TRIZ for Innovation

TRIZ is a method for solving engineering problems invented by a Soviet engineer and researcher Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues in 1946. Altshuller examined hundreds of thousands of Soviet patents in order to discover how to invent or solve an engineering problem, and created a set of rules called TRIZ that stands for "A theory of problem solving for inventors".

From his studies of patents, Altshuller eventually developed forty Principles of Invention, Laws of Technical Systems Evolution, the concept of "contradictions" that must be solved in order for inventions to take place, and numerous other practical approaches to creativity and inventive problem-solving. His work is widely used by engineers to redesign processes or invent new approaches to problem solving specific contradictions or difficulties in product design. While many in creative fields, such as marketing, turn to brainstorming ideas to solve problems, Altshullers' TRIZ approach was to find what engineering solutions worked best for practical physical (mechanical, electrical, chemical, etc.) solutions to problems. The method is often compared to Japanese JUSIT thinking, lateral thinking, morphological analysis and trial and error, but it is nothing of the like.

TRIZ software, problem solving and innovation is studied by many engineers the world over interested in learning how to innovate or invent solutions to difficult design problems. Whereas Taguchi design optimizes the selection of various design choices, TRIZ helps you solve the basic question of what will work in the first place. It is an excellent problem solving technique.