Editor | On 20, Feb 2003

By Catherine Lundberg, clundberg@ontro.com

Title: TRIZ Companion
Written by Darrell Mann and Simon Dewulf
Publisher: Creax Press. http://www.creax.com Price: 29Euros plus shipping Paperback, 122 pages. ISBN 90-77071-03-2 (pocket-sized format) TRIZ Companion is an excellent reference that even the most skilled TRIZ practitioner would find helpful and useful. The authors give a brief introduction to the theory behind TRIZ and explain in what areas of the design process TRIZ is useful and where other
tools, such as Axiomatic Design, can help supplement TRIZ to create a truly innovative and robust solution or design.

I especially enjoyed the section concerning the 76 standard solutions because I have always found it cumbersome and difficult to use this tool in real world problems. The authors break down the solutions to help the reader quickly refer to the problem at hand.
The reader will be delighted to find all of the standard TRIZ tools (including a contradiction matrix) simply stated and explained and arranged in alphabetical order. I believe the reader will want to keep this book on hand for easy reference for use in numerous aspects of their lives.

Readers of the companion who have also enjoyed Hands on Systematic Innovation, by Darrell Mann will find some of the proprietary terminology and ideas discussed in the book summarized in the TRIZ Companion. Those who have not read Hands on Systematic Innovation will benefit from the brief and quick introduction and explanation of TRIZ in the TRIZ Companion and will likely decide to read a more detailed explanation.

Comments from editor Ellen Domb: The TRIZ Companion is in the format of the popular “Memory Jogger” series from GOAL/QPC, which established the whole category of serious technical books in pocket-sized format. The Memory Joggers, however cost $6-$8, and less in large quantities. I’m not sure how many readers will spend 29 Euros for this size book.

The authors are to be commended for the care that they have taken to develop clear, easy-to-use definitions of each of the terms in their guide to the TRIZ methods. They responded to the space constraint of the small format by developing accurate, elegant definitions. I look forward to hearing the reactions of our readers.