TRIZ Summary

Chris Killer
 Overall TRIZ Philosophy
Concentrate on the ideal solution
Ideality is the overriding driver for system
evolution

Concentrate on all the resources available to us

If we can use these more effectively we will
get more out of less
 Ideality
• I.e. all benefit, no cost, no harm. If we can
accurately define this, we are half way there.
• Ideality = ‘Value’ = Benefits
Cost + Harm
• Start by focussing on solutions not problems
• Then ask how can we use the resources to
achieve this?
 Resources
• Everything in the system is a resource
(even the harmful things)
• The best solutions will come from knowing
about all the resources
 What is a Resource
• Something available that isn’t being used
– Technical: e.g. substances, fields, functions,
information, time, space
– Personal: e.g. skills, knowledge, experience,
attitudes, feelings, perception
 Contradictions
• All systems contain contradictions
– What gets worse as what gets better?
E.g. strength v weight
• We usually accept a compromise or trade-off, but
this is often not necessary
• Powerful solutions are the ones that don’t accept
the trade-offs
• We should actively look for contradictions as
there are ways of eliminating compromise
Question: How can we re-design a leaking flange joint?

What are we trying to make better? Seal tightness

Reliability

What gets worse as we do this? Weight

Ease of operation
Complexity
TRIZ solution from 40 inventive principles:

“Another Dimension” - Tilt or re-orientate an

object, lay it on its side…
 Functionality
• Use functional analysis when you know the
system will not change fundamentally
• Create a Subject-Action-Object (SAO) table
including harmful actions
• From this create flow diagram incorporating all
parts of the system
• Define the Main Useful Function (MUF) of the
system and ask how each part contributes to this
• Trim out least useful parts
 Functional Analysis
Component A Relationship Component B
lens transmits light
lens protects bulb
bulb holder locates bulb
bulb produces light
bulb constrains battery
reflector focuses light
reflector locates bulb holder
reflector energises bulb
top cap locates lens
top cap locates reflector
barrel locates top cap
barrel locates bottom cap
barrel constrains battery
barrel locates switch
bottom cap locates spring
spring constrains battery
battery energises bulb
battery corrodes bulb
Note
battery energises wire 1 harmful
battery corrodes wire 1 actions
switch energises wire 2
wire 2 energises bulb holder
thumb/hand directs barrell
thumb/hand actuates switch
 input

thumb/hand
lens
top cap barrel
bottom cap

reflector bulb
light holder wire 2 switch

wire 1
bulb
battery spring
 PP3
energy indicator

thumb/hand input
lens

light bulb body battery

plate 2
plate 1 interface clips
 Psychological Inertia
• Problem solving is like digging for treasure in a
field
• If a hole already exists, our inclination is to dig it
deeper, & hence lose sight of the rest of the field
• If someone else comes along, we encourage them
to jump in the hole with us
• The overall effect is called psychological inertia
 Time & Space
“Naturally creative people
think in time & space”

This principle is used with ‘The Nine Boxes’

– We naturally think in the central box, but it is
useful to consider all the others
Super-
system

System

Sub-
system

Past Present Future

 40 Inventive Principles
• Generic principles can provide solutions to
specific problems by the means of
analogical thinking
• As far as we know there are only 40 ways
to solve a contradiction
• Knowing this provides an excellent means
of focussing brainstorm activities
 40 Inventive Principles
1. SEGMENTATION 1. "SKIP"
2. TAKEOUT 2. BLESSING IN DISGUISE
3. LOCAL QUALITY 3. FEEDBACK
4. ASYMMETRY 4. INTERMEDIARY
5. MERGING 5. SELF-SERVICE
6. UNIVERSALITY 6. COPYING
7. NESTED DOLL 7. SERVICE LIFE - cheap/short vs. expensive/long
8. ANTI-WEIGHT 8. MECHANICS SUBSTITUTION
9. PRELIMINARY ANTI-ACTION 9. PNEUMATIC or HYDRAULIC CONSTRUCTIONS
10. PRELIMINARY ACTION 10. FLEXIBLE SHELLS and THIN FILMS
11. BEFOREHAND CUSHIONING 11. POROUS MATERIALS
12. EQUIPOTENTIALITY 12. CHANGE OF COLOR
13. OTHER WAY ROUND 13. HOMOGENEITY
14. SPHEROIDALITY 14. DISCARD and RECOVER
15. VARIABILITY or DYNAMICISM 15. CHANGE PHYSICAL or CHEMICAL PARAMETERS
16. PARTIAL or EXCESSIVE ACTION 16. PHASE TRANSITIONS
17. ANOTHER DIMENSION 17. THERMAL EXPANSION
18. MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS 18. STRONG OXIDANTS
19. PERIODIC ACTIONS 19. INERT ATMOSPHERE
20. CONTINUITY OF USEFUL ACTION 20. COMPOSITE MATERIALS
 40 Inventive Principles…
…with technical examples
– http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1997/07/b/index.html

…with business examples

– http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/1999/09/a/index.htm

…with social examples

– http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/2001/06/a/index.htm