Table Of ContentE
NGINEERING
C
OF REATIVITY
(Introduction to TRIZ Methodology
of Inventive Problem Solving)
by
Semyon D. Savransky
CRC Press
Boca Raton New York
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Savransky, Semyon D.
Engineering of creativity : (introduction to TRIZ methodology of
inventive problem solving / by Semyon D. Savransky.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8493-2255-3
1. Engineering—Methodology. 2. Problem solving—Methodology. 3.
Creative thinking. 4. Technological innovations. I. Title.
TA153 .S28 2001
620′.0028—dc21 99-053640
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Preface
Any successful enterprise, be it a Fortune 500 company or a small shop,
recognizes the importance of inventions and innovations to its business. The
root of almost any invention or innovation is a solved technical problem,
and this book describes a problem-solving methodology, TRIZ, that focuses
on solving such problems efficiently, effectively, and creatively.
TRIZ (pronounced “treez”) is the Russian abbreviation of what can be
translated as “the theory of inventive problem solving.” It was developed by
Genrich Saulovich Altshuller (1926-1998) who was interested in basing cre-
ativity on science. He began developing TRIZ in 1946, but it was not until 1956
that his first paper on TRIZ (written with his friend Rafael B. Shapiro) was
published in the USSR. Because of political tensions between Altshuller (and
later his students) and the communist authorities, TRIZ development was
hindered and at times blocked. After Gorbachev’s perestroika, economic trou-
bles slowed TRIZ development and research. Nevertheless, because of Alt-
shuller’s enthusiasm, and that of his colleagues, TRIZ became an extremely
powerful methodology for creativity in the engineering fields. TRIZ was
unknown outside the USSR until the 1990s, and its popularity in the US, Japan
and the Pacific Rim, and Western Europe is now growing rapidly. Many
Fortune 500 companies have cited a phenomenal increase in productivity, and
they credit TRIZ for the breakthrough ideas and quality solutions to tough
engineering problems as fueling that increase.
Many engineers in what is now the former Soviet Union have studied
and successfully applied TRIZ. They have not only registered thousands of
patents for the resulting inventions, but have also become what in effect is
an unofficial, virtual TRIZ research and development laboratory. Unfortu-
nately, the majority of these unofficial research results have not been pub-
lished; instead, research papers have circulated usually as either typed or
handwritten manuscripts among those interested in TRIZ. This book
attempts to summarize these achievements, and it references publications
where these results are formally reviewed. Many original sources are
unavailable to the Western reader; consequently, these sources are not refer-
enced. Moreover, it is often hard to track down many of these results, so I
apologize to those authors and researchers whose names are not mentioned
here.
It might seem that the most important methods for solving technical
problems would be unique to each specialized area of engineering, but such
is not the case. There is, in fact, a generic problem-solving method, illus-
trated, albeit much simplified, in Figure 1. There are many universal prob-
lem-solving concepts, heuristics, and instruments that work well with engi-
neering and nontechnical problems; there are, of course, also specific
methods that are applicable to only a single or limited number of engineering
TRIZ
Generic
Conceptual
Problem
Solution(s)
Specific Non-Routine
Specific Creative
Problem Solution(s)
COMMON PROBLEM SOLVING METHODS
FIGURE 1. Simple schema of problem solving. Most problem-solving methods are
based on the trial-and-error approach. Note that TRIZ works with technical problems
in the same way that mathematics works with problems. The majority of other
problem solving methodologies avoid generalizations.
fields. TRIZ deals with both types of heuristics and methods but emphasizes
general and universal instruments. There are six classes of inventive prob-
lems, which are divided according to whether they require an entirely new
solution or only a change in an existing technique. TRIZ is unique because,
using the technique’s relatively small number of easily understood concepts
and heuristics (supported by effective knowledge databases), one can solve
problems of any of the classes:
1. improvement or perfection of both quality and quantity (considered
Contradiction Problems in TRIZ)
2. search for and prevention of shortcomings (Diagnostics)
3. cost reduction of the existing technique (Trimming)
4. new use of known processes and systems (Analogy)
5. generation of new “mixtures” of already existing elements (Synthesis)
6. creation of fundamentally new technique to fit a new need (Genesis)
It is inaccurate to say that TRIZ can resolve any technical problem today,
but the many inventions created with TRIZ do confirm its power.
The ability to solve such problems is vitally important today. Consider
the key economic principles and leaders during the twentieth century:
beginning of the century — production in mass quantities (Germany, En-
gland)
first half of the century — mass production at the lowest price (US)
middle of the century — cheapest mass production with the maximum
quality (Japan)
end of the century — cheap and high-quality manufacturing of well-de-
signed products (multinational companies with strong think tanks)
Perhaps in the twenty-first century an additional component — the
maximum speed of development and introduction of next-generation prod-
ucts — will determine global economic leadership. If such is the case, then
TRIZ takes on even more importance because it enables its practitioners to
quickly obtain very high-quality and even breakthrough conceptual solu-
tions and then to effectively remove technical obstacles in implementing the
solution.
This book is primarily a practical guide to solving inventive or nonrou-
tine technical problems within the framework of TRIZ, although some
aspects of personal creativity development (another goal of TRIZ) are also
briefly outlined. The discussion of TRIZ ideas, concepts, heuristics, and
instruments is organized in a logical way that will help the reader under-
stand, remember, and apply them.
Most of the TRIZ concepts presented here were proposed and developed
by G. S. Altshuller. The book also includes the results of research over the
last two decades and the ideas of many other TRIZniks (specialists in TRIZ
and also considered as co-authors) who have developed TRIZ not only
without financial support but often under negative pressure of Soviet author-
ities.
It is impossible to use TRIZ effectively without firmly understanding its
concepts; therefore, the reader should not jump directly to the final part of
this book. Moreover, the methodology of technical problem solving is far
from being precise enough at present for this book to provide simple “cook-
book” instructions for solving most problems. Teaching by example is an
important and popular approach generally used in TRIZ, and although
examples and case studies cannot replace solid proof of ideas, this book
follows the convention of using examples. First, each TRIZ concept, heuristic,
or instrument is discussed theoretically, and then it is applied to real prob-
lems, so the reader can see how to use it in actual practice. When you see
an example, try to solve the problem yourself. Then compare your solution
with the solution presented in the book. Although the case studies are drawn
from specific fields and consequently might not be fully understood by all
readers, they do illustrate key concepts. They will undoubtedly help those
readers with sufficient engineering background, but readers without such a
background in the particular field can compensate by spending greater time
on the theoretical discussions, which are geared toward a general audience.
Regardless, understanding TRIZ can enhance your thinking in nontechnical
fields.
This book is for anyone who is interested in solving engineering prob-
lems and developing his or her creativity. Although it might be difficult to
learn the methods in a particular engineering field, at least those methods
are taught in numerous schools and universities. However, general problem-
solving methodologies are rarely, if ever, taught, though they are quite help-
ful for solving problems in every field of mathematics, science, and engi-
neering. Since such courses generally do not exist, the reader can consider
this book a handbook for a general methodology of solving technical prob-
lems. Becoming proficient in TRIZ concepts, heuristics, and instruments
requires time, but it results in much more effective problem solving. As you
gain extensive practice applying TRIZ, you will become so skilled in it that
the problem-solving process will be less conscious and more automatic. You
will also experience the joy of creativity and be able to solve problems in
other fields. This ability to go beyond your own engineering field is also
extremely significant today and is becoming even more important; it is clear
that we need to acquire increasingly more knowledge and often switch our
innovation skills and experience to the most promising directions. TRIZ can
help us do that.
The Author
Semyon D. Savransky earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics and
materials science in Russia. His academic background is split among
Novgorod State University in Russia, University Pais Vasco in Spain, and
New York City University in the United States.
Dr. Savransky has applied TRIZ for several research and development
projects in various industries and for pure scientific research. He is the author
of more than 150 patents and scientific papers. He is the founder of the
Research Center at Novgorod State University and “The TRIZ Experts,” an
international company with headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA. After becom-
ing acquainted with TRIZ in 1981, Dr. Savransky became one of the most
distinguished leading TRIZ researchers and summarizes the results of his
development of TRIZ in this, his first book.
Dr. Savransky can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
Contents
PART 1: Problem-Solving Aids
1 How Do We Solve Problems?
1.1 Routine and Inventive Problems3
1.2 Difficulty of a Problem5
1.3 Psychological Inertia5
1.4 Trial-and-Error Method7
1.5 Methods of Creativity Activation8
1.5.1Checklists and Questionnaires9
1.5.2Morphological Box11
1.6 Decision Aids15
1.7 Problem Solving and Information15
1.8 Requirements17
1.8.1Requirements for Inventive Problem Solving17
1.8.2Necessary Qualities for the Solver of Nonroutine Problems18
1.9 Conclusion18
References19
2 TRIZ Overview
2.1 What is TRIZ?21
2.2 A Definition of TRIZ22
2.3 TRIZ Sources24
2.4 Main TRIZ Heuristics and Instruments25
2.5 TRIZ Branches27
2.6 Future of TRIZ28
References29
PART 2: Main TRIZ Concepts
3 Technique: A Resumé
3.1 Introduction33
3.2 Inputs and Outputs — Raw Objects and Products34
3.3 Parts of a Technique36
3.3.1Subsystems36
3.3.2Links37
