This paper focuses on the application of a range of TRIZ tools and techniques in a small European... more This paper focuses on the application of a range of TRIZ tools and techniques in a small European-based food equipment company. The company in question had just completed the development and initial productionisation of a patented food heating process and was in the process of launching the new system and its associated novel business model onto the market. The paper describes how TRIZ was used at a variety of levels and areas of the company from the perspective of both problem solving and improved opportunity exploitation.
“Customers, whether consumers or business, do not want more choices. They want exactly what they ... more “Customers, whether consumers or business, do not want more choices. They want exactly what they want – when, where and how they want it ” (2) “ Convenience need not mean an instant meal on a plate. Growing numbers of consumers enjoy cooking but also do not have the time to prepare dishes from scratch. For them meal kits and two-stage sauces have become popular ” (1).
The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from ... more The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from function and attribute simulation of systems, and uses this as the basis for defining better ways of delivering both product and manufacture processes. We take our definition of 'better' from the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, TRIZ. Built on over 1500 person years of research, TRIZ has shown that the most effective problem solutions are ones where the problem solver: a) has observed that, when systems hit a fundamental limit of optimization, the only way to further improve that system is to identify and eliminate a design contradiction. b) has recognised that technical systems follow distinctly predictable technology evolution paths, and that the paths already trodden in one industry can be carried across to another. c) has turned elements of an existing system thought to be harmful into useful resources. We show how starting from a functional simulation it is possible to generate a description of an existing product or system that systematically enables engineers to identify and exploit the innovation strategies uncovered by TRIZ. The paper provides a detailed description of the novel functional simulation process, and how it links to the systematic innovation principles and strategies contained within TRIZ. We also demonstrate the relevance of the developed simulation approaches through two case study examples; the first examining the use of systematic innovation strategies to help develop a novel food product concept, and the second demonstrating how the approach has been used to fundamentally improve a manufacturing process previously believed to have been at the limits of its optimization potential.
‘The current emphasis on innovation as a source of industrial competitiveness and hence prosperit... more ‘The current emphasis on innovation as a source of industrial competitiveness and hence prosperity makes patents a natural focus-patents after all, are inherently about innovation’1 This article is the first in a series of 6 that introduces an integrated statistical, patent valuation and TRIZ based invention analysis methodology. It represents a first step in the evolution of TRIZ in line with quantitative measurables that should eventually enable organisations to very rapidly
There is an overriding need to develop systems which prevent system failures and reduce the effec... more There is an overriding need to develop systems which prevent system failures and reduce the effects of system breakdowns. To achieve this the maintenance system needs to be constructed around process control and monitoring systems which are supported by both enabling technologies and methodologies. This paper adopts the TRIZ methodology to derive solutions based on the 40 inventive principles for a problem relating to a yoghurt bottle filling process.
This article follows on from a first paper examining the application of TRIZ to the improvement o... more This article follows on from a first paper examining the application of TRIZ to the improvement of the performance and maintenance of a yogurt bottling plant. In this part, we examine how a novel perception mapping tool was used in conjunction with TRIZ to examine and handle the constraints and human issues associated with the problem. As is often the case, the constraints dictated by these people issues can very easily come to dominate a problem setting. Traditional TRIZ is not normally very effective in dealing with such situations. As such, it is our hope that the new perception mapping tool offers a source of help to problem solvers operating in such environments. 1
The 40 inventive principles can be an aid to new product development. The question that this arti... more The 40 inventive principles can be an aid to new product development. The question that this article attempts to answer is: Are the 40 inventive principles relevant to new food product development and innovation? This article examines selected, relatively innovative food products that exhibit one or more of the inventive principles. It also highlights other inventive principles that may assist food product development and some that are less relevant.
This article seeks to explore the applicability of the 40 Inventive Principles of classical TRIZ ... more This article seeks to explore the applicability of the 40 Inventive Principles of classical TRIZ across the food industry. The work comes in the wake of initial work to investigate the usefulness of TRIZ to help solve food related problems (Reference 1). The intention here has been to develop a food industry analogue to previously published articles highlighting examples of the 40 Principles in engineering (Reference 2), business (Reference 3) and architecture (Reference 4) environments.
The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from ... more The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from function and attribute simulation of systems, and uses this as the basis for defining better ways of delivering both product and manufacture processes. We take our definition of 'better' from the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, TRIZ. Built on over 1500 person years of research, TRIZ has shown that the most effective problem solutions are ones where the problem solver: a) has observed that, when systems hit a fundamental limit of optimization, the only way to further improve that system is to identify and eliminate a design contradiction. b) has recognised that technical systems follow distinctly predictable technology evolution paths, and that the paths already trodden in one industry can be carried across to another. c) has turned elements of an existing system thought to be harmful into useful resources. We show how starting from a functional simulation it is possible to...
This paper focuses on the application of a range of TRIZ tools and techniques in a small European... more This paper focuses on the application of a range of TRIZ tools and techniques in a small European-based food equipment company. The company in question had just completed the development and initial productionisation of a patented food heating process and was in the process of launching the new system and its associated novel business model onto the market. The paper describes how TRIZ was used at a variety of levels and areas of the company from the perspective of both problem solving and improved opportunity exploitation.
“Customers, whether consumers or business, do not want more choices. They want exactly what they ... more “Customers, whether consumers or business, do not want more choices. They want exactly what they want – when, where and how they want it ” (2) “ Convenience need not mean an instant meal on a plate. Growing numbers of consumers enjoy cooking but also do not have the time to prepare dishes from scratch. For them meal kits and two-stage sauces have become popular ” (1).
The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from ... more The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from function and attribute simulation of systems, and uses this as the basis for defining better ways of delivering both product and manufacture processes. We take our definition of 'better' from the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, TRIZ. Built on over 1500 person years of research, TRIZ has shown that the most effective problem solutions are ones where the problem solver: a) has observed that, when systems hit a fundamental limit of optimization, the only way to further improve that system is to identify and eliminate a design contradiction. b) has recognised that technical systems follow distinctly predictable technology evolution paths, and that the paths already trodden in one industry can be carried across to another. c) has turned elements of an existing system thought to be harmful into useful resources. We show how starting from a functional simulation it is possible to generate a description of an existing product or system that systematically enables engineers to identify and exploit the innovation strategies uncovered by TRIZ. The paper provides a detailed description of the novel functional simulation process, and how it links to the systematic innovation principles and strategies contained within TRIZ. We also demonstrate the relevance of the developed simulation approaches through two case study examples; the first examining the use of systematic innovation strategies to help develop a novel food product concept, and the second demonstrating how the approach has been used to fundamentally improve a manufacturing process previously believed to have been at the limits of its optimization potential.
‘The current emphasis on innovation as a source of industrial competitiveness and hence prosperit... more ‘The current emphasis on innovation as a source of industrial competitiveness and hence prosperity makes patents a natural focus-patents after all, are inherently about innovation’1 This article is the first in a series of 6 that introduces an integrated statistical, patent valuation and TRIZ based invention analysis methodology. It represents a first step in the evolution of TRIZ in line with quantitative measurables that should eventually enable organisations to very rapidly
There is an overriding need to develop systems which prevent system failures and reduce the effec... more There is an overriding need to develop systems which prevent system failures and reduce the effects of system breakdowns. To achieve this the maintenance system needs to be constructed around process control and monitoring systems which are supported by both enabling technologies and methodologies. This paper adopts the TRIZ methodology to derive solutions based on the 40 inventive principles for a problem relating to a yoghurt bottle filling process.
This article follows on from a first paper examining the application of TRIZ to the improvement o... more This article follows on from a first paper examining the application of TRIZ to the improvement of the performance and maintenance of a yogurt bottling plant. In this part, we examine how a novel perception mapping tool was used in conjunction with TRIZ to examine and handle the constraints and human issues associated with the problem. As is often the case, the constraints dictated by these people issues can very easily come to dominate a problem setting. Traditional TRIZ is not normally very effective in dealing with such situations. As such, it is our hope that the new perception mapping tool offers a source of help to problem solvers operating in such environments. 1
The 40 inventive principles can be an aid to new product development. The question that this arti... more The 40 inventive principles can be an aid to new product development. The question that this article attempts to answer is: Are the 40 inventive principles relevant to new food product development and innovation? This article examines selected, relatively innovative food products that exhibit one or more of the inventive principles. It also highlights other inventive principles that may assist food product development and some that are less relevant.
This article seeks to explore the applicability of the 40 Inventive Principles of classical TRIZ ... more This article seeks to explore the applicability of the 40 Inventive Principles of classical TRIZ across the food industry. The work comes in the wake of initial work to investigate the usefulness of TRIZ to help solve food related problems (Reference 1). The intention here has been to develop a food industry analogue to previously published articles highlighting examples of the 40 Principles in engineering (Reference 2), business (Reference 3) and architecture (Reference 4) environments.
The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from ... more The paper describes a novel approach to innovation in food engineering. The approach begins from function and attribute simulation of systems, and uses this as the basis for defining better ways of delivering both product and manufacture processes. We take our definition of 'better' from the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, TRIZ. Built on over 1500 person years of research, TRIZ has shown that the most effective problem solutions are ones where the problem solver: a) has observed that, when systems hit a fundamental limit of optimization, the only way to further improve that system is to identify and eliminate a design contradiction. b) has recognised that technical systems follow distinctly predictable technology evolution paths, and that the paths already trodden in one industry can be carried across to another. c) has turned elements of an existing system thought to be harmful into useful resources. We show how starting from a functional simulation it is possible to...
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Papers by Barry Winkless