Inventive Engineering and TRIZ

TRIZ will become a standard practice worldwide

and will be widely taught to adults and students to
assist them in increasing innovation skills.
- Daniel Burrus, author of Technotrends
TRIZ Bio—David Bush
• Dissertation research on engineering creativity
• Taught graduate courses, including Creativity in
Engineering Design and TRIZ Directed Product
Evolution, at the University of Minnesota
• TRIZ training from Invention Machine Corporation and
Ideation International in 1995, and continued with
advanced training from Ideation International
• Certified in TRIZ inventive problem solving (IPS) and
failure prediction (AFD) by Ideation International
• Trained and/or coached several Twin Cities companies in
TRIZ including Boston Scientific, Donaldson Company,
and MTS Systems
Agenda
• Introduction
• TRIZ Elements
• Psychological Inertia
• TRIZ Applications

Inventive Problem Solving

Failure Analysis, Prediction, and Prevention

New Product/Process/System Invention

TRIZ System and Resources

Introduction
Barriers to Discovery
• Charles Kettering of General Motors once asked his
team Suppose we bang up spring steel until it is
rough all over—then how long will it last?
• The team answered We all agree that its fatigue
durability will be seriously impaired.
• Instead of breaking at 2000 cycles, the samples are flexed
up to 2,000,000 cycles and still they don't break.
Invention Principles What if
Kettering’s team
• Improve reliability w/o degrading strength knew these
principles?

Transition to a heterogeneous structure

Transform the shape of an object

• Evolve the system: substance’s structure

Substance redistribution

Modify part of a substance

Generate mechanical stress to change properties
TRIZ
• TRIZ, the theory of inventive problem solving, is the
science of leveraging inventive principles and patterns
for new applications
The ability to learn faster than competitors
may be the only sustainable competitive
advantage.
Arie P. De Geus, Royal Dutch Shell
How do we generate ideas?
• Core Disciplines

In Engineering and Physics, draw insight from understanding
Mechanical, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, Magnetic, and
Electromagnetic properties

Software and electronics use logic constructs

Biology

Economics and behavioral economics

Etc.

• Idea Generators

Brainstorming

SCAMPER (substitute, combine, add/amplify, minimize, magnify,
multiply, put to other use, eliminate, reduce).

Abstraction/Function Analysis

Analogy/Synectics
TRIZ Origin
• Based on analyzing 2 1/2 million patents and 1000’s of
invention experiences Problem A Problem B
• The same problems had been
addressed by inventions in
different areas of technology
• The same solutions were used over and over
• The same patterns of development were
found across technology and industry
• 99.7% of invention have common
patterns / principles / Operators
Genrich (“Henry”) Altshuller
What do these have in common?
• Removing stems from bell peppers
Slowly pressurize,
• Removing shells from sunflower seeds then release

• Cleaning dust from air filters

• Unpacking parts wrapped in protective paper
• Splitting diamonds along micro-cracks
• Producing sugar powder from sugar crystals
 TRIZ (Altshuller)
Use inventive principals,
patterns of evolution, and
methods of generating ideas
based on these patterns

Brainstorming/ SCAMPER
Other structured approaches Ideation TRIZ (Osborn)
Decrease psychological inertia,
(Kepner-Tregoe, De Bono, etc.) Combine all activate human motivation,
effective organize effective teamwork
approaches to
creative problem solving and
technological evolution, adding
advancements and automation

Function Analysis (Miles)

Synetics (Gordon)
Re-structure existing
Analogy/Metaphor, joining
knowledge for effective
together of different and
application of the creative
apparently irrelevant elements
process
In 2 month(s) ... I resolved a problem that my
company has worked on for more than a
year. I have filed for a patent on the concept.
Van Twelves, Aerospace Propulsion System Design
TRIZ Elements
Inventive Problem Solving Process
Guided process through system
and problem description,
formulation, knowledge focus, and
using examples to help translate
into solutions…

Analytical Tools Analogical Tools

Many Innovation Directions Many Solution Concepts

A 1 Examples
Formulator B 2
C 3
D Knowledge Base 4
• - Principles, •
• - Resources, •
n - Effects n
My Problem My Solution
Innovation
Questionnaire
TRIZ Analysis and Related Principles

Analytical Analogical
(Formulation) (Solution aids)
Contradictions Principles
Technical 40 principles
Physical Separation principles
Ideal systems Effects and resources
Improving useful functions
Reducing/eliminating harmful
Substance & fields Standard solutions
Evolution Patterns of evolution
What can be more alluring than the discovery of
the nature of talented thought and converting this
thinking from occasional and fleeting flashes into a
powerful and controllable fire of knowledge.
Genrich Altshuller, creator of TRIZ
Technical Contradictions
• Split problem to (39) competing parameters

Strength

Temperature

Durability

Complexity ...

• Use 40 Principles

Segmentation

Prior action

Shift to a new dimension

Mechanical vibration

Thermal expansion ...
Technical Contradiction Table
Conflict weight: weight: area: force pressure stability strength
Change moving static static
weight: X X 35, 30, 8, 10, 13, 29, 26, 39, 28, 2,
static 13, 2 19, 35 10, 18 1, 40 10, 27
area: 2, 17, X X 19, 30, 10, 15, 11, 2, 3, 15,
moving 29, 4 35, 2 36, 28 13, 39 40, 14
force 8, 1, 37, 18, 13, 1, 18, X 18, 21, 35, 10, 35, 10,
18 1, 28 36, 37 11 21 14, 27
pressure 10, 36, 13, 29, 10, 15, 36, 35, X 35, 33, 9, 18, 3,
37, 40 10, 18 35, 37 21 2, 40 40
strength 1, 8, 40, 40, 26, 9, 40, 10, 18, 10, 3, 13, 17, X
15 27, 1 28 3, 14 18, 40 35
 Technical Contradiction Invention Principles
# Principle Description
2 Replace a a. Replace a mechanical system by
8 mechanical an optical, acoustical or odor system
system b. Use an electrical, magnetic or
electro-magnetic field for interaction
with the object
c. Use a field in conjunction with
ferromagnetic particles.
2 Extraction a. Extract (remove or separate) a
“disturbing” part or property, from
an object, or
b. Extract only the necessary part or
property
1 Prior a. Carry out the required action in
0 Action advance, in full or at least in part
b. Arrange objects so they can go
into action without time loss waiting
for action.
2 Inexpensive Replace an expensive object by a
7 short-lived collection of inexpensive ones,
object compromising other properties
(longevity, for instance)
Example
To increase a bond of metal coating
to a thermoplastic material the
process is carried out inside an
electromagnetic field to apply force
to the metal.
To scare birds from the airport,
reproduce the sound known to
excite birds, using a tape recorder.
Rubber cement in a bottle is
difficult to apply neatly and
uniformly. Instead, it is formed
into a tape so that the proper
amount can be more easily applied.
Disposable diapers
Physical contradiction
• Conflict within a single parameter

Hard and Soft

Heavy and Light

• Use Separation Principles

Time Space
Airplane wings adjust for take-off vs. flight Band-aids separate adhesive and gauze

Parts and Whole Conditions

Cars have re-enforcement in critical areas Chemicals change under temperature
Space Principles and Examples
• Utilization of Space Resources

Occupy vacant space

Use another dimension

Arrange vertically

Nesting (matreshka)

Travel through

Use the reverse side
Ideality
• Ideal System has Function Without Cost
Useful Functions
Harmful Functions

• Use Resources and Effects

A complex system might be replaced by a simple one if a physical,
chemical, or geometrical effect is used

Infinite number of “effects” in the world

Effects in Innovation Guide provide useful actions to apply
phenomena to engineering

Resources Are Often Free

Energy, time, space, etc. often go to waste
Shining light on problems
What resources
can you use to
know what switch
goes to which
light?

Switches and lights are in separate rooms—switches and lights work normally.
You have one visit to the switch room followed by one visit to the light room.
Identifying resources
• General Resources • Failure Resources

Substances
Systemic

Fields
Change

Space
Differential

Time
Inherent

Functions
Organizational

Small disturbances

Dangerous elements

Control devices

Protection system
Eliminating Harmful Functions
• Tension rollers cause belt wear.

More
options
 Wear--Local Slackening

Next
slide
Wear--Switch off an action

Combining principles
with examples helps
you succeed.
Substances and Fields
Field
• Model parts of system

Substance 1 Substance 2

• Use (76) Standard Solutions

Complete an incomplete model (create interaction)

Modify S1 or S2 to Eliminate or Reduce Harmful Impact

Change existing field

Add a secondary field to enhance or counteract 76 solutions fit these
categories of ways
Solutions apply many you can change the
ideality and contradiction system to improve.
principles, but framing
them in this model
produces different results.
System evolution
Evolution also
applies some
previous principles,
but the framework
again produces
different results.
A problem cannot be solved using the same
knowledge that created the problem.
Albert Einstein
Psychological Inertia
Mental patterns
Sometimes TRIZ
• What songs share the tune with provides new
“Twinkle, twinkle little star”? knowledge;
sometimes it helps
us access what we
already know.
Psychological Inertia—Abstraction
• Up-level the problem to get to a higher-level purpose

Baking heating

Heating changing state of mixture
Psychological Inertia—Scaling
• Smart Little People modeling—characters
able to act on a micro scale
• Amplification
If it takes place: Amplify to take place:

In a point or spot Over a line or surface

In part of the volume Over an entire volume

Once 1 Repeated 1111...

From time to time Constantly
Psychological Inertia—Inversion
• A “problem” is just an outcome that we don’t like
• If you don’t understand a problem, it might be easier to
solve it by inverting your goal and designing alternative
ways to create the outcome (within existing conditions)
• I want to create

Open circuit

Pitted metal

Defaulted loan
Searching in the wrong place
Are you sure you dropped
your keys there?

No, I dropped
them behind you,
but the light’s
better here.

Page 37
Psychological Inertia—Solution Space
• Overcoming psychological inertia by shifting the space
• Innovation Guide translates effects into useful actions

Mechanical
Effects &
Technology
Chemical Effects
P roblem

Electrical &
& Technology Magnetic Effects
S olution & Technology
 Psychological Inertia—Expanded Space
Black boxes are
solutions identified
without TRIZ; white
boxes show TRIZ
solution breadth
through formulation
and depth through
principles.
Analogy It is hard to find
the right analog
and it is still hard
• What Do Roofing Shingles and to apply even if you
Fish’s Scales Have In Common? know that it
applies.

White scales on some fish expand with heat; white particles in some shingles expand to reflect heat on sunny days
Analogy needs Principles and Examples
• Examples/Analogies Analogous Analogous

Easy Near Transfer Standard Standard

Limited Distant Transfer Problem Solution

• Principles Solution

Broader Transfer Examples

More Difficult To Connect My My
Problem Solution
• Principles and Examples

Bridge Distance and Ease

Success Comes With Practice
TRIZ Applications
 Ideation/TRIZ Inventive Engineering

Ideation/TRIZ main
applications are Valuable Portfolio of
inventive problem Intellectual Capital
solving (IPS), failure
determination (AFD), &
directed evolution (DE)
Center of Innovation

Enterprise
Problem Solving & Design Process
• Situation Appraisal

Finding Problems and Opportunities DE

• Problem Analysis

Problem Definition and Dimensions IPS,AFD,DE

Problem Causes AFD

• Decision Analysis

Objectives & Criteria IPS,AFD,DE

Alternatives IPS

Evaluation IPS

• Potential Problem Analysis AFD

 Anticipatory Failure Determination (AFD)

This section
highlights
some of the
unique
aspects of
AFD.
The man with a new idea is a crank until the
idea succeeds.
Mark Twain
 Anticipatory Failure Determination
• Formulate the problem

Why did this fail, or how might it fail?
Localize
• Formulate inverted problem How can we create or
Amplify invent the failure?
• Develop potential failures

use general technological knowledge base

use specific AFD knowledge base tools
Localizing to the Last Event
• Last Event and Failure can be confounded with what is
perceived to be the failure -- study the system carefully.

Events leading to a rear end collision of two automobiles. Accident is

reported
Brake Lights
Switch Engaged
Foot Moves from
Gas Pedal to Brake
Free Play
? LE

Gas Pedal
F

First car slows

Slowing of
Vehicle without brake lights
coming on -- rear-
Hard Braking - Rapid end collision occurs
Stopping of Vehicle

End of Brake Travel

Brake Pedal
Page
48
 Amplifying the Inverted Problem
• Amplification positions us to invent the failure.
We look at
If the failure takes place: The amplifies failure takes place:
Scaling or
Amplifying to
break In a point or spot Over a line or surface
Psychological
Inertia. In part of the volume Over an entire volume
Amplifying is
a strong force
in Failure
Once 1 Repeated 1111...
Analysis.
From time to time Constantly
Find a way
to provide [the] (amplified inverted problem) with help of
any other function, which happens before the Last Event.
Page
49
Knowledge of the failure scenario
• All of these topics are leveraged to fully analyze the failure.

System Structure Structuring of

Knowledge
System
Environment
Harmful Effects
System’s Useful
System Related to the
System
Functions

System Hypotheses from Science,

Resources Engineering & Everyday
Life

Page
50
 Inventing Missing Resources
• Combining existing resources to create a failure
Find ways in science, engineering, and experience to
Gear keyed on intentionally move a component along a shaft, e.g.:
the shaft • force is applied (hand, hammer, etc.),
Bearing Rotating • gravity acts on the component,
moves shaft • a screw thread
 side loading on bearing by gear
 centrifugal forces
 thermal expansion
The last 3 were identified as in this system, but were
insufficient by themselves or in combination.
Machined By looking to “invent” other resources, a very hard to see
Bearing pressed shaft
onto shaft helical pattern produced by machining was found on the shaft.
Combining the last four resources allowed the bearing to
unscrew itself. Page
51
Directed Evolution
System evolution
• 400+ lines of evolution provide detail under the patterns
Main Postulates of Directed Evolution
• Patterns of evolution

Patterns are generally repeatable: find future and skipped stages

• Market driven evolution

Increasing ideality

• Evolution at expense of resources

Move from available to hidden and derivative resources

• Evolution of function and technology

Map interactions and dependencies with other systems

• Alternatives in evolution

Competition based on timing and financial resources
 Mapping Of Key Components
Research the
functions, Use knowledge of the
not just the Securing future to develop new
particular 1 Intellectual
product.
concepts for today
Capital 5 Applying
Historical
6 Evolution
Patent &
Past Today 7 Future Postulates
Science
Big Bang Research Implement
3
* PF/IC – Problem 2 Create a 4
Formulation / PF/IC* Leverage today’s
Intellectual Capital Bank knowledge with
knowledge of the past
Resources include 2
available Analyze development of
principles, evolutionary resources
functions, effects.
Surgical Staple Evolution
• Combines sewing & stapling with "Evolution Toward the Micro-Level”

• Components: housing, closing anvil, liquid polymer in reservoir

• Under very high pressure, polymer is extruded in a narrow knifelike
stream, pierces the tissue, and forming in contact with the anvil
• On contact with tissue, the polymer solidifies (polymerizes)
TRIZ System and Resources
Ideation TRIZ software simplifies by
• …integrating and automating

4 problem formulation approaches into one

Automatic problem statement generation

Sets of principles into one expanded System
of Operators, tied to problem statements
• …guiding

Based on 60 years
of modeling expert
inventors

With clickable links
explaining and
showing the process

• … expanding

440+ operators and 400+ lines of evolution
More information
• More info and free software trial at
http://whereinnovationbegins.net, including:

PDF of An Introduction to TRIZ by Stan Kaplan (normally $15)

8 lessons from Certified Innovation Professional course

Case study

Link to download fully functional Innovation Workbench software with
instructions to get trial license (normally $400 for 1 month lease)

• Other useful articles at:

IdeationTRIZ:

http://whereinnovationbegins.net/publications.html

Dr. Fulbright, University of South Carolina:

http://www.uscupstate.edu/academics/arts_sciences/informatics/default.aspx?id=
37208
End