TRIZ is a Russian Acronym for "Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch", when translated in English it means 'The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving'. Genrich S. Altshuller and his colleagues’ studied and analyzed over million worldwide patents and devised this theory. It is an efficient and proven innovation and problem solving methodology. This methodology plays an important role when the whole or parts of an organization are called to innovate.

 
The reason TRIZ is important is, because it enables an organization to become truly innovative in solving the toughest problems quickly, effectively and innovatively. It further helps the organization in effectively formulating its innovation efforts. At the corporate top-line growth level, TRIZ is an engine for rational, structured and historically proven idea generation, the DNA of Innovative Thinking. It is a toolset that can be utilized in various circumstances to provide a systematic, directed and best in class result. It is:

1. An algorithmic, step-by-step procedure
2. A guide through a broad solution space to direct to the ideal solution
3. Repeatable and reliable and not dependent on psychological tools
4. Access to the body of inventive knowledge

TRIZ complements performance improvement programs because it focuses on finding innovative new solutions rather than fixing problems inherent in an existing process. TRIZ is not only useful for new product development teams and in operational environments, but also useful in just about every situation to accelerate and streamline innovation and problem solving.

 
The technology is changing rapidly and so the market needs. Collectively both of these are making product life cycles smaller. Hence, faster innovation is the need of the hour. TRIZ provides help in providing ‘multiple Best-in-class’ solutions in lesser time, thus reducing the R&D cycle time. TRIZ is applicable in problem solving, designing, engineering developments, R&D, new product development and in process-based problem solving. Some more advantages of using TRIZ for problem solving are

1. Directed approach for research and development
2. Faster improvements
3. Removal of trade-offs
4. Cost reduction in R&D
5. Technology forecasting and
6. Competitive edge

TRIZ has been helpful in many organizations to streamline innovation. It is a methodology for faster problem solving to save time, efforts and money for organizations. Additionally, the product innovated using TRIZ are better because of use of inventive knowledge beyond existing knowledge of the R&D teams. Using TRIZ companies have been successful in creating more intellectual assets at a faster rate.

The concept of TRIZ suggests that abstracted problems and their related solutions can be mapped irrespective of their subject matter. So, the algorithm of TRIZ can be written in the following four steps:

• Find a specific problem in terms of Technical Contradiction
• Converted specific problem to an abstract problem
• Select abstract solution for the abstract problem from the body of abstract knowledge
• Convert the abstract solution to the specific solutions

 
BMGI’s intervention for consulting for TRIZ is a four step process namely; Assess, Plan & Design, Enable & Execute and Sustain. Our intervention with organizations for TRIZ starts with assessment of the present state innovation and R&D efforts of the organization. In this intervention opportunities are explored and this initiative is strategically aligned to the organizational vision and mission.


In the planning & designing cycle of the engagement, program management office is set up, project identification for application of TRIZ and other infrastructure is established. Once these steps are taken, execution process starts in which BMGI closely works with the organization for building capabilities through training/facilitated workshops and facilitate trained resources in completing deployment. The benefits are closely tracked and progress is made at a correct pace in right direction to achieve the results. This process may generally take four to six month depending upon the size of the organization and the size of assignment. During the process BMGI actively supports the organization and takes all possible steps to ensure the team members of the initiatives learn to take the projects independently and can drive the cultural change in the organization in coming time.

 
Godrej & Boyce, Godrej appliance, Godrej security equipments

Clients speak

BMGI conducted TRIZ training for Godrej Appliances Division – R&D Team. The Methodology and Content were highly crystallized and required no efforts to understand the technique. Hand holding was provided by BMGI for doing a Pilot Project; our Refrigerator was an ideal candidate for TRIZ as the contradiction is Maximum Cooling using Minimum Energy. Using TRIZ inventive principles we could optimize the system to deliver maximum cooling.

Nazir Samplewala
Dy General Manager
R&D Appliances Division, Godrej & Boyce Co. Mfg. Ltd.


“I was extremely pleased with BMGI’s TRIZ training and I’m eager to incorporate it in my Six Sigma program. The future of Six Sigma will be influenced and advanced through a structured objective problem-solving methodology as TRIZ demonstrates.”

Ray Daines
Director, Process Improvement
American Red Cross

 
The nature of projects taken by the organization varies depending on their requirements. Typically, they are in the R&D problem solving domain and New Product Development. Though, TRIZ is a methodology distilled from tangible innovation such as in the field of Aeronautical, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, services based innovation and process designing have also been successfully addressed by the TRIZ methodology. Some examples of the projects are

1. Designing a efficient and smaller head exchanger
2. Increasing the electromagnetic shielding of a product
3. Fluidized Bed Combustion Boiler
4. Increasing strength of soft drink can using same material, in same quantity of material

To learn more about TRIZ please go to our FAQ section.

For details on open enrolment courses, see the upcoming Events