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Concept Generation: Thomas A. Roemer

The document provides an overview of the concept generation process. It discusses identifying customer needs, generating product concepts, and exploring concepts using techniques like TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving). Examples are provided on generating concepts for a handheld nailer and a child car seat to illustrate approaches like function analysis, concept combination tables, and applying TRIZ principles. The document emphasizes generating many concepts and using inspiration from various sources.

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Muhammad Ziad
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38 views

Concept Generation: Thomas A. Roemer

The document provides an overview of the concept generation process. It discusses identifying customer needs, generating product concepts, and exploring concepts using techniques like TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving). Examples are provided on generating concepts for a handheld nailer and a child car seat to illustrate approaches like function analysis, concept combination tables, and applying TRIZ principles. The document emphasizes generating many concepts and using inspiration from various sources.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Ziad
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Concept Generation

Thomas A. Roemer
… the best way to get a good idea
is to get a lot of ideas…

Linus Pauling
Concept Development Process
Mission Development
Statement Identify Establish Generate Select Test Set Plan Plan
Customer Target Product Product Product Final Downstream
Needs Specifications Concepts Concept(s) Concept(s) Specifications Development

Perform Economic Analysis

Benchmark Competitive Products

Build and Test Models and Prototypes


Concept Generation Exercise:
Vegetable Peelers
Vegetable Peeler Exercise:
Voice of the Customer
z "Carrots and potatoes are very different."
z "I cut myself with this one."
z "I just leave the skin on."
z "I'm left-handed. I use a knife."
z "This one is fast, but it takes a lot off."
z "How do you peel a squash?"
z "Here's a rusty one."
z "This looked OK in the store."
Vegetable Peeler Exercise:
Key Customer Needs
1. The peeler peels a variety of produce.
2. The peeler can be used ambidextrously.
3. The peeler creates minimal waste.
4. The peeler saves time.
5. The peeler is durable.
6. The peeler is easy to clean.
7. The peeler is safe to use and store.
8. The peeler is comfortable to use.
9. The peeler stays sharp or can be easily sharpened.
Problem Decomposition:
Function Diagram
INPUT OUTPUT
Energy (?) Energy (?)
Hand-held
Material (nails) Material (driven nail)
nailer
Signal (tool "trip") Signal (?)

Store or Convert
accept energy to
Energy external translational
energy energy

Apply
Store Isolate Driven
Nails translational
nails nail nail
energy to nail

"Trip" of Sense Trigger


tool trip tool
External Search:
Hints for Finding Related Solutions
z Lead Users
z benefit from improvement

z innovation source

z Benchmarking
z competitive products

z Experts
z technical experts

z experienced customers & sales staff

z Patents
z search related inventions

z Literature
z technical journals

z trade literature
Internal Search:
Hints for Generating Many Concepts
z Suspend judgment
z Generate a lot of ideas
z Infeasible ideas are welcome
z Use graphical and physical media
z Make analogies
z Wish and wonder
z Use related stimuli
z Use unrelated stimuli
z Set quantitative goals
z Use the gallery method
z Trade ideas in a group
z Solve the conflict
An Excursion to TRIZ
Theory of Inventive Problem
Solving
The first 13 (of 39) TRIZ
Metrics

1. Weight of Mov. Obj. 8. Vol. of Stat. Obj.


2. Weight of Stat. Obj. 9. Speed
3. Length of Mov. Obj. 10. Force
4. Length of Stat. Obj. 11. Stress
5. Area of Mov. Obj. 12. Shape
6. Area of Stat. Obj. 13. Stability
7. Volume of Mov. Obj.
The first 19 (of 40) TRIZ
Principles
1. Segmentation 12. Equipotentiality
2. Taking out
3. Local quality 13. The other way round'
4. Asymmetry 14. Spheroidality - Curvature
5. Merging 15. Dynamics
6. Universality 16. Partial or excessive actions
7. "Nested doll" 17. Another dimension
8. Anti-weight
9. Preliminary anti-action 18. Mechanical vibration
10. Preliminary action 19. Periodic action
11. Beforehand cushioning
Child Car Seats:
Volume vs. Shape

Shape
ICS
T R
E
M

PRINCIPLES
DESIGN
Volume 7, 29

7. "Nested Doll"
29. Pneumatics and Hydraulics
Principles 7 & 29
z 7: “Nested Doll”
z Place one object inside another
z Pass one part through a cavity in the other

z 29: Pneumatics & Hydraulics


z Use gas and liquid parts of an object instead of
solid parts (e.g. inflatable, filled with liquids, air
cushion…)
Systematic Exploration:
Concept Combination Table
Convert Electrical
Energy to Apply
Accumulate
Translational Translational
Energy
Energy Energy to Nail

rotary motor w/
transmission spring single impact

linear motor moving mass multiple impacts

solenoid push nail

rail gun
… the best way to get a good idea
is to get a lot of ideas…

Linus Pauling
Team Processes
z Suggestion: Assign a manager for each assignment.
z Be inclusive of all team members.
z Try to meet once or twice a week.
z Team meetings are for sharing results, reaching
consensus, making decisions, and assigning the
work.
z The “real work” gets done outside of the meetings.
z Many teams are meeting at noon before class
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Suggested Reading
z TRIZ
z Genrich Altschuller:
“And suddenly the inventor appeared”

z Function Analysis
z Kaneo Akiyama
“Function Analysis”
z Gerhard Pahl and Wolfgang Beitz
“Engineering Design”

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