Quantification of Influences Between Components, Functions and Process Usage Stages by Linking TRIZ Methods and Systems Engineering

Abstract

Due to globalization, individualization, and other global trends, the variety of new functionalities for technical products is constantly increasing, which leads to a complexity that is almost impossible to master. Especially the systematic identification of influences (negative or positive) between functions, components, and process usage stages in a complex technical system is a major challenge for companies particularly in the early phases of (new) product development. At the last ETRIA TRIZ Future Conference 2019, a presented model-based approach showed how using the combination of Systems Engineering (SE) and TRIZ, leads to a quick identification of influences between different types of elements and engineering contradictions. The goal of this research paper is to depict how the systematic identification of influence types (negative or positive) between different types of elements extended the introduced approach. The paper also presents newly developed specific metrics and scales that aim to ensure a representative quantification and to facilitate the identification and prioritization of engineering contradictions in complex products. For the validation of the developed approach, a modern vacuum cleaner with a technically advanced filtering technology (technical functions) is examined and the engineering contradictions in its design are also identified and prioritized. The approach and findings are discussed and further research steps are pointed out.