The document discusses the innovative capabilities of the Goldfire software, developed by Invention Machine, emphasizing its applications in problem-solving, product development, and risk management across various industries. It presents a series of case studies demonstrating the software's effectiveness in generating solutions and enhancing creativity, while outlining methodologies like TRIZ for systematic innovation. Additionally, it highlights best practices for integrating Goldfire into engineering processes to foster efficiency and patent growth.

1. A User’s Perspective:
Innovating Smarter with
Invention Machine Goldfire
William Hessler, Mechanical Engineer Leader
CSC, Computer Sciences Corporation
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

2. WHAT IS GOLDFIRE?!

3. What is Goldfire?

4. What is Innovation?
Market
Analysis
Leverage New Product
IP Development
Product Risk
Improvement Management
Page 4

5. Innovation Activities
Market • Technology / market landscaping
Analysis
• Understand trends and evolutions
New Product • Design a new product or system
Development
• Design a hybrid system
Product • Diagnose and fix product defects
Improvement
• Improve product to achieve a specific goal
Risk • Identify potential failure points
Management
• Develop risk mitigation strategies
Leverage • Patent strategies
IP
• Find new markets for existing IP

6. THE MAIN EVENT

7. My Background with Invention Machine & TRIZ
• Ingersoll-Rand Power Tools, 1989 - 1998
• 1997 trained as a trainer for TRIZ problem solving
and on Invention Machine software
• Trained engineers/designers how to do more
effective problem solving and cost savings for hand
tools
• Dade Behring, 1998 - 2004
• Medical diagnostics blood analysis company
• Formerly DuPont Medical Products, now Siemens
Diagnostics
• GE Energy, 2004 - 2009
• 3 years as a combustion Design Engineer
• Introduced TRIZ and Goldfire to engineers, scientists
and IP personnel
• 1.5 years for Solar Technologies
• Spring Life Device Manufacturer, 2009 - 2010
• CSC, Computer Sciences Corporation, 2011 -
Present
• Supporting ARMY Research & Development test labs

8. Applications of Goldfire
• Problem Statement:
How to apply Goldfire to company problems using Root
Cause Analysis, Function Models and TRIZ basics for
solution creation
• Contradiction:
Psychological inertia-“there is NO WAY software and a
process is going to help you be more creative.”
• Ideal Final Result:
More engineers have access to Goldfire & understand
basics of TRIZ principals to solve future problems

9. APPLICATIONS OF INNOVATION
SOFTWARE

10. 1st Use-Project:
Create a Unique Patent-able Torque Tool
 Solution: Team developed a function model describing nuts
vibrating loose over time; air motor and mechanism manufacturing
were major concern issues.
 Benefits:
• Goldfire identified vibration as key feature and suggested
removing air motor and swinging mechanism.
• Goldfire said eliminate air powered motor and swinging
mechanism device for tightening lug nuts.
 Results:
• Everyone said this was impossible, UNTIL software suggested
using a high vibration source to eliminate the air motor and
swinging mechanism TO TIGHTEN the nuts.
• The software recognized this as a potential solution
contradiction since we documented nuts come loose
due to vibrations caused during driving.
 WOW!!!
10

11. 2nd Use-Project:
Why are these holes cracking?
 Challenge: RCAs & FMEAs get directed by the loudest
speakers in the room, usually the RCA champions, who
usually think they are the expert.
• When you use Goldfire, it is the expert in the room and more
issues are uncovered that would have been most likely ignored
or missed due to the Human Expert not having the world's
domain expertise at their fingertips.
• Team initially came up with a Fishbone diagram with only 11
ribs for why holes crack in hot parts.
• 11 ribs… and not one mention of any manufacturing cause!
 Solution: Used Goldfire to create a Fishbone diagram with 97
ribs; everyone wanted to know where I “FOUND” it. The team
investigated shot peening of the holes to improve residual stresses
at the machine surfaces of the holes.
11

12. 3nd Use-Project:
How to wash clothes & dishes more efficiently?
 Challenge: How to wash (clothes or dishes) more
efficiently?
• I did a DEMO for the Appliance team in late 2007
and asked, “What problem if it were solved would
make you Engineer of the Year in your group?”
 Results: Goldfire in 10 minutes said solution was
centered around STEAM, STEAM, STEAM and more
STEAM.
• Within 10 minutes I had the complete R&D team’s
attention and they saw the evolution of high
efficiency appliances and their competitors capturing
even more market share.
• All major competitors had the patents and white
papers on cleaning with steam for residential
appliances.
12

13. 5th Use-Project:
Eliminate Solar Frame Assembly & Field Issues
 Solution:
 Trim “un-needed” parts using Goldfire & evaluate what
could be eliminated in solar panel design and packaging.
 Built a simple solar panel function model. Goldfire asked if
the frame could be integral to another part.. like the $$ flat
glass AND showed that packaging boxes had many potential
improvement areas in the past 35 years.
 Results: Eliminated aluminum frame, tape, screws, ergonomics
issues, module assembly issues (>$51.00) & new formed glass
$42.00. Shipping waste also eliminated and still gives customer
functions of eliminated parts Box $13.00 and landfill waste, BUT
Lego like corners $10.00 & CAN BE RE-USED!.

14. 6th Use-Project:
Why are all these springs breaking?
 Challenge: Spring lifting
devices with main springs
breaking in a weird tearing
shape.
When I heard the cause was
spring overload and only
overload, I knew this was a
job for Goldfire.
 Results: Team was amazed to see this MANY common spring failure
modes. RCA in Goldfire has ability to link causes and effects with
related improvement Patents. Goldfire showed this type of failure was
CAUSED by twisting and pulling, so we redesigned spring ends.

15. Using Goldfire for Patent Disclosures & Filings
 Challenge: How to grow business, not lose market
share, come up with new product ideas faster and
find ways to make existing products more efficient.
How do you find information, no matter what form it
is in or where it is stored. How do you do MUCH
more with less resources, better, faster and
cheaper.
 Corporate agenda: Innovation is key to staying on
top. Senior leadership searching for REPEATABLE
methods and consistent processes to generate new
products. Engineering managers trying to accelerate
the number of patents per year as one of their
“number one” high priority measurable metrics.
Results: 28 Patent Disclosures at Gas Turbine & 3 at Solar:
in less than 4 years
15

16. Reaction to the Software
 People at first do not believe any software could actually
help you be more innovative and creative.
• How can a software package help you think by generating
ideas, looking for causes and effect relationships and breaking
fundamental concepts down into simplified functions?
• It asks you what you are trying to solve, and what the causes
and effects are that you know about..
 I did a demo in 2007 for the research team in India.
• Were very surprised to see it suggest solutions to one of their
research problems to making LEDs brighter.
• I had JUST created a function model and within a few minutes
it was suggesting unique solution directions.
16

17. BEST PRACTICES

18. What is TRIZ, how is Goldfire related, & is
TRIZ experience required?
 Recommended Book: “And suddenly
the inventor appeared: TRIZ, the
theory of inventive problem solving” by
Genrich Altshuller (2004)
 Origin: USSR by Altshuller after WWII
 Theory: Innovation can be taught; step
by step methodology that can lead to a
repeatable process.
 Basis: Exhaustive patent search
conducted by Altshuller
 Today: Considered an empirical
method of innovation
18

19. Knowledge Based Problem Solving
Six Sigma
Value Engineering TRIZ
Innovation Labs
Tool Effectiveness
FMEA
Market DOE
Research
Robust
Design
QFD
Computer
Trial & Error
Modeling
Brainstorming DFMA
Axiomatic 6 Hats
Design Morphological Analysis
Osborn’s C hecklists
Problem
Problem Concept
Concept Concept
Concept
Definition
Definition
Formulation
Formulation Ideation
Ideation Development
Development Design
Design
Stages of Product Development
Goldfire is the most complete TRIZ tool available.

20. Impact of TRIZ on an organization
20

21. The Problem Statement
Analysis Approach to Current Solution Road Blocks:
Define your Roadblocks based on 5W’s and H.
Answer the 6 basic questions of journalism:
1. Who? Who has the problem? ENGINEERING
2. What? What does the problem seem to be?
What are the resources?
3. When? When does the problem occur? All the time?
Under certain circumstances?
4. Where? Where does the problem occur?
5. Why? Why does the problem occur?
6. How? How does the problem occur?
21

22. The Problem Statement – Asking Why5
Ask "Why" Five Times
Ask "Why" a problem occurred and then ask "Why" four more times.
For example...
1. Why has the machine stopped?
A fuse blew because of an overload
2. Why was there an overload?
There wasn't enough lubrication for the bearings
3. Why wasn't there enough lubrication?
The pump wasn't pumping enough
4. Why wasn't lubricant being pumped?
The pump shaft was vibrating due to damaged impeller
5. Why was the impeller damaged?
Chips of foreign material entered into the pump
Problem Statement: Foreign material chips are damaging the pump impeller.
22

23. Problem Definition to Solving the Problem
1) Define the problem 5) Determine Contradictions
List all requirements and constraints Technical or Physical contradictions
We want this but we can’t because
of this. We get this because of this. 6) Determine Input Parameters
Use 2 of 39 or other parameters
2) Create Ideal Final Result (IFR) 7) Physical or Technical Contradiction
Eliminate the deficiencies Convert between the two contradictions
Preserve the advantages If Technical then use Contradiction
Not more complicated Matrix
No new disadvantages
8) Determine General Solution
Use 40 Inventive Principles
3) Determine the differences
Compare original system with IFR 9) Examine Solutions
Convert generic solutions to specific
Does solution increase Ideality?
4) Create Ideality Equation No – go to step 5
List differences as Benefit, Cost, Does solution solve the problem?
Harmful Yes – IMPLEMENT
23

24. Typical Goldfire Project Focus:
 Reduce part cost  Reduce assembly
 Reduce size time
 Reduce temperature  Increase strength
 Reduce weight  Reduce vibration
 Increase speed  Reduce
 More efficient
stress/pressure
 Improve alignment
 Improve
manufacturability
24

25. Benefits of a Confident Decision Point ?
 Innovative solutions with more proposals- better, cheaper,
faster
 Enhances credibility and exposes past knowledge.
 Reduces # of trial and error solutions. Saves time, money and
reduces risks
 Easy software to use and follows repeatable process
 Works on any type of problem in any industry
 Used Goldfire on Power Tools, Medical Devices, Gas Turbines,
Solar Modules, Ergonomic Lifting Products. Can be applied to
existing designs, new products, failure prediction, RCA’s,
cost savings, liability redesigns, process improvements and
product enhancements.
25

26. TRIZ 39 Parameters
When facing a contradiction, begin with identifying the 39 engineering parameters.
Which parameter improves and which parameter worsens as a result?
1. Weight of moving object 15. Durability of moving object 29. Accuracy of manufacturing
2. Weight of nonmoving object 16. Durability of nonmoving object 30. Harmful factors acting on object
3. Length of moving object 17. Temperature 31. Harmful side effects
4. Length of nonmoving object 18. Brightness 32. Manufacturability
5. Area of moving object 19. Energy spent by moving object 33. Convenience of use
6. Area of nonmoving object 20. Energy spent by nonmoving object 34. Reparability
7. Volume of moving object 21. Power 35. Adaptability
8. Volume of nonmoving object 22. Waste of energy 36. Complexity of device
9. Speed 23. Waste of substance 37. Complexity of control
10. Force 24. Loss of information 38. Level of automation
11. Tension, pressure, stress 25. Waste of time 39. Productivity
12. Shape 26. Amount of substance Select which parameter
13. Stability of object 27. Reliability number is improving, and
14. Strength 28. Accuracy of measurement which is getting worse.
26

27. TRIZ 40 Principles
Use the Contradiction Matrix to generate ideas using the 40 Principles
1. Segmentation 15. Dynamics 29. Pneumatics and hydraulics
2. Taking out 16. Partial or excessive actions 30. Flexible shells and thin films
3. Local quality 17. Another dimension 31. Porous materials
4. Asymmetry 18. Mechanical vibration 32. Color changes
5. Merging 19. Periodic action 33. Homogeneity .
6. Universality 20. Continuity of useful action 34. Discarding and recovering
7. "Nested doll" 21. Skipping 35. Parameter changes
8. Anti-weight 22. "Turn Lemons into Lemonade" 36. Phase transitions
9. Preliminary anti-action 23. Feedback 37. Thermal expansion
10. Preliminary action 24. 'Intermediary' 38. Strong oxidants
11. Beforehand cushioning 25. Self-service 39. Inert atmosphere
12. Equipotentiality 26. Copying 40. Composite materials
13. 'The other way round' 27. Cheap short-living objects
14. Spheroidality - Curvature 28 Mechanics substitution
Note: All 40 principles may apply to solving the contradiction, though statically the top level
solutions for resolving this conflict are identified in a matrix grid. More than one set of
parameters may apply to the contradiction.
27

28. Please click here to access the
full presentation deck and
watch the on-demand replay of
this session:
http://InventionMachine.com/webcast-replay-a-users-perspective-
innovating-smarter-with-invention-machine-goldfire/