TRIZ POWER TOOLS Job # 5 Resolving Problems How to Systematically Tackle Tough Problems

Algorithm—Introduction......Page 7
Do You Want to Look for Hidden Problems?......Page 11
Do you already have a Problem?......Page 13
Clarify the Need to Look for Hidden Problems......Page 14
Map the Life-Cycle Jobs......Page 15
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)......Page 17
Who is the Customer ? (Main Job and Special Circumstances)......Page 19
Clarify the Requirements Related to the Problem......Page 21
Clarify the Operating Environment......Page 22
Clarify the Base Problem (Deviation from the Requirements)......Page 23
Clarify the Importance of the Penalties......Page 25
Clarify the Constraints on Solving the Problem......Page 27
Causal Analysis......Page 31
Draw a Function Diagram of the System......Page 37
Step 1: What are you trying to improve?......Page 43
Step 3:  Add Functions that Cause the Problem......Page 44
Step 5:  Form Contradictions......Page 45
Step 6:  Discover Alternative Problems......Page 46
Basic Cause-Effect Diagrams......Page 49
Rule:  Every Box Shows a Knob and a Setting—Every Setting is “Bad”......Page 51
Rule:  Quantify the Current Setting (If It is Known)......Page 52
Determining Causes......Page 53
Rule:  All Causes are Assumed to be at the Worst Setting......Page 54
Rule: Highlight Important Branches And Abandon Branches of the Diagram that Have Little Effect......Page 56
Suggestion:  Consider Putting Models into the Diagram......Page 57
Rule:  Turn the Knobs as You Go......Page 59
Consider Extreme or Unusual Settings from the Table of Knobs......Page 63
Rule:  Requirements Are Not Caused By Anything—Develop Alternative Problem Paths......Page 64
Adding Functions......Page 69
Rule:  Adding Functions......Page 70
Suggestion:  Draw Pictures in the Boxes.......Page 73
Rule:  Show Existence of the Product and Tool as Knobs......Page 75
Rule:  Turn Existence Knobs to Non-Existence......Page 77
Rule:  Most of the Work is in the Thinking......Page 80
Observe the Situation Firsthand......Page 83
What’s Left Behind......Page 84
Compare to the Past......Page 85
When Did the Problem Show Up?......Page 87
Break the Event into Smaller and Smaller Steps......Page 88
Statistical Correlations......Page 89
Rule:  for use with Simple Causal Analysis......Page 91
Existence......Page 92
Number of Like Objects......Page 93
Hybrid Combination of Objects......Page 94
Interaction Zone Location......Page 95
Relative Location......Page 96
Path......Page 97
Velocity Acceleration or Jerk......Page 98
Dimension......Page 99
Degree of Segmentation......Page 100
Voids and Capillary Structures......Page 101
Thickness......Page 102
Curvature......Page 103
Surface Shape......Page 104
Surface Cleanliness......Page 106
State of Matter......Page 107
Bulk Properties of Substance......Page 108
Gradients of Components......Page 110
Chemical Activity......Page 111
Direction of Action......Page 112
Movement Relative to Gradients......Page 113
Field Direction......Page 114
Variety or Separation of Field Components......Page 115
Adding Fields......Page 117
Conductivity of the Medium......Page 118
Adjustability......Page 119
Flexibility......Page 120
Nearness to Critical Point......Page 121
Different Time......Page 122
Addition or Subtraction of Other Functions......Page 123
Storage of Action or Field......Page 124
Discrete or Continuous......Page 126
Pulsation or Oscillation......Page 127
Vary Field Direction......Page 128
Catching Missing Knobs—Relative To......Page 129
Did Easily Turned Knobs Solve the Problem?......Page 131
Jump to New System--Idealize Functions......Page 133
Pick the Functions to Idealize......Page 139
The Ideal Product for Useful Functions......Page 141
Identify and Isolate the Main Modification......Page 142
No Modification—Non-Existent Product......Page 143
No Modification— Not Required......Page 144
No Modification—Comes that Way......Page 145
Little Mod—Minimum Part......Page 146
Natural Groupings of Biased Products......Page 147
Summarize the Ideal Product......Page 148
The Ideal Modification for Useful Functions......Page 149
Describe a Variety of Ideal Modifications......Page 150
Consider an Ideal Inverse Modification......Page 152
What is the Ideal Level of Modification?......Page 153
What is the Ideal Sequence of the Function?......Page 154
What is the Ideal Duty Cycle?......Page 158
What is the Ideal Adjustability and Continuity of Adjustment?......Page 159
What is the Ideal Use of Energy......Page 160
Turning Function Burden to Blessing......Page 161
When Should It Be Excluded?  (The Zero Function)......Page 162
The Ideal Physical Phenomenon for Useful Functions......Page 163
Review the Evolutionary History......Page 164
Plot the Course of Disruptive Technologies......Page 165
Determine the System Maturity from Patents......Page 166
Is it Time for a New Physical Phenomenon?......Page 167
Is a Hybrid or Stand-alone Phenomenon More Appropriate?......Page 168
The Ideal Physical Phenomenon for Useful Functions......Page 170
In-Use—Identify the Competitive Alternative through Observation and Questioning......Page 171
In-Use—Internet Product Search......Page 172
In-Use—Check for Disruptive Technologies......Page 174
In-Use—Patent Searching and Study......Page 176
New—Intelligent Little People......Page 180
New—Library of Effects......Page 181
New—Analogous Products—Patents Outside Your Industry......Page 182
New—Analogous Products—Mega Trend......Page 183
New—Analogous Products—Bio-mimicry......Page 184
New—Hybrid Combination of Physical Phenomena......Page 185
Filter for Inherent Harm (Contact)......Page 187
Filter for Multiple Functions......Page 188
Discovering New Physical Phenomena......Page 190
Drive Measurement and Detection to the Extreme......Page 191
Drive Fields to the Extreme......Page 192
Drive Attributes to the Extreme......Page 193
Chaining Physical Phenomena......Page 194
The Ideal Tool for Useful Functions......Page 196
Self- Service......Page 197
Parasite—Abundant Native Fields......Page 198
Parasite—Laundry List of Adjacent Elements......Page 199
Parasite—Nearby Similar Tool......Page 200
Parasite—Simplified Copy of the Current Tool......Page 201
Theft of Functions from Super-System (TRIZ Universality also ASIT Unification Tool)......Page 202
Theft from Alternative or Competing Objects......Page 203
Theft—Boost Incidental Functions......Page 204
Theft—Steal Human Interactions......Page 205
Idealize Informing Functions......Page 207
The Ideal Observer Doesn’t Need to Know......Page 209
No Measurement—Non-Existent Subject......Page 211
No Measurement—Measurement Not Required......Page 212
No Measurement—Measurement / Detection Not Required......Page 213
No Measurement—Subject Comes Pre-Measured......Page 214
No Measurement—Detect or Measure the Minimum Part or Constituents......Page 215
Natural Groupings—Biased Subjects......Page 216
Natural Groupings—Diverse Subjects......Page 217
Describe the Informing Modification in a Variety of Ways......Page 219
What is the Ideal Sequence of the Informing Function?......Page 221
What is the Ideal Duty Cycle?......Page 222
What is the ideal Adjustability and Continuity of Adjustment?......Page 223
When Should It Be Excluded?  (The Zero Function)......Page 224
The Ideal Physical Phenomenon for Informing Functions......Page 225
Review the History......Page 226
Plot the Course of Disruptive Technologies......Page 227
Determine the System Maturity from Patents......Page 228
Is it Time for a New Physical Phenomenon?......Page 229
Is Hybrid or Stand-alone More Appropriate?......Page 230
The Ideal Physical Phenomenon for Informing Functions......Page 232
In-Use—Identify Competitive Alternatives through Observation and Questioning......Page 233
In-Use—Check for Disruptive Technologies......Page 234
In-Use—Patent Searching and Study......Page 237
New—Library of Effects......Page 241
New—Mega-trend Analogous Observers......Page 242
New—Natural Analogous Observer......Page 243
New—Measure a Copy or Facsimile......Page 244
New—Successive Detection......Page 245
New—Derivative Detection......Page 246
New—Internal Field Markers......Page 247
New—Attached Field Markers......Page 248
New—Detached Field Markers......Page 249
New—Attached Markers......Page 250
New—Detached Marker......Page 251
New—Evolution of Field Phenomena......Page 252
New—Hybrid Combination of Physical Phenomena......Page 253
Filter—Abundant Resources......Page 254
Filter—Passive Control......Page 255
Filter—Deliver both the Function and the Anti-Function......Page 256
Parasite—Already Poorly Performed by Native Fields......Page 257
Parasite—Laundry List of Adjacent Elements......Page 258
Parasite—Simplified Copy of the Current Measurement Device......Page 259
Theft— of Functions from Super-System (TRIZ Universality also ASIT Unification Tool)......Page 260
Theft—Boost Incidental Functions......Page 261
Theft—Steal Human Interactions......Page 262
The Ideal Product for Harmful Functions......Page 263
Non-Existent Waste Product......Page 264
The Ideal Modification for Harmful Functions......Page 265
Make Useful—Anti Function......Page 267
Make Useful—Reverse the Fields or Action......Page 268
Make Useful—Reframing Harmful Functions as Useful Functions......Page 269
Make Useful—Work With......Page 270
Make Useful—Aesthetic Incorporation......Page 271
Make Useful—Perform Accurately—......Page 272
Make Useful—Harmonize the Sequence of Functions......Page 275
Make Useful—Storage of Action......Page 276
Preventative—Redirect the Harm......Page 277
Diminishing—Mediator......Page 278
Diminishing—Absorb or Dissipate Harmful Fields......Page 280
Remedial—Fixing Functions......Page 281
Non-Existent Tool......Page 283
Harmful Tool Not Required......Page 285
Evaluate Candidate Systems......Page 287
Perform Causal Analysis of the Candidate Systems......Page 288
Evolve the System-- Resolve Contradictions......Page 289
Pick High Impact Contradictions......Page 301
Clarify the Contradiction......Page 305
Test for Separation in Time......Page 307
Action—Prior Action......Page 314
Action—Partial Action......Page 319
Action—Excessive and Remedial Action......Page 322
Action—Prior Counter Action......Page 325
Action—Countering......Page 328
Separation on Condition......Page 331
Separation on Condition—Transparency......Page 337
Transformation—Transformable States......Page 339
Transformation—Using Fields......Page 344
Transformation—Input / Output......Page 349
Transformation—Unrolling & Stretching......Page 351
Carrier—Intermediary......Page 354
Merging—Interacting......Page 365
Merging—Countering......Page 379
Merging—Extraction......Page 381
Merging—Adjustable Numbers......Page 384
Rearranging—Two Objects......Page 386
Rearranging—Reorienting Non-Uniform......Page 389
Rearranging—Rearranging & Unfolding Parts......Page 392
Rearranging—Reorienting Attachments......Page 397
Rearranging—Changing Direction......Page 400
Copy or Facsimile......Page 403
Test for Separate Gradually......Page 407
Repeated Use......Page 410
Maturing / Proliferation......Page 414
Separate Use......Page 416
Gradually Merged......Page 417
Merging—Merged Interaction......Page 420
Gradually Hidden / Exposed......Page 422
Gradually Transformed......Page 423
Gradually Added Fields......Page 424
Test for Separation in Space......Page 425
Two Objects......Page 431
Extraction......Page 436
Path......Page 441
Interact / Guide / Nestle / Penetrate......Page 444
Attached Objects......Page 446
Partly Carried......Page 449
Partly Merged or Interacting......Page 451
Non-Uniform......Page 453
Selective Countering......Page 458
On Condition......Page 460
Separate Between the Parts and the Whole......Page 463
Test for Separation between the Parts and the Whole......Page 464
Formation......Page 469
Merging......Page 473
Carrier......Page 483
Hiding Part......Page 495
New Dimension......Page 498
Countering......Page 500
Complementary Directions......Page 504
Coordinated Parts......Page 506
Test for Separation by Direction......Page 509
Direction......Page 513
Test for Separation by Perspective......Page 519
How you Look or Perceive......Page 523
Looks Like......Page 525
Facsimile......Page 528
Inference......Page 531
Separate by Frame of Reference......Page 533
By Comparison......Page 534
Inertial or Spatial Frame of Reference......Page 539
Separate by Response of Fields......Page 543
Test for Separation by Response of Fields......Page 544
Separate by Response of Fields......Page 547
Separate Between the Substance and the Field......Page 551
Compensation......Page 557
Iterate on Solutions......Page 559
Draw the System Multiple Times......Page 561
Contradiction Exercises......Page 563
Appendix:  Working With Functions......Page 581
Appendix:  Table of Fields......Page 589