Here is another presentation in my series of showing which companies are using or have used TRIZ inside of their organizations for their own profitability and competitive advantage, this is another from the Panasonic Corporation. This one is is a presentation was given to the Japanese TRIZ Community Conference of 2010, presented by Mr. Takahiro Shoji of the Panasonic Communications division, specifically the Telecommunications device design group. This presentation walks through the scientific process that he and other TRIZ trained engineers inside of Panasonic apply TRIZ, as a scientific method in discovering new solutions and continuous improvement of designs. This is the 2nd presentation that Panasonic has emphasized the "scientific approach", and it is the same that we at the S+IG, use towards problem-solving, strategy and innovation, and of note it is the same approach that we see Samsung also using. It is an interesting insight into how this company has applied TRIZ inside of their Corporate organization and to give them the edge they seek competitively against

1. Practical Use of Scientific Creative
Techniques for the Development of
Telecommunication Devices
Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.
Takahiro Shoji
Yosuke Koga

2. AGENDA
1. Background and Issues
2. Case Report
Scalable Process
Visualization
Simplification
3. Conclusion

3. Background
Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd. Has already deployed the
scientific methods such as TRIZ in the process of product
plannning, development and manufacturing, and we has reported
their effectiveness.
However, the development process by such the scientific
method is only partly used in our company.
Opinion
The effectiveness of TRIZ/the scientific method isn't low.
There is a issue to widely introduce/operate TRIZ/scientific
method.
Introduction

4. Issues
There is no time in the parallel work in the idea and invention
creating and the development.
All members are not always familiar with the scientific method.
It is difficult that visualization of the effect of introducing the
scientific method and difficult to win understanding from its
organization.
Getting complex to create ideas, it is difficult to win
understanding from members.
Issues to introduce/operate
Requests
Many high quality ideas and inventions are needed in a short
time, easily.
In fact, creating good ideas and inventions is difficult.

5. Policy solving the issue
Practical utilization and settlement of TRIZ/scientific method
for efficient creating ideas and inventions.
1. A scalable TRIZ/Scientific method process.
2. The visualization of the process/the idea.
3. Utilizing simplified TRIZ/Scientific method.
Introducing example of development on a
communication equipment
Goal
Methods

6. Scalable process
Reviewing an optimal process according to the outputs, the
inputs and the resources.
ProcessProcess
Steps / methods / references
InputsInputs
・ theme
･ scope
･ constraint
ResourcesResources
･ members
・ skill
・ time frame
OutputsOutputs
・ contents
・ format
・ quantity/quality
Materials / DocumentsMaterials / Documents
theme / schedule / output image
MEETINGMEETING

7. Overview of process
Theme
Fundamental ideas
Making tree map
Selecting area
Creating new ideas
Evaluating ideas & reviewing patents
idea combining think deeply
patents
Crossfire

8. Sharing meanings of the process
STEP 1 : Thinking existence ideas
STEP 2 : Creating new ideas
STEP 3 : Studying implementation
The thinking process of the invention creating
Visualization

9. Fundermenta ideas
<Purpose>
Thinking fundamental ideas, quickly and
widely
Making Functions/Techniques tree map by
using idea sheets.
<Way>
① Write functions/techniques ideas on a
sheet and put it on right side.
② The different member think out objectives
ideas and put it on left side.
③ Moreover, another member think of
functions/techniques ideas again.
① Functions② Objectives
③ Once again, it spreads
out to fuctions.
Example of the works.
Simplification

10. SimplificationMaking Tree Map
<Purpose>
To be simplify making the map, focusing
purpose of making the tree map to easy to
find idea and to see tendency.
<Way>
① Making functions/techniques items by
using objectives sheets
② Allocation each function/techniques
sheets to appropriate item.
(1st item) (2nd item)
Example of the works.

11. Theme Selection
<Purpose>
Theme selection for detailed idea
investigation.
<Way>(Practical example this time)
① It decides by the vote of the member to
the classification item and the idea of the
function/techniques tree.
① voting sheet
(1st item)
(2nd item)
Picture of the works
Example of the works.

12. Function/Techniques Map
A function and techniques tree map is made in order to see
ideas easy and grasp the tendency.
Idea lists
Classification Idea
The number of the
creating ideas
Visualization

13. Managed Brainstorming
<Purpose>
Idea creating in selected theme.
<Way>
① Each member creates and presents no
overlapped idea in selected theme, in only
30 seconds.
② Each member can pass only to twice
times.
③ The game ends when only one member
remains.
The idea description sheet example
Simplification

14. Managed Brainstorming
The photograph example : The
desk
The photograph example : The
meeting space
<Purpose>
Idea creating in selected theme.
To control creating idea direction without
instruction.
<Way>
① It prepares the photograph which relates
to the selected theme.
② It creates ideas while showing a
photograph.
Simplification

15. The STC operation
<Purpose>
Creating more ideas by using STC
operation(with scene)
<Way>
① Prepare a scene picture with extreme
parameter.
② Member can concentrate on finding
issues and creating ideas.
The STC operation(with scene) example
The STC operation(with scene) example
父 母 子供 子供 子供
執事 執事 執事 執事 執事
メイドメイドメイドメイドメイドメイド
メイド
メイドメイドメイドメイドメイドメイド
Simplification

16. The number of the creating ideas
The visualization of the number of the creating ideas.
At the initial stage, a lot of ideas are presented.
When repeating, the number of the creating ideas decreases but the
inventive quality becomes high.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
1 2 3 4 5
実施回数[回]
創出アイディア数[件/人・時間]
The number of the creating ideas
A lot of ideas come
out but the inventive is
low
The number of the ideas
decreases but the
inventive rises.
Visualization

17. Idea evaluation
<Purpose>
To visualize creating
ideas and control the
direction of creating ideas.
<Way>
① Prepare evaluation
sheets.
② Evaluate simply in
about 3 degrees.
evaluation itemidea
The idea evaluation sheet example
Simplification

18. The evaluation result example
-1.00
-0.80
-0.60
-0.40
-0.20
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
実現時期[年後]
ニーズThe evaluation result in "the realization time vs needs"
Needs high/Realization near: The realistic idea
Needs high/Realization far :
Needs low/Realization far: niche idea
It reviews a patent for the
embodiment.
It reviews a patent having
to do with a concept.
Visualization

19. Learning patentability
<Purpose>
To learn patentability in selected theme.
A patent summary sheet example
<Way>
① In the quiz form,
members read and answer
decision of patent or
rejection.
② Totally around 6
patents are done.
Visualization

20. Idea combining
<Purpose>
To creates new issues by the idea
combining.
<Way>
① Combining ideas between a basic idea
and each other idea.
② Evaluate an effect, disincentive by the
combining.
Idea combination sheet example
The basic idea
combining idea
combination effect
disincentive
Simplification

21. Idea combination
The inventivestep
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
pencil
ball-point
pen+
Integrated pencil
+ ball-point pen
A ball-point pen
which can turn off
like a pencil
A pencil which doesn't
disappear like a ball
point pen when the
time passes.
Just functional idea combination ⇒ fusional idea combination
Visualization

22. Detailed Investigation
Detailed Investigation sheet example
<Purpose>
To find the detailed issues to make it
patents.
<Way>
① Repeat reviewing in order of
“usage scene" → “function“ →
“issue“ → “idea" based on basic idea.
scene
issues.
Simplification

23. Crossfier
<Purpose>
To create additional ideas , additional patents and variety of craims.
<Way>
① Investigation of additional ideas from other(ex. Completitors)point of view.

24. Conclusion
By the scalable process approach, TRIZ/scientific methods have become to
be accepted easily
By the visualization approach, TRIZ/scientific methods have been received
by members and efficient idea creation was realized.
By the the simplification approach, members can use TRIZ/scientific
methods easily.
Research on establishment of idea creating by using TRIZ/scientific
methods.
Research on more simple and efficient TRIZ/scientific methods.
Effects
Next Steps
In this presentation, we introduced practical process, visualization
approach and simplification approach, and practical example on
introducing/operating TRIZ/scientific methods.