1

NCIIA 2011

Workshop on Systematic Innovation Tools

The Trimming Technique

Jonathan Weaver1, Nassif Rayess1 & Sri Condoor2

1 University of Detroit Mercy2 Saint Louis University

2

References

• Presentation by David Verduyn, C2C Solutions, at the November, 2006 PDMA Meeting, Detroit Chapter, held at UDM; The trimming rules and the ideas for many of the examples were drawn from this presentation

• Various trimming rules also appear in the Triz literature• Others as noted within

3

The Trimming Technique

• Most engineers tend to focus their innovative thoughts on more, more, more

• Sometimes there’s an easier way to innovate• The Trimming Technique involves systematically

exploring the various components/functions/systems in a product and looks for ways to trim some to generate new ideas

• The six rules on the following slide provide some direction when considering what might be trimmed

4

Trimming Rules

• Rule 1: The function does not need to exist• Rule 2: The function can be performed by another

component or an element in the larger system• Rule 3: The recipient of the function can perform the

function itself• Rule 4: The recipient of the function can be eliminated• Rule 5: The function can be performed better by a

new/improved part providing enhanced performance or other benefits

• Rule 6: A new or niche market can be identified for the trimmed product

5

Rule 1: The function does not need to exist

6

Rule 2: The function can be performed by another component or an element in the

larger system

7

Rule 3: The recipient of the function can perform the function itself

8

Rule 4: The recipient of the function can be eliminated

9

Rule 5: The function can be performed better by a new/improved part providing enhanced performance or other benefits

10

Rule 6: A new or niche market can be identified for the trimmed product

11

Trimming Rules

• Rule 1: The function does not need to exist• Rule 2: The function can be performed by another

component or an element in the larger system• Rule 3: The recipient of the function can perform the

function itself• Rule 4: The recipient of the function can be eliminated• Rule 5: The function can be performed better by a

new/improved part providing enhanced performance or other benefits

• Rule 6: A new or niche market can be identified for the trimmed product

12

Trimming Rules

• Rule 1: The function does not need to exist• Rule 2: The function can be performed by another

component or an element in the larger system• Rule 3: The recipient of the function can perform the

function itself• Rule 4: The recipient of the function can be eliminated• Rule 5: The function can be performed better by a

new/improved part providing enhanced performance or other benefits

• Rule 6: A new or niche market can be identified for the trimmed product

13

Vertical Wind Turbines: What Might You Trim?

14

Vertical Wind Turbines

15

Trimmed Coffee Maker

Source: www.courtesyproducts.com/order.php?view=item&cview=category&CatID=51&Page=1&Count=6&ItemID=20

16

When to use Trimming

• We have a commodity product and need to differentiate it or create a new market

• Our product or process is too complex and/or too costly• Our competitor has a patent we need to circumvent

17

How to use Trimming

• Decompose existing product and diagram it by components and by functions

• Systematically consider each component and each function in the context of the six trimming rules to look for opportunities