Trend of increasing degree of trimming

Trend of increasing degree of trimming: trend of engineering system evolution according to which as an engineering system evolves, system elements (components or operations) are eliminated without impairing the functionality of the system, and possibly improving it.

Overview

The trend of of increasing degree of trimming is one of the four mechanisms directly supporting the trend of increasing value in the hierarchy of TESE (along with the trend of transition to the supersystem, the trend of increasing completeness of system components, and the trend of flow enhancement).

According to this trend, as an engineering system evolves, more and more of its components are trimmed. This applies to components of both devices and processes (operations).

The trend of increasing degree of trimming is fairly universal and can, in principle, be applied at any stage of system development. However, systems typically tend to expand in the early stages of the S-curve, while trimming becomes more relevant in the later stages, especially in stages 3 and 4.

Trimming rules explain how to carry out trimming, while the trend provides guidance on what to trim and in what order. The trend has 3 mechanisms:

Trimming function blocks

This mechanism focuses on the function blocks of a system.

The trend of increasing completeness of the system components shows the order in which the system, as it evolves, acquires the following function blocks: operating agent, transmission, energy source, and control block.

Now – to keep value growing – the system eliminates these blocks. This typically occurs in the following order:

transmission,
energy source,
control system, and
operating agent.

In the long run, the system evolves into a self-controlling (intelligent) operating agent that is capable of generating its own energy.

Trimming operations

This sub-trend applies specifically to processes.

According to it, operations should be trimmed in the following order:
1. operations with corrective functions,
2. operations with providing functions, and
3. operations with productive functions.

The guidelines for handling the functions of operations subjected to trimming are determined by the trimming rules for each type of function.

Trimming components with the lowest value

This sub-trend applies to both devices and processes. According to it, components with the lowest value are the first to be removed from the system.