Function Analysis Concepts Quiz

Function Analysis & Trimming

• TMS/N/T1003 Systematic Innovation and Innovative Problem Solving
• Semester 1 2022/2023

Learning Objectives

• Students should be able to describe function analysis.
• Students should be able to illustrate the component analysis, interaction analysis, and function model process.
• Students should be able to demonstrate the trimming process.

Functionality

• People buy functions/functionality, not products.
• Understanding functions and functionality at the most basic level is fundamental to applying TRIZ effectively.
• Solutions change, but functions stay the same.
• Knowledge classification by function allows ready access to other solutions.

Function Analysis

• Component Analysis: Identifies components of the engineering system and its supersystem.
• Interaction Analysis: Identifies the interaction between components.
• Function Model: Identifies and evaluates the functions performed by components.

Function Analysis (Detailed)

• Subject: Carrier of the function (action verb).
• Object: Parameters are changed/maintained due to the action.
• Function Analysis is an analytical tool that identifies functions, their characteristics, and the cost of the system and the supersystem components.
• Subjects and objects can be components.
• A function is an action between a subject and an object, where the subject acts on the object and modifies/maintains a parameter.
• A parameter describes some inherent property of a component.

Function Language

• Function models use simple language to describe functions, easily understood by children.
• Using simple, descriptive language, instead of complex technical terms aids in envisioning and understanding potential solutions.

Avoid Technical Jargon

• Technical terms are potentially difficult for others to visualize, limiting the range of potential solutions.
• Function language opens up the understanding of a broader range of potential solutions.

Main Function

• The product is what the engineering system is designed to accomplish and for which people pay.
• Most engineering systems have only one product.
• This is the primary function for the system.

Main Useful Function

• When analyzing an engineering system, define the system's purpose and its main useful function.
• Example questions: What is the chair's purpose? What is the car's purpose?

Exercises and Examples

• Examples of function analysis: Door, bus waiting, toothbrush, table, bottle, cap, book, skipping rope.
• Various examples of useful, useless, harmful, sufficient, and excessive functions in a refrigerator, gas stove, automobiles, computer, telephone. Detailed examples are shown for the exercises of the table, bottle, and cap.

Component Analysis

• An Engineering System comprised of internal and external elements
• Internal and external elements continuously interact either directly or indirectly to maintain activity

What is a Component?

• Components are identifiable objects that form part of an engineering system.
• Components can be substances that have mass (like a table) or fields that don't have mass (like a magnetic field).

Supersystem Components

• Components that interact with the engineering system but aren't part of the system. Air, floor, humidity, and dust are examples.

Interaction Analysis

• Interaction analysis is an analytical tool aimed at identifying and understanding component interactions in an engineering system.

Function Model

• Function models analyze the component interactions in an engineering system and supersystem.
• Function models also highlight the advantages and disadvantages of actions on components.

What is a Function Model?

• The aim of function analysis is to determine specific drawbacks of a product, including harmful functions, insufficiently performed functions, and excessively performed functions.
• Example categorization of function analysis into useful (normal), useful (insufficient), useful (excessive), and harmful functions.

Definition of Interactions

• Useful function: Product delivers its intended purpose as designed
• Equal/Normal function: Product parameter values are equivalent to the required or designed values.
• Insufficient function: Parameter values fall below the required or designed values.
• Excessive function: Parameter values rise above the required or designed values.

Harmful Functions

• A harmful function worsens the object's parameters, causing harm for the object.

Examples(Detailed)

• Detailed refrigerator and gas stove examples
• Detailed automobile example
• Detailed computer and telephone examples

Trimming

• Trimming is a method of eliminating components from an engineering system
• Trimming is used to reduce/remove disadvantages and improve the system's efficiency and reduce its costs

Trimming Rules

• Rule A: The function is no longer needed because the object no longer exists.
• Rule B: The object performs the function.
• Rule C: The function is transferred to another component within the system or the supersystem.

Trimming Case Studies

• Examples of how to trim a toothbrush and a skipping rope following the trimming rules

Trimming Factor

• A method of analyzing a product's cost and functionality to identify the best candidates for trimming.
• Graphically compares product functionality with the problems and costs associated with it.