TRIZ: Cause and Effect Chain

(CEC) Analysis, Trimming

& Engineering Contradiction
TRIZ Analysis of Function Analysis
Task
Cause and Effect Chain
Trimming

TRIZ
Engineering
Selection
of
Solving
Challenges
Contraction
Solution
40 Inventive
Principle
TRIZ tool: Cause and Effect Chain Analysis
• CEC is used to identify the weakness and key disadvantages of an
engineering system by looking at the reason/cause that a problem
occur.
• At the end of the analysis, it is found that the problems are due to
physical, or chemical or biological or geometrical restriction that
cannot be further break down.
• It helps to focus attention on the process where a problem is
occurring and to allow for constructive use of facts to narrow down
on the potential actual root causes.
Example of Cause and Effect Chain

Key Disadvantages
Salt
enhances cause cause cause cause cause
the positive Too much excess salts High blood
Taste better Headache
sensory salty food in the blood pressure
attributes
of foods
CEC Analysis of Paint Filling System
CEC Analysis of Paint Filling System

Motor Lever Float

Over flow Too much Motor is
keep activate activate
of paint paint activated
pumping the switch the lever

The paint Paint Float

dry after a solidate on maintain at
period of the float the low
time surface position
Key Disadvantage
Trimming
• Method of eliminating components from an Engineering System to reduce
or eliminate the disadvantages of those trimmed components.
• Trimming is an analytical tool in the TRIZ methodology that handles
removing (trimming) certain components and redistributing their Useful
Functions among the remaining components of the Engineering System or
its Supersystem.
• Aim: to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of the engineering
system.
• The decisions about what can be trimmed are made based on the output of
other TRIZ tools that we have learn previously such as function Analysis, Key
Disadvantages that we found from the cause and effect chain
Rules of Trimming

Rule A: Object of the Function does not exist

No Object

Turn on
Switc
motor
h
Rules of Trimming
Rule B: Object of the Function performs the function itself

Pum move
Paint
p
Rule of Trimming
• Rule C: Another Component of the Engineering System or
Supersystem performs the useful function of the Function Carrier

activate

Float Lever
Function Carrier B

Air
Identify the Trimming Problem
• The components to be trimmed should be those that produce disadvantages. For
example, removal of a high-cost component will reduce the total cost of the
Engineering System.
• When the components are removed, new problem related to making other
components perform the useful functions of the trimmed component arise.
These problems are called Trimming Problems.
• Trimming Problems are formulated at each step of trimming. To improve the
Engineering System, the Trimming Model is implemented by solving its Trimming
Problems.
Applying trimming on Paint Filling System

Motor Lever Float

Over flow Too much Motor is
keep activate activate
of paint paint activated
pumping the switch the lever

The paint Paint Float

dry after a solidate on maintain at
period of the float the low
time surface position
Key Disadvantage
Trimming Model for Paint Filling System
• Identify the components that can be trimmed from the Function
Model or cause and effect chain of the Paint Filling System. Write the
component name in the Components column. For example, Float has
a high disadvantage associated with it and, hence, it is a candidate for
trimming.
• For each identified component, enter all the useful functions in the
column.

Component Useful Function Trimming Rules New Carrier Trimming Problem

Float Activate lever
Trimming Model for Paint Filling System
• Write the trimming rule for each function. For example, Trimming
Rule A can be applied to the function `Moves lever' of the Float
because the Object of the Function "Lever" is not needed anymore
due to trimming.
Component Function Trimming Rules New Carrier Trimming Problem
Float Activate lever Rule A

activate

Float Lever
Trimming Model for Paint Filling System
• For each function of the trimmed component, select the new carrier to perform
the action. For example, for the function `Controls switch' of the component
`Lever', we may identify another component 'Air' to control the switch.

Component Function Trimming Rules New Carrier Trimming Problem

Float Activate lever Rule A
Lever Turn on switch Rule C Air How to make air
control the switch

Turn on

Lever Switch

Air
Trimming Model for Paint Filling System
• For each function of the trimmed component, select the new carrier to perform
the action. For example, for the function `Controls switch' of the component
`Lever', we may identify another component 'Air' to control the switch.
Component Function Trimming Rules New Carrier Trimming Problem
Float Activate lever Rule A - -
Lever Turn on switch Rule C Air How to make air
control the switch
Lever Turn on switch Rule B Switch How to make
switch to turn on
itself
Switch Activate motor - - -
Outcome of trimming model
• The trimming model is able to improve an Engineering System. The
output of the trimming procedure is one or more Trimming Models
that include a set of Trimming Problems for each component. These
Trimming Problems will be solved using TRIZ Problem Solving Tools.
• It is worth noting that trimming has other interesting and important
applications beyond initiatives focused on cost reduction or
functionality improvement.
Engineering Contradictions
Engineering Contradictions
• Engineering contradiction is deterioration of one of the important
features of the engineering system caused by improving of another
one
 The product get stronger (good), but the weight increases (bad)
 Air plane wing larger (good) but it increase the weight and cost (bad)
 Service is customized to each customer (good), but the service delivery
system gets complicated (bad).
 Fixing ultrasonic sensor is good for paint filling system (good) , but the
complexity and system cost increases. (bad).
 Engineering Contradictions

• “As one characteristics get better, another characteristic ger worse”

Ex:
• If I add heat, then productivity goes up, but it consumes more energy.
• If I make the lift larger, the it can carry more loads, but it adds more weight.
• If I increase the power of the car, then the speed will be improved, but the
fuel consumption will go up.
Traditionally the problem is addressed by compromise, sacrifice
and trade-off.
Engineering Contradiction
• Engineering contradiction can be resolved by using inventive principle
without need to compromise.
• Inventive Principles are a set of 40 generalized recommendations for
modifying a System to resolve an Engineering Contradiction
formulated using a set of 39 generalized parameters.
40 Inventive Principles
Formulating Engineering Contradiction
• Inventive Principles can be applied only if you can formulate the engineering
problems in terms of Engineering Contradictions. Engineering Contradictions are
written in the form of `IF- THEN- BUT’.

IF one use the float in paint tank, THEN the paint level
can be controlled BUT the paint solidate at the surface
of the float.

IF one add more steel on air plane wing, THEN the wing
become more rigid BUT the weight of the wing
increases.
Identifying the Improving and Worsening
Parameters of the Engineering System

Contradiction
Typical Parameter for Altshuller Matrix
• Altshuller had identified 39 typical engineering parameters (improving
and worsening) that can represent all Engineering Contradictions.
• Altshuller's Typical Parameters are generic. Therefore, you must
identify from Altshuller's list those Typical Parameters that are similar
in meaning to the specific parameters that you identified.
Typical Parameter for Altshuller Matrix
 Altshuller Matrix Worsen parameters

• Altshuller created a Contradiction

Matrix that has 39 rows and 39
columns. Each row and column head
contains one of the 39 Typical

Improving Parameter
Parameters.
• The parameters in the columns are
considered improving parameters,
while those in the rows are considered
worsening parameters.
• The number in the intersection box
represent the inventive principles used
as guideline for resolving engineering
contradiction
40 Inventive Principles
Example: Turning Machine
• The turning process creates shavings of
scrap material that can jam the cutter
and damage a work part, thereby
deteriorating system stability.
• one of the solutions was to use a
special robot equipped with visual
sensors and image recognition that
could remove the scrap material as it
forms. This solution was unacceptable
because the robot is extremely complex
and expensive.
• A simpler solution needed to be found.
Engineering Contradiction
If one were to use special robot for image recognition, then the
problem would be removed and the process would be stable, but the
applied equipment would be extremely complex (and expensive)
Identify the improving and worsening
parameters.
Identify the Typical Parameters.
Identify the Inventive Principles.
Select the Inventive Principles
Specific Solution