TRIZ - A Very Contradictory Method

A Workflow for Students

by Arvind Venkatadri

Written: May 04 2020

Updated: August 25 2024

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Classical TRIZ

Big Idea : Generalized Problem: "Your Problem has been solved somewhere else" in a different DOMAIN in a different LANGUAGE
Modelling/Applying : "Metaphorize" your Problem using 48 TRIZ Parameters
Taxonomy / Tools :
- The 8 TRIZ Laws of Evolution of a Product;
- TRIZ Contradictions Matrix;
- TRIZ 40 Inventive Principles

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A Well Known TRIZ example !!

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A Generalized Solution

Stan Kaplan, "An Introduction to TRIZ - The Russian System of Inventive Problem Solving", Ideation International Inc

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Even Quadratic Equations are Still Researched!!

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TRIZ: A Quick Workflow

Find a PROBLEM
Formulate a CONTRADICTION (a trade-off or a compromise)
Specify an IDEAL FINAL RESULT
Convert/metaphorize the CONTRADICTION into TRIZ PARAMETERs
Look up the CONTRADICTION MATRIX
Discover the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES you might apply
Un-metaphorize the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES to apply them in a specific way in your problem and solve it

Now let us look at these steps in pictorial detail 🖼

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TRIZ Workflow: Formulate a Problem Description

Use your CULTURAL CAPITAL and your DOMAINs to write a PROBLEM in simple English
Ask: 5W+H
- What does the problem seem to be?
- Who has the problem?
- When does the problem occur? All the time? Under certain circumstances?
- Where does the problem occur?
- Why does the problem occur?("Ask why 5 times" -- W. Edwards Deming)
  - How does the problem occur?

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TRIZ Workflow: Look the "Resources" and Causes

To refine our Problem, what Resources do we have?

One Good way to do this is using the Ishikawa Diagram
Man, Material, Method, Management, Machinery (Ishikawa)
- This diagram is used primarily to assign CAUSES
- But it conveniently lists all the Resources.
- What things create the compromise/tradeoff?

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ishikawa-diagram.asp

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TRIZ Workflow: Inspect the Ishikawa DiagramFrom the Ishikawa DiagramWhat is One Parameter or Knob for each of the Causes that you have listed therein?

Let us make a list for each Knob/Object:What is the Knob meant to do? What is its main Purpose?
What are the other Accompanying Objects that it works with?

What are the current Settings for each Knob?
Change the Setting of Each Knob to its natural opposite extreme. What Happens?You will see that in many cases, each Knob creates a Certain Outcome at one Setting and another Outcome at the Opposite Setting.

This is the Source of your Administrative Contradiction !!

What sort of Contradictions do we see in these familiar objects? What is good and what is not so good? Could that be the source of a problem to solve?9 / 23

TRIZ Workflow: Example - Find a Problem

I like Tea in the Mornings..and Afternoons and Evenings..and...
- Comes forth from your...Cultural Capital and Domains. Thanks to Pierre Bourdieu and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi for giving us those two Words!!
Possible Problem Statements
- Milk Boils Over
- I am Bored Watching the Milk boil

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TRIZ Workflow: Example - Develop an AC

Use the Ishikawa Diagram to Refine the AC
Again use your Cultural Capital and Domains
- Watching the Milk is a Bore!!Can I do something else in the meantime?
- But: the Milk will boil over...
AC:
- I can either boil Milk, OR do something else, NOT both.

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TRIZ Workflow: Example - Refine the AC

Use the Ishikawa Diagram:
- Man: Me?
Method :
- Operating the Stove
- Wanting/Doing Two Things at the Same Time
Material: Milk, Vessel, Stove, Gas, Time, Heat
- Milk boils over when it is heated

Watching the Milk is a Bore!! Can I do something else in the meantime? But, the Milk will boil over...

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TRIZ Workflow: Example - State the AC

I can operate the stove and save the Milk, but I will be bored and waste Time doing it**

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TRIZ Workflow: Specify the Ideal Final Result (IFR)

State an Ideal Final Result
A basic principle of TRIZ is that systems evolve towards increased ideality, where ideality is defined as

$I d e a l i t y = B e n e f i t s / (H a r m + C o s t s)$

Evolution is in the direction of
- ⬆ Increasing benefits
- ⬇ Decreasing costs
- ⬇ Decreasing harm
IFR allows us to invert the direction of the problem: to come backwards from Solution towards the Situation

The extreme result of this evolution is the Ideal Final Result:

It has all the benefits,
none of the harm, and
none of the costs of the original problem.
The Ideal Final Result describes the solution to a technical problem, independent of the mechanism or constraints of the original problem.
It occupies no space, has no weight, requires no labour, requires no maintenance.

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TRIZ Workflow: Example - State the IFR

IFR: The Milk must "boil itself" and wait for me without overflowing.

Any other even more unreasonable way of saying this?

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TRIZ Workflow: Example - State the TC(s)

Choose from the 48 TRIZ Parameters to "metaphorize" your AC, into a TC.
- Milk: 21-Stability? ~~10-Amount of Substance?~~ 25-Loss of Substance?
- Stove: 27-Loss of Energy? 17-Energy Usage by Stationary Object
- Me: 26-Loss of Time?

There can be more than one TC that you can set up !!

TC #1: Improve 21-Stability of Milk - without worsening 17-Energy Usage by Stationary Object
TC #2: Improve 25-Loss of Substance of Milk - without worsening 26-Loss of Time

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TRIZ Workflow: Example - State the TC

AC: I can operate the stove and save the Milk, but I will be bored and waste Time doing it.

IFR: The Milk must "boil itself" and wait for me.

TC #1: 21-Stability of Milk without worsening 17-Energy Usage by Stationary Object
TC #2: Improve 25-Loss of Substance of Milk without worsening 26-Loss of Time

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TRIZ Workflow: Use the Contradiction Matrix

One Worsening Parameter: 17: Energy Usage by Stationary Object (Stove is ON !!)
- One Parameter to Improve: 21: Stability ( Milk must NOT boil over !!)
INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES from the Matrix:

35: Parameter Change
18: Mechanical Vibration
24: Intermediary
9: Prior Counteraction
3: The Other Way Around

35: Parameter Change
15: Dynamization
2: Taking Out
18: Mechanical Vibration

The TRIZ Contradiction Matrix, 2003, http://www.systematic-innovation.com/assets/matrix2003.pdf

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TRIZ Workflow: IP-24: INTERMEDIARY

Also we can use two vessels, one inside the other. The inner one with milk and the other one with water!

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TRIZ Workflow: IP-18: Mechanical Vibration

A Milk Watcher Device

This is dropped into the vessel before pouring the milk
It vibrates when the milk is boiling and prevents spillage
And of course, there is a patent. Yes , in Russia, where else !!

Milk Saver Patent Web Page!!

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TRIZ Workflow: IP-35: Parameter Change

What "Parameter" can we change?
- Temperature?
- Rate of Gas?
- Kind of metal used in Vessel?
- Smoothness of the Vessel finish?

Here are some solutions using Parameter Change

Sprinkle Water on the Froth...Umm
Apply butter to the rim of the vessel beforehand !!
This is also a solution derivable from IP-9: Prior Counter Action

https://www.herzindagi.com/recipe-tips/how-to-prevent-milk-from-boiling-over-article-161289#

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TRIZ Workflow: IP - 13: The Other Way Around

What do you think?

Cold Milk poured into an already hot vessel? Wild...
How about the Two Vessel Trick, from earlier: one inside the other. The inner one with milk and the other one with water! Can the Water be hot before hand?
Not all IPs may strike you as applicable!
Try and leverage somebody's else's Cultural Capital !!

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Maurice Leloir (1851-1940)

Thanks!

Slides made

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