An Introduction to TRIZ: A Revolutionary New Product Development

Tool
Paul R. Syiem

An Introduction To TRIZ
... There are 40 inventive principles that creative genii ... and "inventive problems." Inventive
Principles were identified and ... TRIZ gives the user the knowledge for ...
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Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch

In English: Theory of Inventive Problem Solving.

Five Important Pillars of TRIZ:

o Contradictions
o Ideality
o Functionality
o Resources
o Trends

Contradiction & Ideality (Direct vs. Indirect Maintenance Cost)

 Functionality (Writing in Space!)

 Resources (Gas pressure blast cap)

 Trends (Automation; Modularity; Self-Diagnostics;

Redundancy; Multi-Skilling; Outsourcing; Networking;

Globalization;)
Acceptance of organizational learning concepts for competitiveness has, in recent
years, resulted in product development professionals learning, integrating, and bringing
about successful results from relatively new ways of doing things. A number of new
tools, new approaches, and new ways of thinking have brought about changes in the
product development process resulting in better products faster and at a lower cost for
companies and for customers. A new entrant into the arena of very successful
approaches for new product development is a body of knowledge commonly referred to
as TRIZ (sometimes called TIPS, Triads or Systematic Innovation).

So what is TRIZ? TRIZ is a problem solving, strategy development, value maximizing

tool for new product development professionals. TRIZ forces the product development
professional to look outside the box, to look into the future and to look at successful
ways of solving a problem using technology that the practitioner does not even know
about. TRIZ enhances the productivity of product development professionals and
compresses cycle time in the following areas:

* Technical conflict resolution (QFD roof (structurally self-supporting), concept

development, value maximization, FMEA, reliability deployment, manufacturing issues,
etc.)

* Technology forecasting and concept development (S- curve management, strategic

planning, concept development.)

TRIZ fills a gap in the new product development process by providing structure and
simplification in areas commonly viewed as requiring primarily creativity and experience.
A number of corporations have realized phenomenal success from using the structure
that TRIZ provides. Here are some examples of experiences with TRIZ:

* 60 patentable ideas in one day for improving a component that had been inadequate
for 5 years for an automotive supplier [1]

* Eight solutions in 2 days for a powder metallurgy problem that had persisted for 10
years [2]

* Half a day to develop a new design concept for a hydraulic hammer design that had a
four year history of field failures [3]

* Compression of wind tunnel testing time on a car from 555 minutes to 298 minutes [4]

TRIZ practitioners cite a phenomenal increase in the productivity and quality of solutions
to tough engineering problems through the use of TRIZ. Companies such as Procter &
Gamble, Xerox, Ford, Kodak, Motorola, JPL and numerous smaller, fast moving,
creative companies, are also cited by TRIZ practitioners as companies that have
experienced TRIZ successes.
Popular consensus with practitioners is that the biggest benefits from TRIZ are in the
new product development area, more specifically, at the concept design phase. The
author's personal successes with TRIZ have been in using TRIZ for generating multiple
ideas to solve specific problems.

Three Common TRIZ Concepts

1. Technical Conflict and Physical Contradiction. [5,6] A technical conflict arises when
an attempt to solve one part of the problem creates another problem. Most engineering
systems have conflicts. For example:

* The walls of a beverage can has to be thin and yet it has to carry a heavy load
because of other cans that are stacked on top of it

* An automobile has to be faster and yet safer

* Weather stripping for a car door needs to be thick to provide superior sealing, yet thin
so that the door closes easily

A physical contradiction is a statement which expresses a contradictory requirement for

an engineering system. For example, a beverage can's wall has to be thin and yet thick
at the same time. (Note: While a technical conflict refers to conflict between two
different features of the system, a physical contradiction refers to the contradictory
requirements of only one specific feature of the system.)

2. Inventive problem. Problems with conflicts and contradictions are traditionally solved
by trading off one thing for something else. TRIZ recognizes this type of problem as an
"inventive problem" and provides a structured approach for solving the conflicting
elements of the problem simultaneously and in a cost effective manner thus making the
problem solver an inventor. It is important to note that not all engineering problems are
inventive problems. The presence of conflict and contradiction in a problem make it an
inventive problem.

3. Ideal Machine. The Ideal Machine is a machine whose function is performed without
the existence of the machine. [7] This ideality concept is very powerful. It forces the
TRIZ practitioner to conceptualize perfection and shoot for it. In the process of shooting
for perfection, the practitioner uncovers conflicts and contradictions and resolves them
using TRIZ practices. Ideality is rarely attained but shooting for it yields impressive
results.

TRIZ Practices

TRIZ consists of five different practices: Inventive Principles;

Physical, Chemical and Geometric Effects; Sufield Analysis; Functional Analysis and
Trimming; and S- Curve Management and Technology Forecasting
1. Inventive Principles. There are 40 inventive principles that creative genii throughout
the world, in different industries and different technological fields, use to achieve highly
inventive solutions. [8] These principles are used independently or in combination with
each other for finding solutions to conflicts, contradictions and "inventive problems."
Inventive Principles were identified and categorized from the study of millions of patents
worldwide. TRIZ gives the user the knowledge for effective application of inventive
principles.

2. Physical, Chemical and Geometric Effects. When an inventive problem is identified

and targeted for solution, TRIZ taps into physical, chemical and geometric effects that
are known to society. Numerous solutions are usually generated for solving the
problem. This part of TRIZ is most effectively done using a PC database designed
specifically for this purpose.

3. Sufield analysis. In chemistry, symbol equations are used to express a chemical

reaction. In TRIZ, symbol equations are used to represent engineering problems. In
cases where the engineering system is not performing effectively, the TRIZ symbol
equation structure of the problem leads the user to standards which provide specific and
successful solution paths and lines of action for converging on a solution.

4. Functional Analysis and Trimming. The functions of the product and of each
component of the product are identified and analyzed. Rules and problem solving
structure unique to TRIZ are then used in conjunction with the concept of the "ideal
machine" for maximizing the value of the total product. Functionality of the product and
its components is maximized and cost is simultaneously minimized. [9] Functional
Analysis and Trimming maximizes the value of a product and its components while
simultaneously minimizing cost.

5. S- Curve Management, and Technology Forecasting. Understanding demand life

cycles, technology life cycles, TRIZ classification of inventions into 5 levels, and TRIZ
patterns of evolution of engineering systems; complemented by other TRIZ practices,
gives TRIZ practitioners the ability to make next generation product and technology
forecasts.

Implications of TRIZ for Product Development

TRIZ makes available to organizations a structured approach for solving tough technical
problems which were, traditionally, solved by those with special creative talents within
the organization. In addition, organizations traditionally relied on knowledge within their
industry for solving difficult technical problems. TRIZ provides an efficient and
inexpensive way of tapping into knowledge from a number of different industries and
from a number of different branches of technology. Practitioners claim success in using
the basic principles of TRIZ and resort to software assisted TRIZ practice to expedite
their efforts.
TRIZ is not a tool which solves every problem; TRIZ is a tool which very nicely fills a
niche which other tools like QFD, concept generation tools, design of experiments,
design for manufacturability, etc. are unable to address. In addition to filling the niche,
TRIZ also provides brainstorming groups stimulation and focus for their creativity.

Finally, TRIZ, through the use of S- curve analysis and technology forecasting,
challenges the product development strategist to assess the evolution of technology life
cycle curves and product life cycle curves confronting their industry and to forecast what
is coming down the road.

(c) 1995 by Paul R. Syiem. For reprints of this article or any portion of the article, please
contact Paul R. Syiem, 8307 Orchard Street, Alta Loma, CA 91701- 1904. Phone: (909)
941- 8532. Fax: (909) 944- 3613. E- Mail: syiem@primenet.com The author welcomes
and encourages comments on this article.