

TRIZ as an Enabler for Intellectual Property Protection During Product Development

In Europe and the United States a switch to a knowledge intensive production industry is actively pursued. Especially in these knowledge intensive branches of industry proper protection of IP is of utmost importance to get and maintain a profit-making advantage over competitors. These companies define patenting strategy's that go beyond the patent of just single products or processes. The decisions on these patenting strategies are made by specific IP departments after the development process. The main question to be answered is if a company's patent strategy is better served if the product designer can take this strategy into account during the concept development stage. This paper looks at the possibility of TRIZ as means of supporting the product designer in acquiring patent strategy data. It does so by linking a design model to TRIZ tools and methods and patenting strategies. Furthermore TRIZ is compared to generic strategies for developing a (design around) patent. It is concluded that all information is available to define the data for the patenting strategies during concept development, but that the available tools and methods are too slow. Furthermore, two important strategies for defining patens, combination and decomposition, are not properly supported by TRIZ.

Exploiting TRIZ Tools in Interaction Design

Current market laws ask for new product development methods and tools dealing with both technological and interaction related issues. Starting from this, the research described in this paper aims at finding and exploiting some TRIZ tools in interaction design field of practice. TRIZ theory offers well defined and structured methods and tools, and allows generation of generic guidelines for innovative design of a huge variety of products. Interaction design focuses on studying and developing a correct interaction between users and products, in order to maximize cognitive compatibility. Real goal of this research is developing a new design method where systematic approach to innovation of TRIZ compensates for some lacks of the user centered interaction design process. Starting from similarities and differences between tools currently used in these two domains, the research considers the TRIZ thirty-nine features, the forty inventive principles, and the contradiction matrix. These elements are adapted to the requirements of the interaction design field of practice, obeying to classic usability rules.These new elements contribute to the definition and development of a new design framework named interaction design guidelines - IDGL. The effectiveness of these elements has started to be tested in a case study focused on the interaction design of a new DVD recorder.

TRIZ-based Systematic Device Trimming: Theory and Application

This paper proposed a TRIZ-based systematic Device Trimming Algorithm with theory and application. The method can be used to resolve process-machine problems by re-designing the problematic processing machines or simply used to trim components for various purposes. The trimming process is orchestrated by a trimming plan which consists of sequenced trimming tasks. Elements of each trimming task include function carrier, useful functions, objects, trimming rules, new carriers, trimming problem statement, and trimming method. A 2-loop depth-first recursive trimming process is proposed to maximize the trimming effect. Applied on a slit-valve failure of a chemical vapor deposition equipment in one of major Taiwanese foundry companies, the proposed problem solving process successfully identified the critical key disadvantages of the problem and solved the slit-valve failure with breakthrough results. A number of solutions were generated by the integrated process which involves a number of TRIZ tools. This paper describes only the solution by the trimming process. The main contributions of this paper include:1) Establishing an integrated trimming process consistent with TRIZ problem-solving model and capable of breakthrough problem solving and cost savings; 2) Solving the slit-valve problem with 83.3% component count reduction, 95% component cost reduction, 99% operational energy reduction, and completely designed-out the original failure mode. The results have been converted into a patent pending approval.

A TRIZ-based Trimming method for Patent design around

Patent design around is an effective way to walk around competitive patents and avoid patent infringement. This paper proposes a TRIZ-based Trimming method for Patent design around. The 4 stages of Patent design around include design around target definition, design around problem identification, problem solving, and solution evaluation. In the 4 stages, Technical Features (TF) are identified to define design around target based on patent claim decomposition. In order to avoid literal infringement and doctrine of equivalents, the design around problem identification process of Trimming one or more patent Technical Features is developed. Then, the problem solving tools based on Modern TRIZ tools (such as Physical Contradiction resolution, and Function-Oriented Search) are introduced to solve the design around problem. Two Trimming scenarios of Core Ejector System is investigated to illustrate the method. The project successfully circumvents target patent and generates several new granted patents in China.

TRIZ-assisted Stage-Gate Process for Developing New Products

This paper describes a method to improve innovation by integrating TRIZ tools into the Stage-Gate process. The problem now is that existing best industry practices for developing new products, in particular the Stage-Gate process, are still relatively inefficient, especially as concerns radical and disruptive innovations. On the other hand, a method such as TRIZ, which is specifically directed at efficient innovation and could dramatically improve these practices, is underused. The proposed TRIZ-Assisted Stage-Gate process engages TRIZ tools throughout the entire development – from generating ideas for new products through developing production prototypes. This approach makes new product development significantly faster and reduces cost, thereby decreasing risks associated with development. In addition, it is easy to implement because it retains the general structure of the Stage-Gate process. The paper also includes a brief case study on the development of a novel Smart Antenna for Wi-Fi systems to illustrate the practical implementation of the proposed method.

Study and Implementation on Computer Aided Innovation System Based on TRIZ

The aim of Computer Aided Innovation (CAI) is to support the engineer’s problem solving process with current design method and knowledge base. TRIZ is developed based on the patents analysis within the cross domain in the world and it is used in innovation design widely. Conflict Matrix, Effect, Standard Solution and Separate Principle are the key TRIZ tools used to resolve the inventive problems. And they can also be used for knowledge representation in the design system. As a Computer Aided Innovation System, Innovation Engine is developed and instructed. The effect of TRIZ methodology and CAI system can be proved with the case analysis of the cavity shape design of the rotor channel in the vertical shaft impact crusher. With limited power of electrical motor, there is a technical conflict in a vertical shaft impact crusher when requirement of improving break ratio of the stone materials. With the recommended principle (Curvature), the conception of a channel with a curvilinear shape can be gotten.

Interpretation of TRIZ Principles in a Service Related Context

A systematic innovation method such as the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) has powerful tools that can be used to solve contradiction problems in technical or non-technical systems. The most common tool used in TRIZ is 40 inventive principles (IPs). The purpose of this paper is to interpret these IPs from a service prospective. The data was collected from many resources found in the literature. A case study was conducted to prove the feasibility of interpretative IPs. The outcome of this study enhanced the usability of the 40 IPs by including new synonyms for some principles, comprehensive descriptions, and providing suggestions and examples for each principle. The interpretative principles focused on a service process used to fulfill customer demands. An Interpretation of TRIZ tool such as the 40 IPs in a service related context improves the understanding of these principles by researchers or service designers.

Using the evolutionary pattern to generate ideas in new product development

The paper presents the patterns of evolution concept as an analytical tool for using the information obtained from the patent system to generate ideas and feed new product development processes. A case study is presented using a methodology to extract and analyse information based on some TRIZ tools as the S-curve metrics and the patterns of evolution for studying an exercise bike manufactured by a Brazilian firm. The evolutionary pattern of a set of eight patents was obtained along ten lines of evolution, and a radar graph of this pattern was built showing the evolutionary potential and providing some good prospects for product development in some specific design areas of the exercise bicycle.

How to combine term clumping and technology roadmapping for newly emerging science & technology competitive intelligence: “problem & solution” pattern based semantic TRIZ tool and case study

Competitive technical intelligence addresses the landscape of both opportunities and competition for emerging technologies, as the boom of newly emerging science & technology (NEST)--characterized by a challenging combination of great uncertainty and great potential--has become a significant feature of the globalized world. We have been focusing on the construction of a "NEST Competitive Intelligence" methodology that blends bibliometric and text mining methods to explore key technological system components, current R&D emphases, and key players for a particular NEST. This paper emphasizes the semantic TRIZ approach as a useful tool to process "Term Clumping" results to retrieve "problem & solution (P&S)" patterns, and apply them to technology roadmapping. We attempt to extend our approach into NEST Competitive Intelligence studies by using both inductive and purposive bibliometric approaches. Finally, an empirical study for dye-sensitized solar cells is used to demonstrate these analyses.

Complexity Planning for Product Design Using TRIZ

Adopting complexity concept in product design provides ability to manage existing resources and to meet the rapid development of market demand from existing and future markets. Currently, the best approach in managing product complexity is through optimization and trade-off. Both methods are considered as a constraint to product development and innovation that evolves alongside with new market trend. Complexity Planning is proposed, with the integration of strategic tools of TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving). Through a case study, the guideline helps the designer to develop a design concept that considers commonality and trend of system evolution as a preventive initiative to enhance better complexity management within the product life cycle.