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Innovation Tool: TRIZ (An Introduction)

Jonathan WeaverUDM ME Department

Development support by David Roggenkamp and Arun Aakaluashok

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References

• There are numerous books on the subject and web materials available, some of the best are at http://www.aitriz.org/ai/index.php, some specifics:– http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/2006/01/07.pdf– Kraev’s Corner featured a twelve lesson sequence in the Triz

Journal which you might enjoy; the lessons are available at http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/2006/

• A full listing of the 40 principles with examples can be found at http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/b/index.html

• The contradiction matrix may be found at http://www.triz40.com/aff_Matrix.htm

• And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared, by Genrich Altshuller• Triz materials from Patsy Brackin, Rose Hulman.

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"The creative person pays close attention to what appears discordant and contradictory ...

and is challenged by such irregularities."

Frank Barron (1942-2002), was an internationally known psychologist and UC Berkeley professor who studied highly creative thinkers in architecture, science, mathematics and literature.  He was  Guggenheim Fellow and a Fellow for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.  Barron received the American Psychological Association's Richardson Creativity Award and the Rudolf Arnheim Award for Outstanding Contribution to Psychology and the Arts.

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Processing Sweet Peppers

• What does this have to do with invention and innovation?

To remove seeds from peppers, the peppers may be placed in a pressure chamber. The pressure can be slowly increased so that the pressure diffuses through the pepper skin to the interior of the pepper. If the pressure is then suddenly reduced, the stem and seeds explode out of the pepper! (1945)

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Beyond Peppers

• Other applications of pressure increase/drop:– Splitting diamonds along micro-cracks (1972)– Removing stems from bell peppers– Removing shells from sunflower seeds– Cleaning filters– Unpacking parts wrapped in protective paper– Producing sugar powder from sugar crystals

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Genrich Altshullar, Father of TRIZ

• Born 15-Oct-1926,• Age 14, patented underwater breathing apparatus that generated oxygen from hydrogen

peroxide.• Age 20, as Lieutenant in Caspian Sea Navy, patented method for escaping immobilized

submarine without diving gear and was offered position as patent examiner.• Age 22, wrote to Stalin to inform him that the Soviet Union’s approach to technology

was chaotic and ignorant and that he had devised a systematic approach by which any technical problem could be solved.

• Age 23, Invited to a meeting and taken into custody.• Age 24, Sentenced to 25 years in prison.• Age 29, Released early from prison following Stalin’s death and learns his grief stricken

mother has committed suicide.• Age 30, Publishes Psychology of Inventive Creativity.• Age 42, Organizes first TRIZ seminar.• Age 43, Publishes Algorithm of Inventing (40 Inventive Principles).• Age 50s, Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.• Age 58, Publishes And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared.• Age 63, Named president of newly established Russian TRIZ Association.• Age 72, Dies. (1999)

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TRIZ

• Altshuller recognized that the same fundamental problem (contradiction) had been addressed by a number of inventions in different areas of technology

• He also observed that the same fundamental solutions were used over and over again, often separated by many years

• He reasoned that if the latter innovator had had knowledge of the earlier solution, their task would have been straightforward

• He sought to extract, compile, and organize such information

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Psychological Inertia Vector

Your training and biases may bring you down this path

A better solution might lie over here

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Altshuller’s Research Results

Patents(World Wide)

Inventive Patents

KEY FINDINGS• Definition of inventive problems• Levels of invention• Patterns of evolution• Patterns of invention

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Levels of Innovation

• LEVEL 1: Apparent (no invention)– Established solutions– Well-known and readily accessible

• LEVEL 2: Improvement– Small improvement of an existing system, usually with

some compromise

• LEVEL 3: Invention Inside Paradigm– Essential improvement of an existing system

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Levels of Innovation (Cont.)

• LEVEL 4: Invention Outside Paradigm– A concept for a new generation of an existing system

based on changing the principle of performing the primary function

• LEVEL 5: Discovery– Pioneer invention of an essentially new system

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Levels of Innovation (Cont.)

 

Examples of innovation levels   LEVEL 1

Compromising DesignLEVEL 2

Resolving the technical contradiction

LEVEL 3 Resolving the physical contradiction

LEVEL 4New Technology

LEVEL 5New Phenomena

Washing Machine Washing Machine with Vertical Drum

Washing Machine with Horizontal

Drum

Washing Machine with Double Drum

Cavitational Ultrasound

Washing Machine

Field Cleaning Machine (forecast)

TV Set Electromechanical TV Mono Cathode-Ray Tube TV

Color Cathode-Ray Tube

TV

LCD/LED TV Three-Dimensional TV

Phone Set Two-Piece Hand Phone One-Piece Hand Phone

Telephone and Fax Machine

Radio Wireless Home Phone

Mobile Cell Phone

 

Source: Kraev’s Corner Triz Lesson 2

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Levels of Innovation (Cont.)

Percentages of Levels of Invention

32

45

18

5 1Level 1: ApparentSolution

Level 2: Improvement

Level 3: Innovation

Level 4: Invention

Level 5: Discovery

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Two Types of Contradiction

• Physical Contradiction– A conflict between two mutually exclusive physical requirements

to the same parameter of an element of the system• Element should be hot and cold• Element should be hard and soft

• Technical contradiction– A conflict between characteristics within a system when

improving one parameter of the system causes the deterioration of other parameter

• Increasing the power of the motor (a desired effect) may cause the weight of the motor to increase (a negative effect).

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Dealing with Physical Contradictions

• Four principles for overcoming physical contradiction:– Separation of contradictory properties in time– Separation of contradictory properties in space– System transformations– Phase transformation, or physical-chemical

transformation of substances

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Examples of Physical Contradictions

• Separation of contradictory properties in time– For overcoming nail’s rotation into the wall, we can propose to

make the nail with a noncircular section shape. But all process for production of these nails should be changed for making the new shape and it is expensive!

• Separation of contradictory properties in space– Bifocals by Ben Franklin

• System transformations– For measuring contact force between a door’s seal and housing of

the refrigerator, we can use some special electronic sensors between them. But what kind of sensors do we need  and how to get them? Is there a simpler way to solve the problem?

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Raspberry Syrup Filled Chocolate Bottles

• It was a young girl’s birthday. One of the guests brought a big box of chocolate candies. The candies were shaped like small bottles filled with thick raspberry syrup. Everybody liked them. One of the guests said, “I wonder how these candies are made?”

• “First they made the bottles and then they filled them up with syrup,” explained another guest.

• “The syrup would have to be very thick, otherwise the candy would not be sturdy enough,” said the third guest. “At the same time, the syrup would be very difficult to pour into the bottle. It is possible to warm the syrup making it more liquid. The problem now is that the syrup would melt the chocolate bottle. We would gain in quantity and lose in quality. There would be many defective candies.”

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How Do They Do It?

• Applying the phase transformation principle, can you envision a solution?

• The syrup should be poured into a mold, frozen, and then dipped into the melted chocolate

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Handling Technical Contradiction

• Altshuller identified a set of engineering parameters such that a contradiction can be stated in the form improving one parameter causes deterioration of the other parameter

• A set of inventive principles are developed• A tool is provided which helps direct the inventor to a

appropriate principles for a given contradiction

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Engineering Parameters

Based on his patent research, Altshuller identified a total of 39 engineering parameters:

1. Weight of moving object.2. Weight of non-moving object.3. Length of moving object.4. Length of non-moving object.5. Area of moving object.6. Area of non-moving object.7. Volume of moving object.8. Volume of non-moving object.9. Speed.10. Force.

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Engineering Parameters (Cont.)

11. Tension, pressure.

12. Shape.

13. Stability of object.

14. Strength.

15. Durability of moving object.

16. Durability of non-moving object.

17. Temperature.

18. Brightness.

19. Energy spent by moving object.

20. Energy spent by non-moving object.

21. Power.

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Engineering Parameters (Cont.)

22. Waste of energy. 23. Waste of substance. 24. Loss of information.25. Waste of time.26. Amount of substance.27. Reliability.28. Accuracy of measurement.29. Accuracy of manufacturing.30. Harmful factors acting on object.31. Harmful side effects.32. Manufacturability.33. Convenience of use.

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Engineering Parameters (Cont.)

34. Repairability.

35. Adaptability.

36. Complexity of device.

37. Complexity of control.

38. Level of automation.

39. Productivity.

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Inventive Principles

Based on his patent research, Altshuller identified a total of 40 inventive principles:

1. Segmentation.2. Extraction.3. Local Quality.4. Asymmetry.5. Combining.6. Universality.7. Nesting.8. Counterweight. 9. Prior counter-action.10. Prior action.

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Inventive Principles (Cont.)

11. Cushion in advance.

12. Equipotentiality.

13. Inversion.

14. Spheroidality.

15. Dynamicity.

16. Partial or overdone action.

17. Moving to a new dimension.

18. Mechanical vibration.

19. Periodic action.

20. Continuity of useful action.

21. Rushing through.

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Inventive Principles (Cont.)

22. Convert harm into benefit.23. Feedback.24. Mediator.25. Self-service.26. Copying.27. An inexpensive short-lived object instead of an expensive

durable one.28. Replacement of a mechanical system.29. Use a pneumatic or hydraulic construction.30. Flexible film or thin membranes.31. Use of porous material.32. Changing the color.

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Inventive Principles (Cont.)

33. Homogeneity.

34. Rejecting and regenerating parts.

35. Transformation of physical and chemical states of an object.

36. Phase transition.

37. Thermal expansion.

38. Use strong oxidizers.

39. Inert environment.

40. Composite materials.

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Principle 1: Segmentation

• Divide an object into independent parts. – Replace mainframe computer by personal computers. – Replace a large truck by a truck and trailer. – Use a work breakdown structure for a large project.

• Make an object easy to disassemble. – Modular furniture – Quick disconnect joints in plumbing

• Increase the degree of fragmentation or segmentation. – Replace solid shades with Venetian blinds. – Use powdered welding metal instead of foil or rod to get better

penetration of the joint.

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 If we have to paint the wooden stairs that lead us to the second floor, then, we should paint every other step and then once those steps are dried then we will paint the rest of the steps. This allows us to use the stairs without having to wait for all of them to dry with just some minor inconveniences.

 

Example of Segmentation

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Principle 2: Taking Out

• Separate an interfering part or property from an object, or single out the only necessary part (or property) of an object. – Locate a noisy compressor outside the building where

compressed air is used. – Use fiber optics or a light pipe to separate the hot light source

from the location where light is needed. – Use the sound of a barking dog, without the dog, as a burglar

alarm.

A complete list of the principles with examples can be found where these two samples were obtained:

http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/b/index.html

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Contradiction Table

Engineering ParametersE

ngi

nee

rin

g P

aram

e ter

s39 Parameters

39 P

aram

eter

s

Inventive Principles useful to solve

the contradiction

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Excerpt of the Contradiction Table from http://www.triz40.com/aff_Matrix.htm

Worsening feature

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Fertilizer Example

• The Problem: Optimal use of fertilizer requires that it be applied when the soil reaches a specific temperature.

• Because soil temperatures change continually, the challenge for tomato growers was being able to distribute fertilizer over a vast amount of acreage at the precise moment the soil reaches optimal temperature.

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Fertilizer Example (Cont.)

• In TRIZ terms, this problem presents as one of production rate vs temperature.

• If we look at the contradiction matrix, we find the intersection of production rate and temperature and infer four suggested principles to apply:– #10: Preliminary Action (perform before needed)– #21: Skipping– #28: Mechanics Substitution– #35: Parameter Changes (such as state changes)

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Fertilizer Example (Cont.)

• These four principles would be investigated to see if they lead to any new ideas

• In this case, principle 10 leads to an excellent solution:

– If the fertilizer is packaged in capsules containing a liquefied gas, the capsules can be applied to the soil ahead of time. When the soil reaches optimum temperature, the gas expands, breaks the capsule, and releases the fertilizer.

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Ball Bearing Example

• Problem Statement : Sorting of ball bearings by size in a simple and inexpensive way.

• Because machining the ball bearing to a very high degree of accuracy is expensive and hence they were made with an acceptable degree of accuracy. The concern is how to segregate these balls into groups each having very similar dimensions.

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Ball bearing Example (Contd.)

• The parameter to be improved is quality of control vs length of a moving object.

• According to Contradiction Matrix, we get the following suggestive principles to overcome the contradiction. They are:– #16 – Partial or excessive action– #17 – Shift to a new dimension

Incline an object or turn it on its side Moving an object in 2D or 3D space Use of multi layer assembly of objects Project images on neighboring areas or on reverse side of the object

– #26 – Copying– #24 - Mediator

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Ball Bearing Example (Contd.)

• Principles 16 and 26 are not considered because they would suggest increasing the accuracy which would increase the cost of machining.

• We use principle 24 along with Principle 17 to help us resolve this issue:– Here we introduce an intermediate object to facilitate

us in sorting.– The intermediate object will be positioned at an angle

and the balls are made to move in 3D space.

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Piping of Steel Shot Example

• Pipe for transporting steel shot– Problem: Pipe wears out at spots from steel shot

movement.– Conflict: Shot must move, but movement causes wear.

• TRIZ Conflict– Improving objective: Productivity (#39) – Worsening objective: Loss of substance (#23)

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Piping of Steel Shot Example (Cont.)

• Suggested principles: – #10: Preliminary action, #23: Feedback, #35: Parameter

changes, and #28: Mechanical interaction substitution -- Use electrical, magnetic fields to interact with object.

• Solution– Place a magnet at high wear spots (corners)

to adhere shot to pipe to create a coating.

Source: slides from Patsy Brackin, Rose-Hulman

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Final Remarks (Cont.)

• Try to avoid some of the common dysfunctions exhibited by development teams during concept generation, which include:– Consideration of just a few alternatives, often proposed by

the most assertive members of the team.– Failure to consider carefully the usefulness of the concepts

employed by other firms in related and unrelated products.– Involvement of only one or two people in the process,

resulting in a lack of confidence and commitment by the rest of the team.

– Ineffective integration of promising partial solutions.– Failure to consider entire categories of solutions.

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Final Remarks

• Thinking out of the box is severely over rated in my opinion; the real key is to make the box as large as possible, and make sure the right stuff is in the box!

• Triz is one tool that can help enlarge – and fill with the appropriate stuff – your box!

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Grow Your Box!

You

Your company

Your industry

All industries

The world

All that can ever be known

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• This is intended to be a brief introduction to TRIZ. There is an awful lot more available on the topic readily available for anyone wanting to learn more!

• Time permitting, let’s take a look at some of the examples in Kraev’s Corner: Lesson 6

Closing