Conflicting pair

Conflicting pair is a pair of components, the tool(s) and the product(s), interaction between which causes a conflict that prevents reaching the required result.

Overview

Conflicting pair is a term used in ARIZ.

The terms of the tool and the product are specific to ARIZ but closely mirror the function carrier and function object from function analysis. The product corresponds to the target component – the object of the system’s main function – while the tool is the component that performs this function. This analogy makes it easier to quickly identify the conflicting pair in the system.

A conflicting pair consists of two or three components.

For example, in the process of sealing glass ampoules containing medicine, the flame, the ampoule, and the medicine form a conflicting pair. The flame melts the ampoule tip, but if it’s too strong, it damages the medicine; if it’s too weak, it fails to seal the ampoule properly. In this case, the pair includes one tool (the flame) and two products (the ampoule and the medicine). In other scenarios, a conflicting pair may involve two tools and one product.