Trends of engineering systems evolution (TESE)

Trends of engineering systems evolution (TESE) are statistically proven or empirically derived directions of engineering system development that describe the natural transition of engineering systems from one state to another.

Overview

The identification and understanding of trends of engineering systems evolution (TESE) is arguably TRIZ’s most significant contribution to the science of innovation. They also form the basis for many TRIZ tools.

TESE emerged from an in-depth analysis of product and technology evolution across various industries. Studying their history – based on the examination of thousands of patents – revealed that all products and technologies follow similar conceptual patterns. TESE define the stages that nearly all products and technologies are likely to go through during their development. This does not mean that designing a product that deviates from TESE is technically impossible, but rather that sooner or later, it is likely to fail.

At the core of TESE lies the assumption that technologies evolve along their own trajectory, independent of human influence. For this reason, they are often referred to as the voice of the product. However, it is important to note that to be fully effective, TESE should be integrated with market needs – the voice of the customer.

Hierarchical structure of TESE

TESE are organized in a hierarchical structure that reflects the relationships between them. In this structure, a lower-level trend functions as a sub-trend (mechanism) of a higher-level trend. However, each trend also has its own internal mechanisms that drive system evolution. In other words, for a system to evolve according to a higher-level trend, both its internal mechanisms and the mechanisms of its sub-trends must be implemented.

It is important to note that both TESE and their structure have evolved over decades, which is why different versions can be found in TRIZ literature. The officially approved definitions of the trends and their hierarchy, as recognized by MATRIZ, were developed by the St. Petersburg TRIZ Scientific School, which is considered the most pragmatic TRIZ school.

Trend of S-curve evolution: as an engineering system evolves, the evolution of each main parameter of value (MPV) describes an S-shaped curve in time.
Trend of increasing value: an engineering system evolves so that its value always increases.
Trend of transition to the supersystem: as an engineering system evolves, it is integrated with supersystem components.
Trend of increasing completeness of system components: as an engineering system evolves, it acquires the following typical functions: operating agent, transmission, energy source, and control system.
Trend of decreasing human involvement: as an engineering system evolves, the number of engineering system functions performed by humans decreases.
Trend of increasing degree of trimming: as an engineering system evolves, system elements (components or operations) are eliminated without impairing the functionality of the system, and possibly improving it.
Trend of flow enhancement: as an engineering system evolves, flow rates of substances, energy, or information increase, and/or the flows are better utilized.
Trend of increasing coordination: as an engineering system evolves, characteristics of the components of the engineering system become more coordinated with each other and with the supersystem.
Trend of uneven development of system components: as an engineering system evolves, development is concentrated on the operating agent first, and on the rest of the system later.
Trend of increasing controllability: as engineering systems evolve, they develop more ways in which they can be controlled.
Trend of increasing dynamization: as an engineering system evolves, it and its components become more “dynamic”.

Trends of engineering systems evolution (TESE)

Overview

Hierarchical structure of TESE

Articles

CONTENTS