USIT Process Documents (Index) : USIT Manual, Operators, Case Studies, References (Toru Nakagawa)

CrePS/USIT Documents
USIT Process Documents (Index) USIT (Unified Structured Inventive Thinking): A Concise Process of Creative Problem Solving in the 'Six-Box Scheme'
USIT Manual, USIT Operator System, USIT Case Studies, USIT References
Editor: Toru Nakagawa (Osaka Gakuin University, Professor Emeritus)
Posted: Jun. 26, 2015

Press the button for going to the English page.

Editor's Note (Toru Nakagawa, Jun. 24, 2015)

The present page is the parent page (or index page) of collecting the documents related to USIT; and it belongs to the document system of CrePS ('General Methodology of Creative Problem Solving / Task Achieving').

CrePS is characterized by its underlying paradigm of the 'Six-Box Scheme'. Based on the scheme, a wide range of creative problem solving methods, including TRIZ/USIT and others, are conceptually integrated and unified into CrePS.

USIT in the present stage is a concise and consistent process of performing the 'Six-Box Scheme', in a typical and universal manner.

USIT ('Unified Structured Inventive Thinking') was originally developed by Dr. Ed Sickafus in 1995, and has been developed further in Japan by Toru Nakagawa et al. Solution generation methods of TRIZ and USIT were integrated into USIT Operators, and then the 'Six-Box Scheme' of USIT was recognized as the new paradigm for creative problem solving in general. Thus USIT has been regarded as a much more general process.

'USIT Manual' has been compiled now in the form of slides. Concepts and usage of USIT are described in detail along the USIT steps and with the illustration of a consistent case study.

Various case studies which I have published so far are revised and bound into 'A Collection of USIT Case Studies'. Every case has been rewritten in the form corresponding to the 'USIT Manual'. Hence you may understand USIT as a consistent process of creative problem solving having a variety of aspects and applications.

Since various problem solving methods can be understood in the framework of 'Six-Box Scheme', some case studies which were originally performed with methods other than USIT are also rewritten in the 'Six-Box Scheme' as USIT Case Studies. Please allow us to use such a generalized term of USIT.

10 USIT Case Studies have been described so far in Japanese, and 5 of them are now posted here in English. I am going to write down and post some more cases.

The System of 'USIT Operators' were obtained in 2002 by reorganizing and unifying all the solution generation methods of TRIZ and USIT (by Toru Nakagawa, Hideaki Kosha, and Yuji Mihara). Details of them and the relationships between USIT Operators and TRIZ methods in the dual directions were already posted in the present site. In the present page, indexes of such postings are summarized for easier reference.

Various documents will be posted in two forms: one is the HTML + images pages for easier access and linking, the other is the PDF pages for clarity and for printing. Whenever such documents are revised, the HTML pages will have the latest versions only while the PDF pages will keep all the versions

In the fourth section of this page, references of USIT, especially theoretical/methodological ones, are listed. References in the aspects of application may be referred in the Case Study articles (see the top page of each Case Study slides).

Top of this page

USIT Documents (Parent page)

USIT Manual (Table of Contents)

USIT Manual (HTML)

USIT Operator System (Index)

USIT Operator System (Full version)

From TRIZ Tools to USIT Operators (Index)

USIT Case Studies (Index)

USIT Case Studies (Parent page)

USIT References

USIT Documents (Parent page)(Japanese)

Japanese page

　　'USIT Manual' (USIT: A Concise Process of Creative Problem Solving in the 'Six-Box Scheme')

　　HTML Page　,       Slides PDF 　　(Posted: Jun. 26, 2015) 　

USIT Manual: Title

Preface:
           Purposes, Targets, and Means

Introduction:
          Purposes to learn and apply USIT;   What is USIT?;
          Characteristic features of USIT;   How to use USIT

Overall View of the USIT Process:
          'Six-Box Scheme'; Description of the 'Six-Box Scheme'

Execution steps of the USIT process:

Step 1: Define the Problem:
     (1) Preparation: Forming the USIT project;
      (2) Clarify the problem situations and focus the scope

Step 2: Analyze the Problem

(A) Understand the present system:
    (1) Understand the space characteristics;
    (2) Understand the time characteristics;
    (3) Understand the attributes;
    (4) Understand the functional relationships

(B) Make an image of the ideal system :
      (1) Particles method (part 1 and part 2)

Step 3: Generate ideas:
     (1) Write down the ideas stimulated by the analyses;
     (2) Extend ideas with USIT operators

Step 4: Construct solutions:
     (1) Evaluate and select ideas;
     (2) Construct the conceptual solutions;
     (3) Report the results of the USIT project

Step 5: Implement the solutions: (Real activities in the 'Real World') ;

Summary of the case study

USIT Case Studies: About the Collection of USIT Case

Appendix 1. The System of USIT Operators

Appendix 2. A Collection of USIT Case Studies

　　'USIT Operator System' 　　　 ==> Detailed HTML page (Full version)

Reference: "USIT Solution Generation Methods (Full Version) -- Simplified System by the Reorganization of TRIZ Solution Generation Methods" by Toru Nakagawa (Osaka Gakuin Univ.), Hideaki Kosha and Yuji Mihara (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Japan), Appendix to "Reorganizing TRIZ Solution Generation Methods into Simple Five in USIT" ETRIA World Conference: TRIZ Future 2002, Strasbourg, France, Nov. 6-8, 2002; Posted in "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", on Sept. 18, 2002 (in Japanese), on Nov. 19, 2002 (in English).

USIT Operator System:

USIT Solution Generation Methods -- Simplified System by the Reorganization of TRIZ Solution Generation Methods

(A) Simple version: posted in "TRIZ Home Page in Japan" (Nov. 19, 2002) (Sept. 18, 2002)

(B) Full version: posted in "TRIZ Home Page in Japan" (Nov. 19, 2002) (Sept. 18, 2002)

Note: The USIT (sub-)Operators are described in full detail by showing the TRIZ solution generation methods supporting them.
Cross Reference: USIT Operators ==> TRIZ tools.

USIT Operators for Solution Generation (One-page list for reminder)

(1) Object Pluralization Method
   a. Eliminate
   b. Multiply into 2, 3, ..., inf.
   c. Divide into 1/2, 1/3, ..., 1/inf.
   d. Unify
   e. Introduce or modify
   f. Introduce from the Environment.
   g. From solid to powder/liquid/gas
(2) Attribute Dimensionality Method
   a. Deactivate a harmful
   b. Activate a useful
   c. Enhance a useful or suppress a harmful
   d. Introduce a spatial attribute or
              vary in space
   e. Introduce a temporal attribute or
              vary in time
   f. Change the phase or the inner-structure
   g. Attributes at the micro level
   h. Properties of the system as a whole
(3) Function Distribution Method
   a. Reassign to a different Object
   b. Divide the compound Functions
             and assign them separately
   c. Unify multiple Functions
   d. Introduce a new Function
   e. Vary the Function in space,
           use space-related Functions.
   f. Vary the Function in time.
   g. Detection/measurement Function.
   h. Enhance adapting/coordination/control
   i.   With a different physical principle
(4) Solution Combination Method
   a. Combine functionally
   b. Combine spatially
   c. Combine temporally
   d. Combine structurally
   e. Combine at the principle level.
   f. Combine at the super-system level
(5) Solution Generalization Method
   a. Generalize/specify
   b. Hierarchical system of solutions

Cross References between TRIZ and USIT Solution Generation Methods

Toru Nakagawa (Osaka Gakuin University), Posted in "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (in Japanese) on Sept. 18,2002 (temporarily withdrawn on Apr. 8, 2003 and re-posted on Dec. 22, 2012); (in English) on Apr. 3, 2003 (temporarily withdrawn on Apr. 8, 2003 and re-posted on Dec. 22, 2012)

In the lists of various solution generation methods in TRIZ, contributions of individual TRIZ solution methods to USIT sub-operators are shown in detail.

Cross References TRIZ Tools ==> USIT Operators

No.	Tool Item	Reference	Link to English page (posted/updated)	Link to Japanese page
(1)	TRIZ "40 Inventive Principles"	Salamatov's TRIZ Textbook (1999)	Apr. 3, 2003	Sept. 18, 2002
(2a)	TRIZ "76 Inventive Standards"	Salamatov's TRIZ Textbook (1999)	Apr. 3, 2003	Sept. 18, 2002
(2b)	TRIZ "Inventive Standards"	Mann's TRIZ Textbook (2002)	Apr. 3, 2003	Sept. 18, 2002
(3)	TRIZ "Trends of System Evolution"	Mann's TRIZ Textbook (2002)	Apr. 3, 2003	Sept. 18, 2002
(4)	Sickafus' Heuristics	Sickafus' USIT Textbook (1997)	Apr. 3, 2003	Sept. 18, 2002

　USIT Case Studies　　==> HTML Index Page ('A Collection of USIT Case Studies')

A Collection of USIT Case Studies:
USIT (Unified Structured Inventive Thinking): A Concise Process of Creative Problem Solving in the 'Six-Box Scheme'

Editor: Toru Nakagawa (Osaka Gakuin University),
Japanese edition (TN, May 23, 2015); English edition (TN, Jun. 26, 2015)

Table of USIT Case Studies described in the 'Six-Box Scheme'

No.	Theme	Features	Case Study described by:
1. Sewing	How to fix a string shorter than the needle	Whole USIT Process is well illustrated for a familiar problem	Toru Nakagawa (Jun. 26, 2015)
2. Stapler	How to prevent a staple from being crashed	A familiar problem was solved by finding the real root cause and by using the SLP method	Toru Nakagawa (Jun. 26, 2015)
3. Toilet	Saving Water for a Toilet System	Example of catching big problem in daily life as physical contradiction, and solution	Toru Nakagawa (Jun. 26, 2015)
4. Picture	Picture Hanging Kit Problem	A standard USIT Case Study on a familiar problem, easy to understand for everybody and yet deep in thoughts	Toru Nakagawa (Jun. 26, 2015)
5. Porous	Increase the Foam Ratio of Porous Polymer Sheet	A real problem in the field of chemical engineering is solved with the Particles Method	Toru Nakagawa (Jun. 26, 2015)

　USIT Principal References (Methodological references)

Among the principal references on USIT, those related to the methodological/theoretical aspects are listed here. The references related to the application and case studies are shown in the individual case studies (especially in the top page of the case studies).

These papers/presentations were mostly written/presented by myself. I have delivered these papers/presentation in similar motives but in contents developing little by little. They have shown some stepwise developments naturally in the history; so I inserted the separation lines ' ----- ' for characterizing the development stages.

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"USIT -- Creative Problem Solving Procedure with Simplified TRIZ", Toru Nakagawa, Journal of Japan Society for Design Engineering, Vol. 35, No. 4, April, 2000, pp. 111-118. (in Japanese) ; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", Apr. 24, 2000; in English , Apr. 24, 2000

"Approaches to Application of TRIZ in Japan", Toru Nakagawa, TRIZCON2000, Nashua, NH, USA, Apr. 30 - May 2, 2000, pp. 21-35; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (May 8, 2000); (Feb. 28, 2001)

"Learning and Applying the Essence of TRIZ with Easier USIT Procedure", Toru Nakagawa, Presented at ETRIA World Conference TRIZ Future 2001, Bath, UK on Nov. 7-9, 2001; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Jan. 16, 2001), (Aug. 23, 2001)

"Commentary on "The Picture Hanging Kit Problem"", Toru Nakagawa, "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Jul. 31, 2001); with discussion by Ed Sickafus, "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Aug. 23, 2001)

"Experiences of Teaching and Applying the Essence of TRIZ with Easier USIT Procedure", Toru Nakagawa, TRIZCON2002, held at St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on April 28-30, 2002; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Jan. 7, 2002); "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", with discussion by Ed Sickafus, (May 16, 2002).
,
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"Reorganizing TRIZ Solution Generation Methods into Simple Five in USIT", Toru Nakagawa (Osaka Gakuin Univ.), Hideaki Kosha and Yuji Mihara (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Japan), ETRIA TFC 2002, Strasbourg, France, Nov. 6-8, 2002, pp. 333-345; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Sept. 18, 2002); (Nov. 19, 2002).

"Usage of USIT Solution Generation Methods: A Simple and Unified System of TRIZ", Toru Nakagawa (Osaka Gakuin Univ.), Hideaki Kosha and Yuji Mihara (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Japan), TRIZCON2003, Philadelphia, PA, USA, March 16-18, 2003; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Jan. 22, 2003), (Apr. 3, 2003).

"USIT Approach in Japan for Simpler and Powerful Process of Creative Problem Solving in TRIZ", Toru Nakagawa, ETRIA TFC2003, Nov. 12-14, 2003, Aachen, Germany; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Dec. 11, 2003)

"Problem Solving Methodology for Innovation: TRIZ/USIT. Its Philosophy, Methods, Knowledge Bases, and Software Tools", Toru Nakagawa, First Symposium on Knowledge Creation Support Systems, Feb. 27-28, 2004, at JAIST, near Kanazawa; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Mar. 3, 2004); (Aug. 26, 2004).

"Practices of Applying TRIZ/USIT in Japan", Toru Nakagawa; TRIZCON2004, Seattle, WA, USA, April 25-27, 2004; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (May 13, 2004); (Aug. 26, 2004)

"USIT Operators for Solution Generation in TRIZ: Clearer Guide to Solution Paths", Toru Nakagawa, ETRIA TFC2004, Florence, Italy, Nov. 3-5, 2004, pp. 347-363; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Oct. 18, 2004); (Nov. 16, 2004).

-----------------------

"Method of Creative Problem Solving with Easy-to-learn USIT", Toru Nakagawa, Seminar for Industrial Introduction & Practice of TRIZ/USIT, held by Technical Information Association Inc., Tokyo, Feb. 24-25, 2005; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Mar. 18, 2005)

"Overall Dataflow Structure for Creative Problem Solving in TRIZ/USIT", Toru Nakagawa, TRIZCON2005, Detroit, April 17-19, 2005; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Mar. 24, 2005); (Jun. 16, 2005)

"A New Generation of TRIZ", Toru Nakagawa, Keynote Lecture, The First TRIZ Symposium in Japan, Held by Japan TRIZ CB, Sept. 1-3, 2005, Shuzenji, Shizuoka; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Sept. 20, 2005); (Sept. 20, 2005)

"Problem Solving Methodology for Innovation: TRIZ/USIT -- Its Philosophy, Methods, Knowledge Bases, and Software Tools --", Toru Nakagawa, Journal of Japan Creativity Society, Vol. 8 (2004), pp. 49-66; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Nov. 30, 2005)

"A New Paradigm for Creative Problem Solving: Six-Box Scheme in USIT without Depending on Analogical Thinking", Toru Nakagawa, Presented at The 27th Annual Conference of the Japan Creativity Society, October 29-30, 2005, Tokyo; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Nov. 30, 2005); (Apr. 25, 2006)

"A New Paradigm for Creative Problem Solving: Six-Box Scheme in USIT", Toru Nakagawa, ETRIA TFC2006, Kortrijk, Belgium, Oct. 6 - 8, 2006; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Nov. 1, 2006); (Nov. 29, 2006)

"A Simple Theory Underlying Structured, Problem-Solving Methodologies – ASIT, TRIZ, USIT and Others", Ed. Sickafus (Ntelleck, LLC., USA), Keynote Lecture, 2nd TRIZ Symposium in Japan 2006, Aug. 31 - Sept. 2, 2006, Suita, Osaka, Japan; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Jun. 24, 2007); [Japanese translation by Keishi Kawamo and Toru Nakagawa], "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Jun. 24, 2007).

"Extension of USIT in Japan: A New Paradigm for Creative Problem Solving", Toru Nakagawa, 4th TRIZ Symposium in Japan 2008, Sept. 10-12, 2008, Moriyama, Shiga, Japan;"TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Sept. 18, 2008); (Sept.18, 2008)

"USIT: A New Paradigm for Creative Problem Solving -- Its Concepts and Usage --", Toru Nakagawa, 7th TRIZ Symposium in Japan 2011, Sept. 8-10, 2011, Yokohama; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Sept. 19, 2011); (Sept. 19, 2011)

-------------------

"Establishing general methodologies of creative problem-solving / task-achieving: Beyond TRIZ", Toru Nakagawa, ETRIA TFC2012, Oct. 24-26, 2012, Lisbon, Portugal; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Dec. 5, 2012); (Dec. 5, 2012)

"General methodology for creative problem solving and task achieving (CrePS): Its vision", Toru Nakagawa, ETRIA TFC2013, Oct. 29-31, 2013; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Oct. 3, 2013); (Oct. 25, 2013)

"General Methodology of Creative Problem Solving & Task Achieving (CrePS): Reorganizing Various Application Cases and Their Methods in the ‘Six-Box Scheme’", Toru Nakagawa, 10th TRIZ Symposium in Japan, Sept. 11-12, 2014, Tokyo; ETRIA TFC2014, Oct. 29-31, 2014, Lausanne, Switzerland; "TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (Nov. 7, 2014); (Nov. 7, 2014)

"USIT Manual -- USIT (Unified Structured Inventive Thinking): A Concise Process of Creative Problem Solving in the 'Six-Box Scheme'", Toru Nakagawa,"TRIZ Home Page in Japan", (May 25, 2015); (Jun. 26, 2015)

USIT Documents

	Index in the USIT Documents page	Main HTML page	supporting pages
USIT Documents (Index)	page top	USIT Documents
USIT Manual	Manual (index)	USIT Manual	USIT Manual in PDF
USIT Operators	Operators (index)	USIT Opertors (Full version)	USIT Operators (Simple version / Extended version) Cross reference: TRIZ => USIT (parent page)
USIT Case Studies	Case Studies (index)	A Collection of USIT Case Studies (parent page)	Individual Case Study pages in HTML (ex. Case 1: ...)
USIT References	References (index)	--