Triz and axiomatic design: a review of case-studies and a proposed synergistic use

With increasing competition in the market, expediting the problem solving process has become crucial in the industry. As such, a number of problem solving techniques have been devised to efficiently tackle problems of varying natures. Two such techniques, Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and Axiomatic Design (AD), have been widely applied in a variety of industries and services, recently. This paper reviews practical applications of TRIZ and AD in solving industrial problems related to manufacturing and designing. In addition, compatibility issues of TRIZ and AD are discussed. Based on our review, we propose a new approach of applying these two techniques concurrently to solve a problem to attain efficiency and quality in the problem solving process. The approach has been demonstrated through a real life case-study of productivity enhancement in a manufacturing industry.