Systematic Innovation Processes Quiz

Function Analysis & Trimming

• This course covers systematic innovation and innovative problem-solving.
• The course is for semester 1, 2022/2023.

Learning Objectives

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

Functionality

• People buy functions, not products.
• Understanding functions at a basic level is key to successful TRIZ application.
• Solutions may change, but the functions remain the same.
• Knowledge classification by function allows easy access to other solutions.

Function Analysis

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

Function Analysis (continued)

• Subject: The carrier of the function.
• Function (Action-verb): The action between subject and object.
• Object: The recipient of the action.
• Parameters are changed/maintained by the action.
• Function analysis is an analytical tool that identifies functions, characteristics, and the cost of the system and its components.
• Subjects and objects are components, or interact with the engineering system.
• A function is an action between a subject and an object. The subject acts upon, modifies or maintains a parameter of the object.
• A parameter describes some inherent property of a component.

Function Language

• Function models use simple language (easily understood by a child) to describe functions.
  • Example: table holds book
  • Example: table holds dog
  • Example: Bristle removes food
  • Example: String removes food
  • Example: Stick removes food

Avoid Technical Jargon

• Technical language is sometimes difficult for people to grasp, limiting potential solutions.
• Function language enables a wider scope of potential solutions.
  • Example: Technical Language: Etch, Distill, Encapsulate, Stream, Zip
  • Example: Function Language: Remove, Separate, Include, Deliver, Reduce

Main Function

• The product is what the engineering system is designed to do or produce.
• Most engineering systems have only one product.
• The main function delivers the system product.

Main Useful Function

• When analyzing an engineering system, define the system's purpose.
  • Example: What is the useful function of a chair? Holds a person.
  • Example: What is the useful function of a car? Moves a driver.

Exercise Examples

• The table holds a bottle.
• The bottle holds liquid.
• The cap seals the bottle.
• The cap stops the liquid.
• The book informs a person.
• Door Functions: Allow person to pass, Stop person, Provide open passage; no functions between an open door and passing person.
• (Bus functions): Wait for bus, Waste time, Queue for bus.
• Toothbrush function: Clean teeth, Brighten teeth, Keep teeth clean, Prevent cavities, Make teeth healthy, Remove plaque, Remove food

Component Analysis

• Components of an engineering system include internal and external elements that interact with the system or co-exist with it.
• Components continually influence each other, either directly or indirectly, for system activity.
• Components: Substances or fields. Substances have mass (e.g. table, book); Fields have no mass (e.g. magnetic, electric field).
• Supersystem components interact with the engineering system but are not part of it.

Interaction Analysis

• Interaction analysis is a tool for recognizing and understanding interactions between engineering components/system
• It helps to identify and understand the interactions between components.

Function Model

• Function models analyze component interactions within the engineering system and the supersystem.
• Function models are essential to determine the efficiency/disadvantages of component functions

Function Model (Identifying Function Types)

• Useful function: Products, components, etc. achieve their intended purpose/deliver their purpose/functional requirements as designed (Normal/Insufficient/Excessive).
• Harmful Function: A function that worsens the parameters of the object of the function.
  • Example: Excessive or unusual function type leading to harmful components to the object
  • Example: A harmful function means the actual function performs undesirably

Example: Useful and Harmful Functions

• Refrigerator:
  • Useful: Cool food, Maintain proper temperature.
  • Useless: Heat back portion of the refrigerator.
  • Harmful: Noise of compressor.
  • Excessive: Excessive cooling of refrigerator.
  • Insufficient: Insufficient cooling.

Example: Trimming

• Toothbrush: Trim the handle as is not needed for carrying out the primary function; functionality of removing the food particles can be retained with a simple rubber tip.
• Skipping Rope: Remove excessive components such as handles to enhance the primary functionality.

Trimming Rules

• Rule A: The function is no longer needed as the object of the function no longer exists.
• Rule B: The object being worked on by the function already performs the function itself.
• Rule C: The function is transferred to another component in the system or supersystem.