Practical Use of Scientific Creative
Techniques for the Development ofTelecommunication Devices
Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.
Takahiro Shoji
Yosuke Koga

AGENDA
1. Background and Issues
2. Case Report Scalable Process Visualization
 Simplification
3. Conclusion

BackgroundIntroduction
 Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd. Has already deployed thescientific methods such as TRIZ in the process of productplannning, development and manufacturing, and we has reported
their effectiveness.
 However, the development process by such the scientificmethod is only partly used in our company.

Opinion The effectiveness of TRIZ/the scientific method isn't low.
 There is a issue to widely introduce/operate TRIZ/scientificmethod.

IssuesRequests
 Many high quality ideas and inventions are needed in a shorttime, easily.
 In fact, creating good ideas and inventions is difficult.

Issues to introduce/operate There is no time in the parallel work in the idea and invention
creating and the development.
 All members are not always familiar with the scientific method.
 It is difficult that visualization of the effect of introducing thescientific method and difficult to win understanding from itsorganization.
 Getting complex to create ideas, it is difficult to win
understanding from members.

Policy solving the issue
Goal Practical utilization and settlement of TRIZ/scientific method
for efficient creating ideas and inventions.

Methods
1. A scalable TRIZ/Scientific method process.
2. The visualization of the process/the idea.
3. Utilizing simplified TRIZ/Scientific method.

Introducing example of development on acommunication equipment

Scalable process
 Reviewing an optimal process according to the outputs, theinputs and the resources.
InputsResources

Outputs・ theme･ scope･ constraint･ members
・ skill・ time frame・ contents
・ format・ quantity/quality

Process
Steps / methods / references

Materials / Documents
theme / schedule / output image

MEETING

Overview of process
Theme
Fundamental ideas
Making tree map

Selecting area
Creating new ideas

Evaluating ideas & reviewing patents
idea combining

think deeply

Crossfire
patents

Sharing meanings of the process
STEP 1 : Thinking existence ideas
STEP 2 : Creating new ideas
STEP 3 : Studying implementation

The thinking process of the invention creatingVisualization

Fundermenta ideas<Purpose>

Simplification② Objectives① Functionsz Thinking fundamental ideas, quickly andwidely
z Making Functions/Techniques tree map byusing idea sheets.

<Way>① Write functions/techniques ideas on asheet and put it on right side.

③ Once again, it spreads
out to fuctions.

② The different member think out objectives
ideas and put it on left side.
③ Moreover, another member think offunctions/techniques ideas again.

Example of the works.

Making Tree Map<Purpose>

Simplification(1st item)(2nd item)

To be simplify making the map, focusingpurpose of making the tree map to easy tofind idea and to see tendency.

<Way>① Making functions/techniques items byusing objectives sheets② Allocation each function/techniques
sheets to appropriate item.

Example of the works.

Theme Selection<Purpose>① voting sheet

Theme selection for detailed idea
investigation.

(1st item)(2nd item)<Way>(Practical example this time)① It decides by the vote of the member tothe classification item and the idea of thefunction/techniques tree.

Example of the works.

Picture of the works

Function/Techniques Map

Visualization A function and techniques tree map is made in order to see
ideas easy and grasp the tendency.
Classification

Idea

Idea lists

The number of thecreating ideas

Managed Brainstorming

Simplification<Purpose>z Idea creating in selected theme.

<Way>① Each member creates and presents nooverlapped idea in selected theme, in only
30 seconds.
② Each member can pass only to twice
times.
③ The game ends when only one member
remains.

The idea description sheet example

Managed Brainstorming

Simplification<Purpose>z Idea creating in selected theme.
z To control creating idea direction without
instruction.

<Way>① It prepares the photograph which relates
to the selected theme.
② It creates ideas while showing aphotograph.

The photograph example : Thedesk

The photograph example : The
meeting space

The STC operation

Simplification<Purpose>z Creating more ideas by using STC
operation(with scene)<Way>① Prepare a scene picture with extreme
parameter.

The STC operation(with scene) example② Member can concentrate on finding
issues and creating ideas.
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メイド

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執事

執事

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執事

父

母

子供子供子供The STC operation(with scene) example

The number of the creating ideas Visualization
 The visualization of the number of the creating ideas.
 At the initial stage, a lot of ideas are presented.
 When repeating, the number of the creating ideas decreases but theinventive quality becomes high.
The number of the creating ideas

創出アイディア数[件/人・時間]

12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0

A lot of ideas comeout but the inventive islow

The number of the ideas
decreases but theinventive rises.

2.00.0123
実施回数[回]

45

Idea evaluation

Simplification<Purpose> To visualize creatingideas and control thedirection of creating ideas.

ideaevaluation item<Way>
① Prepare evaluation
sheets.
② Evaluate simply inabout 3 degrees.

The idea evaluation sheet example

The evaluation result example

Visualization

 The evaluation result in "the realization time vs needs"
Needs high/Realization far :It reviews a patent having
to do with a concept.

1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
ニーズ

0.20
0.00
-0.20
-0.40
-0.60
-0.80
-1.00

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

Needs high/Realization near: The realistic idea

It reviews a patent for theembodiment.
Needs low/Realization far: niche idea

実現時期[年後]

4.00

Learning patentability

Visualization<Purpose>
To learn patentability in selected theme.

<Way>① In the quiz form,
members read and answer
decision of patent orrejection.
② Totally around 6
patents are done.

A patent summary sheet example

Idea combining

Simplification
The basic idea

<Purpose>

combination effectdisincentive

To creates new issues by the idea
combining.

<Way>① Combining ideas between a basic idea
and each other idea.
② Evaluate an effect, disincentive by thecombining.

combining idea

Idea combination sheet example

Idea combination

Visualization

Just functional idea combination ⇒ fusional idea combination

pencilIntegrated pencil+ ball-point pen

Step 1+ball-pointpen

A pencil which doesn't
disappear like a ballpoint pen when thetime passes.
A ball-point pen
which can turn off
like a pencil

Step 2

Step 3The inventivestep

Detailed Investigation

Simplification<Purpose>
To find the detailed issues to make itpatents.

scene

<Way>
① Repeat reviewing in order of“usage scene" → “function“ →“issue“ → “idea" based on basic idea.

issues.

Detailed Investigation sheet example

Crossfier<Purpose>
To create additional ideas , additional patents and variety of craims.

<Way>① Investigation of additional ideas from other(ex. Completitors)point of view.

Conclusion
In this presentation, we introduced practical process, visualization
approach and simplification approach, and practical example on
introducing/operating TRIZ/scientific methods.

Effects By the scalable process approach, TRIZ/scientific methods have become tobe accepted easily
 By the visualization approach, TRIZ/scientific methods have been received
by members and efficient idea creation was realized.
 By the the simplification approach, members can use TRIZ/scientificmethods easily.

Next Steps Research on establishment of idea creating by using TRIZ/scientificmethods.
 Research on more simple and efficient TRIZ/scientific methods.