A Systematic Method for Identifying Contradiction of Casting Process

The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), one of the most important innovation theories, was inadequate to identifying contradiction. Some researches had been successfully conducted to address the issue. However, these research results focused on conceptual design which was a type of single factor problem, rather than casting process optimization which was a type of multiple factors problem. Starting from systematic thinking, this work at first time proposed the systematic method for identifying contradiction of casting process, which enhanced the conversion capability from specific problem to standard problem whilst improved the feasibility of TRIZ. This method was validated by optimizing casting process of the intake manifold. The case study showed that the integration of the systematic method and solving tools of TRIZ increased the efficiency of casting process optimization.