1 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Filippo Silipigni Fondazione Politecnico di Milano CREATIVITY FOR ENGINEERING

2 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Filippo Silipigni Fondazione Politecnico di Milano

3 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Actors: Fondazione Politecnico di Milano (coordinatore) Politecnico di Milano Università degli Studi di Bergamo Università degli Studi di Firenze PIN Scrl, Servizi didattici e scientifici per l'università di Firenze IRCrES-Cnr di Torino (2008) The Italian Centre of competence for Systematic Innovation unites teachers, researchers and experts who aim to further research, disclose and offer knowledge on TRIZ and on technological innovation to enterprises, institutions and individuals. Centro di Competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica

4 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Increase productivityEnsure qualityOptimize innovation Fulfilling demandsCompetition fightingManaging complexity Structurizing workRobustness of procedures Optimizing creativity Innovation efficiency Context Source: Denis Cavallucci LeanSix SigmaTRIZ

5 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 From raw ideas to success products Stages of New Product Development ,000 Number of Ideas 3000 Raw Ideas (Unwritten) 300 Ideas Submitted 125 Small Projects 9 Early Stage Development 4 Major Development 1.7 Launches 1 Success Source: G. Stevens and J. Burley, “3000 Raw Ideas = 1 Commercial Success!” ResearchTechnology Management, 40(3): 16-27, May-June, “If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn’t be called research, would it?” — Albert Einstein From raw ideas to success products Who is going to pay for the resources spent on the 99% useless ideas?!?

6 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Innovation: Main Goals & Obstacles  Goal: Improve the efficiency of Innovation Processes » Reduce or eliminate waste of resources (time, money…) for useless trials and errors » Develop one valuable solution is much better than many ideas to be validated » Manage complexity of modern systems $+ Product Maturity Time Traditional Investment / Return Curve TRIZ Investment / Return Curve $- Obstacles: 1.Trial & Error: lack of a structured approach 2.Psychological Inertia 3.Design conflicts

7 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 High School: What does it happen by mixing Sulfuric Acid with Calcium Hydroxide ? What would you suggest? Let’s try and see?!? Problem solving approaches

8 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Problem solving approaches Type of problem: chemical Model of the problem: H 2 SO 4 + Ca(OH) 2 Tool: laws of chemistry, oxide-reduction Model of the solution: CaSO H 2 O Solution: Calcium Sulfate + Water

9 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Psychological Inertia Ideal Solutions (benefits/costs) Ideal Solutions (benefits/costs) Solution Space Random Methods TRIZ Brainstorming Synectics Reframing Lateral thinking... “You’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your princess...” “It is difficult to find a black cat in a dark room especially when the cat is not there.”

10 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Design Conflicts Evaluation Par. 1 Evaluation Par. 2 or compromise… Optimal solution…

11 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 TRIZ - THEORY OF INVENTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

12 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo % of inventions use already known solution principle Less than 1% are really pioneering inventions Breakthrough solutions emerge from resolving contradictions Inventors and strong thinkers use patterns Creative problem solving patterns are universal Creative ideas can be produced in a systematic way Теория Решения Изобретательских Задач Theory of Inventive Problem Solving Genrich Altshuller ( ) Analysis of hundreds of thousands inventive solutions

13 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Contradictions System evolution implies the resolution of contradictions, i.e. conflicts between a system and its environment or between the components of the system itself Conclusions for practice:  To solve a problem we should first discover underlying contradictions  To achieve maximum benefits, contradictions should be resolved, not compromised  Overcoming contradictions is a driving force behind technology evolution. Resolving contradictions instead of compromising or optimizing, results in breakthrough solutions Evaluation Par. 1 Evaluation Par. 2 System Requirements Postulate 2

14 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 TRIZ-Theory of Inventive Problem solving  System evolution implies the resolution of contradictions (7 Separation Principles and 40 Inventive Standards) Comfort to insert the thread Postulate 2 Evaluation Par. 1 Evaluation Par. 2 System Requirements Problems from different domains, sharing the same contradiction, can be solved by means of the same solving principles Dynamization Fabric integrity

15 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 TRIZ-Theory of Inventive Problem solving  System evolution implies the resolution of contradictions (7 Separation Principles and 40 Inventive Standards) Ease to transport Postulate 2 Evaluation Par. 1 Evaluation Par. 2 System Requirement s Problems from different domains, sharing the same contradiction, can be solved by means of the same solving principles Covering Dynamization

16 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 TRIZ-Theory of Inventive Problem solving  System evolution implies the resolution of contradictions (7 Separation Principles and 40 Inventive Standards) Surface continuity Postulate 2 Evaluation Par. 1 Evaluation Par. 2 System Requirements Problems from different domains, sharing the same contradiction, can be solved by means of the same solving principles Ease to insert Dynamization

17 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 TRIZ Applications World Wide status of TRIZ perceptions and uses World Wide status of TRIZ perceptions and uses  Fields » Product development » Industrial research » Scientific research » Industrial strategy » Non technical applications…  Target: » Products » Processes  Where: » Big companies » Small and Medium Enterprises » University Inventive Problem Solving Technical Problems Non- Technical Problems Problem Solving Troubleshooting Failure Prevention Management Conflicts New Business Concepts Maturity Assessment Technology Forecasting

18 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 TOOL

19 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 System Operator SUPERSYSTEM SYSTEM SUBSYSTEMS PAST PRESENT FUTURE

20 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 PAST PRESENT FUTURE SUPERSYSTEM SYSTEM SUBSYSTEM System Operator

21 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Customers, partners, suppliers, government, competitors, insurance companies, banks, etc. A company Management, product development unit, infrastructure, physical assets, etc. SUPERSYSTEM SYSTEM SUBSYSTEMS PAST PRESENT FUTURE System Operator: exemplary applications, resource analysis

22 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 System Operator: exemplary applications, choosing the right problem to solve What should an element of the supersystem do in order that the system… What should the system do in order to… What should a subsystem do in order that the system… SUPERSYSTEM SYSTEM SUBSYSTEMS What if the problem was not solved… PAST PRESENT FUTURE What should be done in advance in order to prevent…

23 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Senior Teacher: Niccolò Becattini – Politecnico di Milano Gaetano Cascini – Politecnico di Milano Francesco Saverio Frillici – Università degli Studi di Firenze Daniele Regazzoni – Università degli Studi di Bergamo Davide Russo - Università degli Studi di Bergamo Filippo Silipigni – Fondazione Politecnico di Milano Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, Milano – Italy Tel Centro di Competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica

24 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Web Resources Web Sites: (Italian Center of Competence for Systematic Innovation) (Italian TRIZ Association) (European TRIZ Association) (International TRIZ Association) (Altshuller Institute for TRIZ) (TRIZ journal) (anti-Triz Journal) Mailing List: TRIZ Topica (

25 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Centro di Competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica  Alcune attività svolte dal Centro: oABB SACE – 2 case studies + Training + 4 pilot projects oAlenia Aermacchi – Training + 2 case studies oAlluflon – Moneta – Training & Coaching oBracco Imaging – 1 pilot project (3 Patent Applications) oCoster Group – Training oDanieli – Training + pilot project oElectrolux Professional –Training + 5 pilot projects oEnel – 2 Training activities oEsaote – Training oFerrero – Training workshop oIntertaba Philip Morris – Training oIntier Motrol - Training oJohn Bean Technologies – Training oKrona Koblenz – Training + 1 pilot project oMicron Technology – Training + 4 pilot projects oPoste Italiane – Training workshops oProcomac – Training + 1 Extended Technology Forecasting + 2 case studies oSACMI – Training + 2 pilot projects oSamsung – Advanced Training + Keynote presentation oSealed Air – Training + pilot project oTecniplast – Advanced Training & Coaching oUnox – Training+pilot project oWhirlpool – 1 pilot project (1 Patent) oZoppas Industries – Training

26 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Specific situation Each stage of evolution of a system takes place in a specific environment (context, situation) which influences the evolution (transformation) of the system and provide specific resources Conclusions for practice:  Good solutions must (first of all) take into account the resources available in the specific situation Material Resources: - Waste flow - Cheap materials - Substance characteristics - Void Information Resources: - Inherent properties - Mobile information - Temporary information - Redundant information Spatial Resources: - Empty space, encapsulating - Other dimensions - Shape - Size (1D, 2D, 3D) Time Resources: - Parallel working - Preliminary action/counteraction - Reworking - Frequency of action Energy Resources: - Energy in the system - Energy from the supersystem - Potential energy - Dissipated energy Postulate 3

27 © Centro di competenza per l’Innovazione Sistematica 12-Marzo-2015 Use of resources Example: Sparkling water bottles can be thin and simply shaped compared to still water bottles thanks to the CO2 pressure. Postulate 3