Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Is that the Right solution really!

Let us understand today how do we identify the right solution for a given problem. We have the idea conversion rate of 2 ideas per 100 which is so poor.
We will use the TRIZ methodology to demonstrate the approach.Let us look at the case in indian scenario and try to understand why three wheelers are so popular as a technical solution addressing transport needs.
So what decides if the solution proposed is really the winning solution as is the case with three wheelers in india.
Here I propose a  simple and generic 7 step framework.

Step 1. Create the function
Step 2. Conceptualize the business model around function for target segment
Step 3. Develop the right measure
Step 4. Formulize ideality (#)parameters corresponding to the measure
Step 5. Develop the array of solutions on continuous scale
Step 6. Map the solutions to the right measures
Step 7. Select the elegant solution.


#Ideality = {Useful Function / (Harmful Function + Cost)}

Example:  Three wheeler (Auto-Rickshaw) in India






Function: Transport people within city
Target customer : Auto rickshaw owner
Right measure: Return on investment
Ideality parameters: Initial cost, seating capacity, fuel economy, maintenance cost
The array of Solutions : 4 wheelers ,two wheelers, bicycles, buses, walking
3Wheeler can be viewed as a solution on the continuous scale between two wheeler and four wheeler. It can be appreciated that the weighted ideality for three wheeler comes out to be highest on the S curve.

The same approach should tell us why three wheeler are not popular in USA.
 
 


Business Model for three wheeler for USA may not be viable as customer prefers luxury and convenience over the cost. Thereby the right measure in the USA context will be safety and luxury. In this case the  ideality parameters are vibrations, noise speed, telematics etc.
Thereby conventional car as a taxi becomes most appropriate solution in the context of US

Lets see if we  can use the same approach to say if Tata nano can be used as taxi instead of auto rickshaw in India?

The customer and measure here remains the same as return on investment.
Let's check the parameters of weighted ideality.
The initial cost is going up, the fuel economy is going down, and maintenance is going up as it is still a car engine with multiple parts than auto rickshaw engine.
So not so surprisingly, auto rickshaw retains their maximum ideality status even today and are continue to be an attractive and right solution for the working  business model.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Creative Engineering : Lecture

Hi All,
             
             I hope you might have enjoyed the Creative Engineering session. I am looking for your feedback to make it more  interesting and useful for our own engineering world. Let's keep the ball rolling. Feel free to raise doubts and share your innovation ideas here.


Smart Thought

"The success doen't lie in knowing millions facts around us but in learning just one thing which can explain all million facts invariably"

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A simple rule of innovation for technology Development


 I am observing the Automotive Technology Trend from last few years. Although when one look at technologies they may look(or at least sound)  complex . If you are thinking that these technology are coming into play as a results extensive brainstorming and research involved..you may be wrong! The extensive research is required to make the technology feasible but not for creating or appreciating the base ideas...So if you want to build your appreciation for any technology (without doing research for several years) here is simple rule you need to understand...

THE RULE

"System achieves more functionality with every additional control"
 Let's see if it really works
If you belong to Automotive industry think of how gasoline engine technology have changed especially for meeting emission and performance ..

GASOLINE ENGINE EXAMPLE

Carburettor engine....> Throttle body injection.....>Multi Port fuel injection....> Gasoline direct inject...>DMI

Can you spot the trend? The controls are getting added to the system.

Carburetor ..> no control on Fuelling
TBI..>  Control on the fuelling quantity at single point
MPFI..> Control on fuelling qunatity at more points (At every port)
GDI...> Control on fuel quantity, Control on combustion
DMI (Direct multiple injection (my owned coined term))...> Have more injector per cylinder..More control on combustion

TURBOCHARGER EXAMPLE

Fixed geometry.....> Waste gate...> VGT (Variable geometry turbine)...>VIGV..>MAT

VGT : Variable geometry turbine
VIGV : Variable inlet guide vane
MAT : Motor assist Turbo
You can read more on turbo technologies at

https://www.tytlabs.co.jp/japanese/review/rev413pdf/413_001uchida.pdf

So what actually happens? When more controls are added? It so happens that when we add more controls (Xs) we can achieve more objective (Ys) in space and time. In mathematical terms Y1 = F(X1, X2), Y2= F(X1, X2) then adding another relvant X3 can either improve Y1 or Y2 or  Y3 is also  possible to improve.

Does it mean that the complexity of a system will keep on incresing endlessely. Answer is no..it is replaced by another technology which is simpler and less complex. Is it again random which technology will take over?
Certainly not..Technology based on advanced fields certainly will take over the less advanced one.. The strength
of the fields are given below. This is perfectly in line with TRIZ evolution theory
Fields Starting with lowest potential
- Gravitational
- Mechanical
- Thermal
- Chemical
- Electrical
- Electromagnetic
         
So no wonder if we get more of hybrid vehicles (with lesser need of advanced turbo) followed by fully electrical vehicles with fuel cells and of course with no sign of turbochargers around them!