The document discusses TRIZ (the theory of inventive problem solving) and its applications. It begins with an introduction to TRIZ and its origins in the analysis of millions of patents by Genrich Altshuller. It then covers key TRIZ elements like the 40 inventive principles, contradiction matrix, separation principles, ideality, resources and effects, failure analysis, and patterns of system evolution. The document provides examples and discusses how TRIZ can be applied to problems like inventive problem solving, failure analysis and prevention, and new product/process invention. It also addresses overcoming psychological inertia and the use of analogy in idea generation.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Introduction

5. 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.

6. Invention Principles
• Improve reliability w/o degrading strength
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
What if
Kettering’s team
knew these
principles?

7. TRIZ
• TRIZ, the theory of inventive problem solving, is the
science of leveraging inventive principles and patterns
for new applications

8. The ability to learn faster than competitors
may be the only sustainable competitive
advantage.
Arie P. De Geus, Royal Dutch Shell

9. 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

10. TRIZ Origin
• Based on analyzing 2 1/2 million patents and 1000’s of
invention experiences
• 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
Problem A Problem B
Genrich (“Henry”) Altshuller

11. What do these have in common?
• Removing stems from bell peppers
• Removing shells from sunflower seeds
• Cleaning dust from air filters
• Unpacking parts wrapped in protective paper
• Splitting diamonds along micro-cracks
• Producing sugar powder from sugar crystals
Slowly pressurize,
then release

12. TRIZ (Altshuller)
Use inventive principals,
patterns of evolution, and
methods of generating ideas
based on these patterns
Brainstorming/ SCAMPER
(Osborn)
Decrease psychological inertia,
activate human motivation,
organize effective teamwork
Function Analysis (Miles)
Re-structure existing
knowledge for effective
application of the creative
process
Synetics (Gordon)
Analogy/Metaphor, joining
together of different and
apparently irrelevant elements
Other structured approaches
(Kepner-Tregoe, De Bono, etc.)
Ideation TRIZ
Combine all
effective
approaches to
creative problem solving and
technological evolution, adding
advancements and automation

13. 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

14. TRIZ Elements

15. Inventive Problem Solving Process
Analytical Tools Analogical Tools
Innovation
Questionnaire
My Problem
Formulator
A
B
C
D
•
•
n
Many Innovation Directions
Knowledge Base
- Principles,
- Resources,
- Effects
1
2
3
4
•
•
n
Many Solution Concepts
My Solution
Examples
Guided process through system
and problem description,
formulation, knowledge focus, and
using examples to help translate
into solutions…

16. TRIZ Analysis and Related Principles
Analytical
(Formulation)
Analogical
(Solution aids)
Contradictions
Technical
Physical
Principles
40 principles
Separation principles
Ideal systems Effects and resources
Improving useful functions
Reducing/eliminating harmful
Substance & fields Standard solutions
Evolution Patterns of evolution

17. 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

18. 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 ...

19. Technical Contradiction Table
Conflict
Change
weight:
moving
weight:
static
area:
static
force pressure stability strength
weight:
static
X X 35, 30,
13, 2
8, 10,
19, 35
13, 29,
10, 18
26, 39,
1, 40
28, 2,
10, 27
area:
moving
2, 17,
29, 4
X X 19, 30,
35, 2
10, 15,
36, 28
11, 2,
13, 39
3, 15,
40, 14
force 8, 1, 37,
18
18, 13,
1, 28
1, 18,
36, 37
X 18, 21,
11
35, 10,
21
35, 10,
14, 27
pressure 10, 36,
37, 40
13, 29,
10, 18
10, 15,
35, 37
36, 35,
21
X 35, 33,
2, 40
9, 18, 3,
40
strength 1, 8, 40,
15
40, 26,
27, 1
9, 40,
28
10, 18,
3, 14
10, 3,
18, 40
13, 17,
35
X

20. Technical Contradiction Invention Principles
# Principle Description Example
2
8
Replace a
mechanical
system
a. Replace a mechanical system by
an optical, acoustical or odor system
b. Use an electrical, magnetic or
electro-magnetic field for interaction
with the object
c. Use a field in conjunction with
ferromagnetic particles.
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.
2 Extraction a. Extract (remove or separate) a
“disturbing” part or property, from
an object, or
b. Extract only the necessary part or
property
To scare birds from the airport,
reproduce the sound known to
excite birds, using a tape recorder.
1
0
Prior
Action
a. Carry out the required action in
advance, in full or at least in part
b. Arrange objects so they can go
into action without time loss waiting
for action.
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.
2
7
Inexpensive
short-lived
object
Replace an expensive object by a
collection of inexpensive ones,
compromising other properties
(longevity, for instance)
Disposable diapers

21. Physical contradiction
• Conflict within a single parameter
Hard and Soft
Heavy and Light
• Use Separation Principles
Time
Airplane wings adjust for take-off vs. flight
Space
Band-aids separate adhesive and gauze
Parts and Whole
Cars have re-enforcement in critical areas
Conditions
Chemicals change under temperature

22. Space Principles and Examples
• Utilization of Space Resources
Occupy vacant space
Use another dimension
Arrange vertically
Nesting (matreshka)
Travel through
Use the reverse side

23. 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

24. 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.

25. Identifying resources
• General Resources
Substances
Fields
Space
Time
Functions
• Failure Resources
Systemic
Change
Differential
Inherent
Organizational
Small disturbances
Dangerous elements
Control devices
Protection system

26. Eliminating Harmful Functions
• Tension rollers cause belt wear.
More
options

27. Wear--Local Slackening
Next
slide

28. Wear--Switch off an action
Combining principles
with examples helps
you succeed.

29. Substances and Fields
• Model parts of system
• 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
Substance 1 Substance 2
Field
76 solutions fit these
categories of ways
you can change the
system to improve.
Solutions apply many
ideality and contradiction
principles, but framing
them in this model
produces different results.

30. System evolution
Evolution also
applies some
previous principles,
but the framework
again produces
different results.

31. A problem cannot be solved using the same
knowledge that created the problem.
Albert Einstein

32. Psychological Inertia

33. Mental patterns
• What songs share the tune with
“Twinkle, twinkle little star”?
Sometimes TRIZ
provides new
knowledge;
sometimes it helps
us access what we
already know.

34. Psychological Inertia—Abstraction
• Up-level the problem to get to a higher-level purpose
Baking heating
Heating changing state of mixture

35. 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 Repeated
From time to time Constantly
1 1111...

36. 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

37. Searching in the wrong place
Page 37
Are you sure you dropped
your keys there?
No, I dropped
them behind you,
but the light’s
better here.

38. Psychological Inertia—Solution Space
• Overcoming psychological inertia by shifting the space
• Innovation Guide translates effects into useful actions
Electrical &
Magnetic Effects
& Technology
Chemical Effects
& Technology
Problem
S olution
Mechanical
Effects &
Technology

39. Psychological Inertia—Expanded Space
Black boxes are
solutions identified
without TRIZ; white
boxes show TRIZ
solution breadth
through formulation
and depth through
principles.

40. Analogy
• What Do Roofing Shingles and
Fish’s Scales Have In Common?
It is hard to find
the right analog
and it is still hard
to apply even if you
know that it
applies.
Whitescalesonsomefishexpandwithheat;whiteparticlesinsomeshinglesexpandtoreflectheatonsunnydays

41. Analogy needs Principles and Examples
• Examples/Analogies
Easy Near Transfer
Limited Distant Transfer
• Principles
Broader Transfer
More Difficult To Connect
• Principles and Examples
Bridge Distance and Ease
Success Comes With Practice
My
Problem
Analogous
Standard
Problem
Analogous
Standard
Solution
My
Solution
Solution
Examples

42. TRIZ Applications

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

44. Problem Solving & Design Process
• Situation Appraisal
Finding Problems and Opportunities
• Problem Analysis
Problem Definition and Dimensions
Problem Causes
• Decision Analysis
Objectives & Criteria
Alternatives
Evaluation
• Potential Problem Analysis
DE
IPS,AFD,DE
AFD
IPS,AFD,DE
IPS
IPS
AFD

45. Anticipatory Failure Determination (AFD)
This section
highlights
some of the
unique
aspects of
AFD.

46. The man with a new idea is a crank until the
idea succeeds.
Mark Twain

47. Anticipatory Failure Determination
• Formulate the problem
Why did this fail, or how might it fail?
• Formulate inverted problem
• Develop potential failures
use general technological knowledge base
use specific AFD knowledge base tools
How can we create or
invent the failure?
Localize
Amplify

48. 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.
Page
48
F
End of Brake Travel
Free Play
Brake Lights
Switch Engaged
Slowing of
Vehicle
Hard Braking - Rapid
Stopping of Vehicle
Accident is
reported
First car slows
without brake lights
coming on -- rear-
end collision occurs
Foot Moves from
Gas Pedal to Brake
Gas Pedal
LE
Brake Pedal
?

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

50. Knowledge of the failure scenario
• All of these topics are leveraged to fully analyze the failure.
Page
50
System Structure
System’s Useful
Functions
Harmful Effects
Related to the
System
System
Environment
System
Resources
Hypotheses from Science,
Engineering & Everyday
Life
Structuring of
Knowledge
System

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

52. Directed Evolution

53. System evolution
• 400+ lines of evolution provide detail under the patterns

54. 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

55. Mapping Of Key Components
Today
1
Historical
Patent &
Science
Research
Past
Big Bang
2
2
Analyze development of
evolutionary resources
3
Create a
PF/IC*
Bank
* PF/IC – Problem
Formulation /
Intellectual Capital
4
Leverage today’s
knowledge with
knowledge of the past
Future
5
Use knowledge of the
future to develop new
concepts for today
6
Securing
Intellectual
Capital
7
Implement
Research the
functions,
not just the
particular
product.
Resources include
available
principles,
functions, effects.
Applying
Evolution
Postulates

56. 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)

57. TRIZ System and Resources

58. 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
• … expanding
440+ operators and 400+ lines of evolution
• …guiding
Based on 60 years
of modeling expert
inventors
With clickable links
explaining and
showing the process

59. 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

60. End