Innovative Problem Solving

With Innovative Problem Solving, you can:

• Compress time required – Our structured methods generate three to ten times the number of innovative ideas in less time than traditional methods.
• Manage complexity – Pretium’s Innovative Problem Solving deconstructs complex problems using function models that reveal the true nature of the problem.
• Gain competitive advantage – Pretium’s Innovative Problem Solving methods make it possible for you to beat the competition to market with innovative products, processes and services.

Pretium’s Innovative Problem Solving is an alloy of Function Modeling and Guided Brainstorming™. Organized into a structured, facilitated process, Pretium’s Innovative Problem Solving combines latent resources with inventive principles producing a large number of high impact solutions.

Pretium’s Innovative Problem Solving is applied by conducting facilitated workshops with an experienced Pretium facilitator, Guided Innovation Toolkit™ software and your Subject Matter Experts. This combination is highly synergistic and results in dramatic increases in the number and quality of ideas generated.

Choke Production Problem Executive Case Study

Situation

The inductor is an important part of the DC (direct current) supply filter in a TV. Several operations are performed to produce the inductor, some of which require high accuracy (0.1mm). In particular, a spacer must be placed between parts of the core, covered with glue, and the parts pressed together. After the parts are pressed together, glue appears on the spacer surface and increases the size of the non-magnetic gap, which in turn alters the electrical parameters of the inductor. As the glue dries it shrinks, producing further changes in the non-magnetic gap and the electrical parameters. As a result, several measurements must be taken and repairs carried out.

Process

The Pretium Process combines the skills of experienced facilitators, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and Function Modeling in the following process:

Step 1 – Define Objectives

The first thing we will do is analyze the situation and define the Ideal Vision of our product. We use the following guidelines:

• Imagine that you can create anything you can conceive. What would you ask for?
• Introduce the following restriction: Everything remains unchanged or simplified, while a desirable result appears.

We formulate the following Ideal Vision: A spacer and glue be placed between parts of the core and it provides required accuracy without additional measurement or expensive equipment.

Step 2 – Formulate Opportunities

Function modeling is a process of depicting the ideal vision by building a diagram of relationships between “useful” and “harmful” functions. We do this by using Pretium software. The resulting function model of a choke assembly looks like this.

Now we can begin to look for opportunities to innovate.

Step 3 – Guided Brainstorming.

If we select the function “Insert spacer” the GIT software formulates the following opportunity: Resolve the contradiction: Insert spacer should produce Keep core parts together and create non-magnetic gap and should not produce Layer of glue on the spacer.

This opportunity is related to Directions to Resolve the Contradiction. There are four Directions: Separate the contradiction in space, in time, in structure, and on condition. Each direction contains several Inventive Principles. Direction Separate the contradiction in structure guides us to the following: separate the spacer into small parts which will provide non-magnetic gap, but glue will keep all of them together.

Idea: Use glue mixed with small spheres as spacers.

Investigation determined that the TV factory already had the required spheres - graphite spheres used in copy machines.

Results

• Control of gap spacing is 100% guaranteed
• Quality control of electrical parameters is not necessary
• Rework of defective chokes is eliminated
• Manual placement of spacers is eliminated because spheres are mixed into glue
• Manufacture of spacers is eliminated
• Spacer raw material purchase and inventory is eliminated
• Production equipment used for manufacture of spacers is now available for other production