Introduction to TRIZ Theory

The word "TRIZ" is an acronym for the Russian word "Theory of Invention Problem Solving". Its English name is Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, so it is also called TIPS. Since 1946, experts headed by Russian G.S. Altschuller have found that there are certain models to follow in the process of solving all technical problems through the study of 2.5 million patent documents. A large number of good patents are analyzed and their problem-solving models are extracted to provide reference for people to learn and obtain the ability of innovative inventions. After years of collection, analysis, comparison and induction, a set of systematic and practical methods to solve the problem of invention has been established, which is the TRIZ theory.

The revolutionary result of TRIZ theory is that the same solution is used for different industry problems, that is, the most commonly used principles and methods summarized from patents. These principles and methods mainly include: 39 general engineering parameters, 40 invention principles, separation principles, material-field model, 76 standard solutions, knowledge base effect library and ARIZ invention problem solving algorithm.

TRIZ theoretical system and innovative methods can be simplified by the following models:(1) an idea-the final ideal solution;(2) a set of rules-the evolution rules of technological systems;(3) four tools-physical conflict and separation methods; Principles of technical conflict and invention; Field analysis and standard solution; How to model and knowledge base;(4) an algorithm-invention problem solving algorithm (ARIZ).

1. Final ideal solution:

Among them, the ideal situation is that the useful function tends to infinity, and the consumption of harmful functions and resources (COST) tends to zero.

2. The law of evolution of technological systems

A technical system is a combination of things composed of interrelated elements to achieve a certain function or function. TRIZ's technology system evolution theory divides the stages of product evolution into infancy, growth, maturity and decline, and advocates increasing investment in the infancy and growth of products to tap the potential profit space of products. In the mature period, we can quickly obtain the direct theory of products and start to develop a new generation of alternative products. In the recession period, using product evolution theory, technology developers can quickly determine the complete design concept, so as to ensure a breakthrough in technical problems. When the evolution of a technical system has completed four stages, a new technical system will appear to replace it, and so on, forming the S-curve of the evolution of the technical system, as shown in Figure 1:

Figure1:SCurve diagram

Figure2:SThe number of patents, invention level and profit curve corresponding to the curve.

Through the law of performance parameters over time, the life cycle stage of products and technologies can be accurately predicted. Through the above S-curve, we can assess the maturity of the existing technology of the system, predict the direction of the evolution of the new generation of products, and further help the enterprise decision makers to make the right research and development and introduction decisions.

In the classical TRIZ theory, the laws of evolution of technological systems include the law of completeness, the law of energy transfer, the law of coordinated evolution, the law of improving ideality, the law of dynamic evolution, the law of unbalanced evolution of subsystems, the law of evolution towards micro-systems and the law of evolution towards supersystems.

3. Four tools:

A physical contradiction arises when the engineering parameters of a technical system have opposite requirements. The separation principle is proposed for the solution of physical contradictions. The separation methods can be summarized into four main types of separation principles: space separation (separating the two parties of the contradiction in different spaces), time separation (separating the two parties of the contradiction in different time periods), separation based on conditions (separating the two parties of the contradiction under different conditions) and separation at the system level (separation of the whole and part, that is, the two sides of the contradiction are separated at different levels).

In the definition of the matter-field model, matter can be a system, a subsystem or a single object, or even an environment, depending on the actual situation. Field refers to the technique or means required to complete a certain function, usually some forms of energy, such as magnetic field, gravity field, electrical energy, thermal energy, chemical energy, mechanical energy, acoustic energy and light energy. Whether it is a large system, subsystem or micro-level, all have functions, and all functions can be decomposed into two substances and one field. If the hand holds the cup, in this case, the field is the friction, and the matter is the hand and the cup. Through the material-field model, can be used to solve complex problems.

The tool system of TRIZ to solve the problem is shown in Table 1:

Table 1:TRIZ Problem Solving Tool System

4. ARIZ algorithm

Figure 3:ARIZ algorithm flow chart

The ARIZ algorithm emphasizes that the elimination of contradictions should maximize the use of internal and external resources of the system and use engineering principles such as physics, chemistry, geometry, etc., using the idea of system change in the ARIZ algorithm, and fully considering the internal subsystems and the supersystem in which the system is located. However, the analysis of ARIZ algorithm also has certain limitations, which requires users to have certain knowledge and experience. Among them, "minimum problem", "system contradiction", "problem model", "ideal solution" and "available resources" are not easy to establish, and different people may have different views, can not quickly distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of different views. When solving complex problems, the ARIZ algorithm also has certain limitations, because complex problems often contain multiple contradictions, and each contradiction will affect each other, so it is difficult to get the main contradiction at once. Therefore, for the application of ARIZ algorithm, it is necessary to analyze the problems encountered in practice, enrich experience in practice, and improve the efficiency of the use of ARIZ algorithm.

5. Successful cases of the application of TRIZ theory

The well-known case of TRIZ in applications is the application of Samsung in South Korea. South Korea benefited from the geopolitical relationship with the Soviet Union, he came into contact with TRIZ very early and introduced TRIZ in 1998, but it was not successful in the early days. It was not until the second introduction in 2003 that Samsung used TRIZ to save 1.5 billion US dollars and successfully applied for 52 patents, which attracted the world's high interest and attention. In 2007, Samsung had an average of 60 U.S. patents granted per month, ranking second in the world. Samsung's introduction of TRIZ is mainly used to solve the following four problems:(1) to overcome the problem;(2) to predict the Samsung Group's products;(3) patent confrontation: to achieve patent avoidance design and patent layout design;(4) R & D process improvement: to improve the 6Sigma process. It is also the application of TRIZ theory that has made Samsung a South Korea company on the verge of bankruptcy in the Asian financial crisis to a leader in the entire semiconductor industry.

The benefits of applying TRIZ can shorten the process of innovation, improve the product manufacturing process, produce more product ideas and problem solutions in the shortest time, and create new products that are technologically advanced and lead the market. Although TRIZ is used in various fields, its successful cases are rarely made public. Even the public cases are still covered with a mysterious veil. This is mainly because the disclosure of cases involves the innovative inventions of various companies' products and processes, so it fails to show the technical nature of the company.

With a deeper understanding of TRIZ theory, it is believed that in the future, TRIZ theory will not only be limited to traditional manufacturing, semiconductor industry, aerospace, chemical industry, construction, medicine and other fields, but also can be widely used in other non-scientific and technological fields such as commerce and management.