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International audience; This article proposes a novel approach that uses a mathematical model optimized by Genetic Algorithms harmonized with the Russian theory of problem solving and invention (TRIZ) to design an export packing of Persian Lime. The mathematical model (with functional elements of non-spatial type) optimizes the spaces of the Persian Lime Packing, maximizes the Resistance to Vertical Compression and minimizes the Amount of Material Used, according to the operation restrictions of the packing during the transport of the merchandise. This approach is developed in four phases: the identification of the solution space; the optimization of the conceptual design; the application of TRIZ; and the generation of the final proposal solution. The results show the proposed packing (with 28% less cardboard) supports at least the same vertical load with respect to the nearest competitor packing. However, with the same number of packings per pallet and pallets per container, the space used by the packing assembled and deployed in the container is greater by 10% and 38% respectively. Besides, TRIZ includes innovative non-spatial elements such as the airflow and the friction of the product inside the packing. The contribution of this approach can be replicable for the packing design of other horticultural products of the agri-food chain

International audience; The pressure of the market, the exigencies of the society, and the environmental restrictions ask for new problem-solving approaches. In this context, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) offers several advantages: it is a knowledge-based approach for problem-solving that links the problem requirements with some engineering models to guide the solving process. However, the learning process of TRIZ and its use with a practical purpose reveal many drawbacks. A significant problem, while using TRIZ, emerges when the user needs to analyze and formulate an inventive problem. To deal with this issue, a combination of TRIZ with other tools seems the best strategy. The use of the Functional Analysis (FA) is one of the best examples. Despite the usefulness of the FA technique, a difficulty remains: it is a complex task to model the causal relationship between several parameters or conditions within a system. However, a tool used in the System Dynamics Modeling deals well with this situation. The System Dynamics (SD) analyzes the nonlinear behavior of complex systems over time. Congruent with recent TRIZ advances, the SD is a computer aided-approach with an extended application domain, practically in any complex system-social, managerial, economic or natural system defined by some relationships, a flow of information, and some effects of causality. Hence, SD can produce useful information when there are several conflicts in a system, also called a problem network. SD uses a graphical tool to model the variables and states of a system: The Causal-Loop Diagram. This tool is helpful to explain a conflict, the change of a system, or merely the interactions that take place to obtain an effect. This article presents a comparison between the Functional Analysis and the Causal-Loop Diagram to model inventive problems.

The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) has a broad range of application in today’s industry. Many companies have assimilated this problem-solving approach and unveiled new technological resources for add value and impel the innovation process. Nevertheless, the appropriation effort of TRIZ also revealed several research opportunities; one that has particular significance is the complexity for modeling inventive problems. Typically, TRIZ proposes to model problems through Functional Analysis, Root-Cause Analysis, and other graphical tools. However, these tools are inadequate to represent how one conflict changes in time. Hence, it is not possible to observe the effect of one solution on the system. An approach particularly appropriate to model a system in a period is the System Dynamics Modeling. This article has the purpose of demonstrating that the modeling tools of the System Dynamics can represent inventive problems. In this process, both techniques obtain something useful. In the first place, TRIZ gains a modeling tool, and on the other hand, the System Dynamics Modeling explores the possibility to enrich their problem-solving toolbox. The objective of this article is to demonstrate that it is possible to model any inventive problem through the System Dynamic Modeling approach.

The application of the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) to face complex problems in the current scientific and industrial environment is an active research field. The TRIZ capacity to produce valuable technological solutions is an attractive resource to impel the innovation process and technical performance. The intensification of the research effort has unveiled new paths for proposing more efficient problem-solving tools and techniques. Among these opportunities, two are crucial in this chapter: the TRIZ limitation to observe the progression of an inventive problem in time and the difficulty that any solver faces when the system under analysis contains several interrelated problems. Nonetheless, there is an approach that analyzes a system through time and that offers some tools for modeling and simulating the different system states: system dynamics modeling. The system dynamics (SD) approach analyzes the nonlinear behavior of complex systems over time. SD is a computer-aided approach with a large extent of application domains, practically in any complex system—social, managerial, economic, or natural—defined by a set of interdependence relationships, a flow of information, and effects of causality. Hence, SD can produce useful information within a problem network and create, in combination with TRIZ, a synergy to solve inventive problems.

International audience; Due to the environmental issues, innovation is one way to challenge eco-friendly technologies, create new process options which are needed to meet the increasing demands for sustainable production. To accelerate and improve eco-innovative design, there is a need for the computer aided eco-innovation tools to support engineers in the preliminary design phase. Currently, several computer aided innovation tools with a clear focus on specific innovation tasks exist but very few of them deal with the eco-innovation issues. Therefore the purpose of this paper is to present the development of a computer aided model based preliminary design methodology focused on technological eco-innovation for chemical engineering. This methodology is based on modified tools of the structured TRIZ theory. The general systematic framework gives the same level of importance, to the technological and environmental requirements during the conceptual design phase. Integrating environment oriented design approach at the earliest, in the design phase, is essential for product effectiveness and future development. The methodology employs a decomposition based solution approach in hierarchical steps by analysing the problem faced, formulation of the problem and the generation of possible and feasible ideas. At each step, various methods and tools will be needed. In this paper some existing tools are adapted to chemical engineering and some tools of the structured TRIZ theory are modified and improved to build a specific methodology oriented towards the increasing technological complexity and environmental issues of current designs. Undoubtedly, the selection of materials and substances for a particular generated concept, mainly affects the structure, mechanical factors (processability and dimensions) and the environmental impact. In order to deal with these environmental criteria, the resources and their impacts are considered in the upstream phase of the design process and are introduced as constraints in our model. To highlight its capabilities, the methodology is illustrated through a case study dedicated to tars and ashes issues in biomass gasification.

Today innovation is recognised as the main driving force in the market. This complex process involves several intangible dimensions, such as creativity, knowledge and social interactions among others. Creativity is the starting point of the process, and knowledge is the force that transforms and materialises creativity in new products, services and processes. In this paper a synergy that aims to assists the innovation process is presented. The synergy combines several concepts and tools of the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) and the case-based reasoning (CBR) process. The main objective of this synergy is to support creative engineering design and problem solving. This synergy is based on the strong link between knowledge and action. In this link, TRIZ offers several concepts and tools to facilitate concept creation and to solve problems, and the CBR process offers a framework capable of storing and reusing knowledge with the aim of accelerating the innovation process.

The generation of ideas or new concepts is the steppingstone of the innovation process. Nevertheless the transformation of those ideas in new or improved products, services or processes demands the mobilization of a huge diversity of knowledge. In this document is proposed the integration of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and the Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) process in order to conceive a solving process capable to guide creativity while generating innovative solutions and also to store, index and reuse knowledge with the aim to accelerate the innovation process.

International audience; With the evolutions of the surrounding world market, researchers and engineers have to propose technical innovations. Nevertheless, Chemical Engineering community demonstrates a small interest for innovation compared to other engineering fields. In this paper, an approach to accelerate inventive preliminary design for Chemical Engineering is presented. This approach uses Case Based Reasoning (CBR) method to model, to capture, to store and to make available the knowledge deployed during design. CBR is a very interesting method coming from Artificial Intelligence, for routine design. Indeed, in CBR the main assumption is that a new problem of design can be solved with the help of past successful ones. Consequently, the problem solving process is based on past successful solutions therefore the design is accelerated but creativity is limited and not stimulated. Our approach is an extension of the CBR method from routine design to inventive design. One of the main drawbacks of this method is that it is restricted in one particular domain of application. To propose inventive solution, the level of abstraction for problem resolution must be increased. For this reason CBR is coupled with the TRIZ theory (Russian acronym for Theory of solving inventive problem). TRIZ is a problem solving method that increases the ability to solve creative problems thanks to its capacity to give access to the best practices in all the technical domains. The proposed synergy between CBR and TRIZ combines the main advantages of CBR (ability to store and to reuse rapidly knowledge) and those of TRIZ (no trade off during resolution, inventive solutions). Based on this synergy, a tool is developed and a mere example is treated.

The application of Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) has proved its efficacy as a pragmatic approach to assist problem solving activities, to construct knowledge based decision systems and to support the organizational learning process. Nevertheless its application in innovative design, an activity that involves knowledge, problem solving activities, creativity and social interaction still being poor exploited. In this document, CBR is connected to the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving or TRIZ theory to propose a synergy capable to assist the innovation process. The synergy makes use of several TRIZ concepts, but in the present context, the relevance of available resource in a technical system as vector to drive problem solving activities and to transfer knowledge is emphasized.

International audience; Nowadays, Chemical Engineering has to face a new industrial context with for example: the gradually falling of hydrocarbon reserves after 2020-2030, relocation, emerging of new domains of application (nano-micro technologies) which necessitate new solutions and knowledges... All this tendencies and demands accelerate the need of tool for design and innovation (technically, technologically). In this context, this paper presents a tool to accelerate innovative preliminary design. This model is based on the synergy between: TRIZ (Russian acronym for Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) and Case Based Reasoning (CBR). The proposed model offers a structure to solve problem, and also to store and make available past experiences in problems solving. A tool dedicated to chemical engineering problems, is created on this model and a simple example is treated to explain the possibilities of this tool.

In this article, a TRIZ based model is proposed to support the innovation and knowledge capitalization process. This model offers a knowledge base structure, which contains several heuristics to solve problems, synthesized from a large range of domains and industries and, also, the capacity to capture, store and make available the experiences produced while solving problems.