Equivalent Transforming
Thinking
Thinking Process for Creation andInnovation and Its Application
September 10, 2011
Shunsuke Suzuki

The Society for Equivalent Transformation
President chief executive officer
Keieigihou Co. Ltd.

Equivalent Transforming Thinking• A theory about creation and innovation
advocated by Dr. Kikuya Ichikawa (Kyoto Univ.
and moved to Doshisya Univ,) in 1955.
• Practiced and proven by those ofIchikawa school who were theprofessional engineers of R&D sectors
and producing sectors in manufactures.
Dr. Ichikawa directed the school from 60’s to80’s.
Continuously studied in the academic
meeting formed by Ichikawas schoolstudents.

2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

2

The History of ET Thinking
1955
1964“The theory was developed and advocatedCreativity Development for Business Professionals” course opened at
Osaka Science and Technology Center
R&D engineers studied the theory and learned the application for 7months

The course lasted for 14 years
The theory has been taken up by the students of the course.
1966

The Study group of Creativity development was formed

1967

The Society for Equivalent Transformation was established2006

NPO Japan Creativity Development Center was established3

The Basic Concept
When a man creates a new thing or concept hehas pierced something common in a different
thing; he was searching and catching an“Equivalent Relation” in it.

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4Equivalent Relation in Figure2011©The Society for Equivalent Transformation, All rights reserved.

5Equivalent Relation in Function
Ramphastidae

GardeningScissors

2011©The Society for Equivalent Transformation, All rights reserved.

6

Searching an Equivalence2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

7Searching an Equivalence2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

8Searching an Equivalence2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

9

Exercise: Sort them by Equivalent
Pairs
Hermit Crab

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10What does EquivalentTransforming = Evolution orCreation mean?
To Change a form (=Transform) from A to B by

•Keeping the Equivalent factor•Removing all of unnecessary factors•Adding on newly needed factors

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11Overview of a Creating Activity ThroughEquivalent Transforming Perspective

Intrinsic Factors inthe Departure

The Departure:
Existing Thingor Hint

Essence
The Arrival:
Solved Issue or
Developped Ting

Viewpoint

2011©The Society for Equivalent Transformation, All rights reserved.

Unique/Original
Factors in theArrival
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Example 1:
From Tablet Chocolate to Cutterknife• Cocoa,• Sugar

Tablet
Chocolate

Fold it along
the Crack

Cutterknife• StealFold and split
somethingneatly andeasily
2011©The Society for Equivalent Transformation, All rights reserved.

• Appropriate
depth and angleof the crack
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Example 2
From a Five Story Pagoda to Flexible Structured
Skyscraper; Kasumigaseki Building
•

Wood•

Religion

Five Storry
PagodaSpreading andAbsorbing Seismic
EnergyKasumigaseki
Building

AntiseismicStructure2011©The Society for Equivalent Transformation, All rights reserved.

14•

Iron Frame•

Concrete PanelExample 3:
Rice Polishing Machine w/o Water
Any intrinsic
factors of a Gum
as a food

Sticky things can beremoved by pressing
same same substance

Chewing Gum
adhes on a Cloth

Rice Polishing
Machine w/oWater

RemoveBice Bran

Rice MillingTechnologies

2011©The Society for Equivalent Transformation, All rights reserved.

15

The Formula of EquivalentTransforming
Intrinsic Factors in theDeparture （Σa)
ConditionedEssence(Cε）
The Departure:
The Arrival: Solved
Existing Thing orIssue or Developped
Hint （Aο）
Ting （Bτ）
Viewpoint (Vi)Unique/OriginalFactors in the Arrival(Σb)

2011©The Society for Equivalent Transformation, All rights reserved.

1616

Explaining Past Developmentswith ET Thinking
Ａο： Hint

Ｂτ Developed Thing

Ｃε essence
EquivalenceElectric Kotatsu

Smoke Free Fish BBQ
CookerPut the heat source
above

Blood circulation

Takuma Boiler

Separate the flow andvalve function

A leaf floating on ariver surface

Automatic ticket gate

A sheet piece can betrimmed its position
when it hits aprojection

Poured detergent on awater

Manufacturing processof sheet glass(Pilkington Method)

Lighter gravity liquidspreads out when it
poured on heavier
liquidPawn Shop

EchigoyaFixed price, nodiscount,
Prompt clearance bycash2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

17ET Thinking Process
1.

Identify the issue/ scope / objectives

2.

Define the viewpoint that can solve the issue andabstract the essence (Vi, ε)3.

Search a hint example that contains the essence （Ａο）

4.

Establish conceptual new model identifying how the hintsatisfy the essence explaining with what condition(s).
（Cε）

5.

Complete the whole product idea realizing newconceptual model（-Σa, +Σb、Ｂτ）

2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved18Automatic Production of Liquid
Crystal Panel
Mica Spacers were placed by man (with Vacuum tweezers)＝＞The process should be automated.
Vi：Allocate tons of granularity materials efficiently. Eachpeace must be placed evenly.
Aο： Seeding sods. Mix up seeds with soil first, then place
the soil.

Cε：Mix up micro granularity materials with medium first,
then place the medium
Bτ：Mix up mica spacer with medium and print the media
on a plate by roll.

2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

19

①

①´

問題の提起（目標の設定）問題を生み出した経験もしくは対象（Obj）②

目標実現のための本質的側面の抽出による（観点の確立）＝（υi ）の設定 ･･･No.1
問題を構成しているファクター群と、それを取りまく条件群のチェック

Σf i

目標実現のために選定した条件の一つ

υi
③⑩´

≠

抽出された問題の本質 = (ε)④⑤α （フィードバック・ルート）⑥･･

選び出された (Ao)

･･･

No.2

②´(ε) を念頭において、 （Obj）を含むあらゆる変換系群 （ΣΧγi)中より可能性の高い（タウ系）の選択

デテクション
セレクションΧγライブラリδ （フィードバック・ルート）上の(ε)を念頭において（Ao）群、即ち（ΣAo- i)の中から性能のよさそうな事象を大局的（定性的）見地から選択する。

(ε)の 妥 ＝
当性の検定

上のυi を動詞化し、 かつ抽象的に構造化を行
えば次の③となる･･･
No.2 デテクション
セレクション
Aoライブラリ

デテクション
セレクション

単純,明快な熟知系, or 相対的に解析の進んだ 出発系上の（Ao）を詳細に分解、一般性のある限定条件の(C)を確認する。
⑦（オミクロン系）における特殊化的条件群(ΣSca-i)の廃棄(C , ε)⑧

選定された（タウ系）の特殊化的条件群（特有の性質）,すなわち (ΣScb-i) の抽出，or 解明(C , ε)と(ΣScb-i)を各種の角度から組み合せる（思考実験）（試行）⑨≠

目標との一致の度合を検定

（α）
⑩③´

≠

ただし、改良的研究の場合には、上記の（タウ系）= （Obj）の置かれている系の 特殊化的条件群をそのまま使えばよい。

（δ）＝目標を満足する（βγ）の創造･･･ （出発系のAoを（タウ系）上へ再構成したもの）

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注） また以上のフローチャートは、多人数協業体制（研究所、企業など）の組織構成原則にもあてはまるものである。

到達系
E・T-Thinking Flow Chart(E・T線図）（1971年10月改訂第4版）

Identify the Issue/Scope/Objective
Negative Search＝Shortage, Constrain, Problem,
inconvenience etc.
Positive Search ＝ Desire, Vision2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

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Define the viewpoint (Vi)andAbstract the essence（ε）
What is the basic approach to resolve the Issue? （Vi)How do you redifine the Viewpoint with more
abstract expression? (ε）

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22Extract Conditioned Essence（Cε）
Define or draw simply how the Aο, the hint youfound, meet the Vision in what condition.
（What condition(C) is required to prove that Aο
include the essence.(ε）
Describe the logic abstractly
Replace proper name to general noun
Think by verb, rather than adjective or noun

When you express it visually, simplify the structure
excluding detail decoration2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

23Complete the whole product idea
realizing new conceptual model（Bτ）
The new concept is expressed with Cε To make it realthing, exclude all unnecessary factors of the hintexample and add on all other necessary factors tocomplete the object/new thing.

（To objectivise Cε, exclude Σa, unneeded factors ofAο, add B τ, newly needed factors to complete theBτ）

2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

24Apply A Thinking Process to R&DActivity
Thinking process ＝ program in a brain
Strengthen your thinking ability
With low cost

Thinking Process as a common language
When everyone understands it, because of simple
thinking process, you can pinpoint which step yourcolleague is facing the challenging, and which step
he/she should go back. Communication (discussion,coaching) become more efficient and effective.

2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved

25

The Advantage of ET Thinking as A
Thinking Technique
Generate hypothesis and testing in faster time cycle
Try identification of issue and defining the viewpoint
many times
Test by stepping back to the thinking process

Abstracting the essence
The basic of thinking technique to avoid the influenceof precedence , common examples
Enhancing the degree of abstractness, options of hints
become more available from various fileld.

2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved26Some Challenging of Individual’sCapability When ET Thinking isApplied to Organization
Ability to search and identify the issue
Negative Search: Appraise the situation, Breakdown issues orconcerns, and Solve each problem
Positive Search: The capability is dependent on his creativity.
Can everyone set-up higher standards? Can he/she imagine
higher ideal or goal?

Combining linguistic ability and imaginative skill. Sometimes
they are contradictive.

Constructing ability to complete the new product2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved27

How to Boost Your Creativity
Based on ET ThinkingStrengthen the ability to find out Equivalence

Multiple Perspective
Strengthen Abstract Thinking

2011©Keieigihou Co. Ltd., All rights reserved28