Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

As customers and shareholders demand better products faster, more pressure is felt by technical professionals to develop it now and develop it right the first time. Considered the breakthrough design and inventive problem-solving approach of the past 100 years, TRIZ is a unique, algorithmic approach to problem solving that allows engineers, planners and managers to formulate the best possible solutions for technical systems problems and predict future product needs based on technology evolution and competitive advantages. Developed in Russia, the popularity of TRIZ is now spreading to Europe, the United States, and Japan, but until now no comprehensive, comprehensible treatment of the topic has been available in English.

Simplified TRIZ: New Problem Solving Applications for Engineers and Manufacturing Professionals not only demystifies TRIZ, but it also shows how it can be used in new ways to enhance Six Sigma, Constraints Management, Supply Chain Management, QFD, and Taguchi methods to gain innovative and technological competitive advantages. This practical how-to guide teaches you how to solve problems creatively, and more importantly, shows you how to find and foresee the evolution of problems in the future. It provides many exercises, worksheets, and tables to further illustrate the concepts of this multinational method. Implement the same problem-solving tool that many Fortune 500 companies are already using with Simplified TRIZ.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Why Do People Seek New Ways to Solve Problems? (p. 1)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• 1.1 Why Are Good Ideas Rejected? (p. 1)
• 1.2 Common Features of Good Solutions (p. 5)
• 1.3 A New Approach to Problem Solving is Needed (p. 6)
• 1.4 Summary (p. 11)
• References (p. 11)
• 2 Constructing the New Model for Problem Solving: Moving from the Problem to the Ideal Final Result (p. 13)
• Introduction (p. 13)
• 2.1 Contradiction (p. 14)
• 2.2 Resources (p. 15)
• 2.3 The Ideal Final Result (p. 16)
• 2.4 Patterns of Evolution (p. 17)
• 2.5 Innovative Principles across Industries (p. 19)
• 2.6 Other Concepts and Tools (p. 20)
• 2.7 Why Introduce this Model? (p. 22)
• 2.8 Summary (p. 23)
• References (p. 24)
• 3 Clarify the Tradeoff Behind a Problem (p. 25)
• Introduction (p. 25)
• 3.1 What are Tradeoffs and Inherent Contradictions? (p. 26)
• 3.2 Why Analyze Tradeoffs? (p. 27)
• 3.3 Defining the Tradeoff (p. 29)
• 3.4 An Abundance of Tradeoffs (p. 38)
• 3.5 From the Problem to the Tradeoff (p. 47)
• 3.6 Summary (p. 47)
• References (p. 52)
• 4 Moving from Tradeoff to Inherent Contradiction (p. 53)
• Introduction (p. 53)
• 4.1 How to Formulate the Inherent Contradiction (p. 54)
• 4.2 How to Intensify the Inherent Contradiction (p. 58)
• 4.3 Examples (p. 60)
• 4.4 Summary (p. 61)
• References (p. 62)
• 5 Mapping of Invisible Reserves (p. 63)
• Introduction (p. 63)
• 5.1 Invisible Reserves (p. 64)
• 5.2 Using the Concept of Resources (p. 67)
• 5.3 Different Resources (p. 67)
• 5.4 The Most Important Resource Groups (p. 69)
• 5.5 When Resources are in use but Should be Rediscovered (p. 76)
• 5.6 Summary (p. 76)
• References (p. 77)
• 6 The Impossible Often Is Possible: How to Increase the Ideality of the System (p. 79)
• Introduction (p. 79)
• 6.1 The Law of Increasing Ideality (p. 80)
• 6.2 Constructing Solutions from Resources (p. 84)
• 6.3 Summary (p. 88)
• References (p. 89)
• 7 How to Separate the Best from the Rest: a Simple and Effective Tool for Evaluation of Solutions (p. 91)
• Introduction (p. 91)
• 7.1 Evaluation Criteria (p. 92)
• 7.2 Measures of Evaluation (p. 93)
• 7.3 Examples of Evaluation (p. 95)
• 7.4 Improvement of the Solution (p. 97)
• 7.5 Summary (p. 100)
• 8 Enriching the Model for Problem Solving (p. 103)
• Introduction (p. 103)
• Reference (p. 108)
• 9 Patterns Are Powerful Tools for System Development (p. 109)
• Introduction (p. 109)
• 9.1 The Uneven Evolution of Systems (p. 110)
• 9.2 Transition to Macrolevel (p. 111)
• 9.3 Transition to Microlevel (p. 114)
• 9.4 The Increase of Interactions (p. 117)
• 9.5 Expansion and Convolution (p. 120)
• 9.6 How To Use Patterns Together (p. 123)
• 9.7 Benefits from Understanding the Patterns of Evolution (p. 123)
• 9.8 Examples of the Application of Evolution Patterns (p. 125)
• 9.9 Some Nuances in the Use of Patterns (p. 125)
• 9.10 Summary (p. 127)
• Reference (p. 127)
• 10 Principles for Innovation: 40 Ways to Create Good Solutions (p. 129)
• Introduction (p. 129)
• 10.1 The General Review of 40 Principles (p. 131)
• 10.2 Segmentation, Separation (1-2) (p. 133)
• 10.3 Local Quality, Symmetry Change, Merging and Multifunctionality (3-6) (p. 138)
• 10.4 Nested Doll and Weight Compensation (7-8) (p. 142)
• 10.5 Preliminary Counteraction, Action and Beforehand Compensation (9-11) (p. 144)
• 10.6 Equipotentiality, The Other Way Around and Curvature Increase (12-14) (p. 147)
• 10.7 Dynamic Parts, Partial or Excessive Actions, Dimensionality Change, Mechanical Vibration (15-18) (p. 151)
• 10.8 Periodic Action, Continuity of Useful Action and Hurrying (19-21) (p. 156)
• 10.9 Blessing in Disguise, Feedback and Intermediary (22-24) (p. 159)
• 10.10 Self-Service, Copying, Cheap Disposables and Mechanical Interaction Substitution (25-28) (p. 163)
• 10.11 Pneumatics and Hydraulics, Flexible Shells and Thin Films and Porous Materials (29-31) (p. 168)
• 10.12 Optical Property Changes, Homogeneity, Discarding and Recovering (32-34) (p. 172)
• 10.13 Parameter Changes, Phase Transitions and Thermal Expansion (35-37) (p. 175)
• 10.14 Strong Oxidants, Inert Atmosphere and Composite Materials (38-40) (p. 178)
• 10.15 How To Select the Most Suitable Principles (p. 182)
• 10.16 Summary (p. 192)
• References (p. 193)
• 11 Evaluation of the Model for Problem Solving (p. 211)
• Reference (p. 212)
• 12 How to Improve Business with TRIZ (p. 213)
• 12.1 Typical Obstacles to the Adoption of TRIZ (p. 214)
• 12.2 How to Introduce TRIZ into your Organization (p. 215)
• 12.3 Implementing the Steps of the Flow Chart (p. 215)
• 12.4 Gaining Additional Benefits by Integrating TRIZ with Other Methodologies (p. 222)
• 12.5 Summary (p. 225)
• References (p. 226)
• 13 Using TRIZ with the Theory of Constraints (p. 227)
• 13.1 The Challenger Current Reality Tree (p. 229)
• 13.2 Summary (p. 235)
• References (p. 235)
• 14 Using TRIZ with Six Sigma and Other Quality Improvement Systems (p. 237)
• Introduction (p. 237)
• 14.1 Methods of Introducing TRIZ into Six Sigma (p. 239)
• References (p. 242)
• 15 Book Summary: Creative Problem Solving in a Nutshell (p. 243)
• References (p. 245)
• 16 Get Started (p. 247)
• Glossary (p. 249)
• Index (p. 253)