Abstract
Traditionally, TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is based on logical reasoning to identify opportunity and solve problems. In addition, different TRIZ tools have different ways of problem modeling representations. There was no unified model to represent problems. This research proposed a form of unified problem model, in terms of Problem Characteristic Array (PCA), and a form of Solution Array(SA) to fully represent a problem with its solutions in the context of TRIZ problem solving characteristics. With the proposed function-attributed based Problem Characteristic Array and Solution Array, the research was able to model the TRIZ problem solving process from PCA to SA as similarity problems based on the TRIZ concept of “Like problem like solution”. The process of identifying model of solution can also be regarded as classification problems. In this way, searching of TRIZ generic solutions can be automatically done by computational algorithms without relying on human knowledge and experience. The approach was successfully tested with good performance by using mathematical computation to identify proper Inventive Principles and relevant trends for generic solutions. The contributions of this research include: 1) Establishing a Problem Characteristic Array and Solution Array enabling an integrated and unified representation of heterogeneous problems and solutions thus allowing parallel collections of problem-Solution database and similarity rating between problems and their solutions; 2) Enable the capability of computer-aided automatic identification of relevant Trends and Inventive Principles for problem solving; 3) Introducing mathematical computation into otherwise traditional logical TRIZ. This open up the possibility to use many classification tools to identify TRIZ model of solutions in the future; 4) Providing objective identification of model of solution without relying on subjective experience and knowledge.