| Author |
TRIZ |
Ragglock
Marshal
BIOnics Industry Syndicate
Joined: May 29, 2001
Posts: 1955
From: Denmark
|  Posted: 2006-01-23 05:19
TRIZ - The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving
TRIZ is a method of inventive problem solving, founded by Genrich Altshuller in the 40's. His idea was amazing yet obvious in hindsight: the process of invention has patterns and procedures, as well as types. Over a period of several years, he looked through over 200,000 patents, trying to find 'inventive problems:' those problems which, as part of their solution cause another problem to appear. An example is increasing the strength of a metal plate causing the weight to increase. Usually trade-offs are the norm. However, Altschuller found many patents that completely eliminated the contradictions, requiring no compromises.
Instead of classifying those patents by industry, he removed the subject matter completely to categorize problems by the problem solving process. He found that often the same problems were solved over and over in different industries, using only one of 40 fundamental principles of invention. If later inventors had knowledge of earlier ones, these solutions could have been found much more efficiently.
He categorized five levels of solution:
* [32%] Routine design problems solved with no special methods
* [45%] Minor improvements, using industry methods, with compromise.
* [18%] Fundamental improvement, using methods outside the industry,resolving contradictions.
* [4%] A new generation replacing primary system functions [usually taken from pure science].
* [1%] A rare scientific discovery or pioneering invention of an essentially new system.
What he determined from this, is that almost 90% of problems engineers faced had been solved already, somewhere else. If they could somehow follow a path to the ideal solution, most solutions would be readily available without reinvention. Here's a brief rundown of the process, using a beverage can as an example:
* Identify the problem - We need a beverage can that doesn't waste material but can be stacked without breaking.
* Formulate the problem - thinner walls reduce costs, but reduce supportability. This is the contradiction that needs resolution.
* Search for previously solved problem - the engineering parameter that needs to be solved in TRIZ language is '#4, length of a nonmoving object'. [A link to the full list is below]. The standard parameter in conflict is '#11, stress'.
* Look for analogous solutions and adapt - If we look up the #4/#11 conflict in Altschuller's table of contradictions, we find three inventive principle solutions:
o Segmentation - the walls of the beverage can could be corrugated or wavy, allowing thinner walls yet increasing edge strength.
o Spheroidality - changing the angle at which the can lid is welded to the wall, increased load bearing capacity.
o Transformation of physical and chemical states of an object - The can could be made of a stronger metal alloy.
An inventor actually employed these techniques to come up with over 20 usable solutions to can manufacturers, many of which are now in use. He did this in less than one week. So, in general, you formulate a problem and then can use Altschuller's references to find out how others have already solved that problem in a different guise. Pretty amazing method.
Details on the type of fundamental problems and on the inventive techniques involved in TRIZ are available at Mazur.net.
think about it when we write stuff up for futher devlopment of DS.
happy reading
[ This Message was edited by: Ragglock on 2006-01-23 05:23 ]
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Fattierob
Vice Admiral
Joined: April 25, 2003
Posts: 4059
| Posted: 2006-01-23 12:12
I searched for "Balancing numbers in a database" and "Keeping a large group of people who pay you money quiet"
got nothing 
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