Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 104/20/23

National Science Foundation Grant

• $350,000 Grant to Research Problem Solving• Teams of Undergraduate and Graduate

Students interacted with Industry• Summers visiting Industries around the US Dow, DuPont, Dow Corning, Amaco, Shell General Mills, Eli Lilly, Proctor and Gamble Monsanto, Chevron,etc.To learn how they went about solving problems

and what was the greatest hurtle they faced in Problem Solving

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 204/20/23

What’s the Problem?

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 304/20/23

The Annoying Wait

Shortly after the upper floors of a hotel got renovated, guests started to complain that the elevators were too slow.

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 404/20/23

The Annoying Wait

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 504/20/23

The manager’s instructions to solve the perceived problem: “Find a way to speed up the elevators.”

Next, the manager’s directions were: “Find a location and design a shaft to install another elevator.”

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 604/20/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 704/20/23

Find a Better Solvent

A few years ago a major oil company was developing a process for the Department of Energy to produce liquid petroleum products from coal in order to reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Find a Better Solvent

In this process, solid coal particles were ground up, mixed with solvent and hydrogen, then passed through a furnace heater to a reactor that would convert the coal to gasoline.

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 804/20/23

The Better Solvent

Sometime after installation excessive amounts of a tar-like material were being deposited on the pipes in the furnace, causing fouling and plugging. Management told its engineers

“Find a better solvent”

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 904/20/23

The Better Solvent

• Why is the Deposit Forming?

• Brainstorm and List all the Possible Causes.

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1004/20/23

Improving Oil Recovery

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1104/20/23

Perceived Problem Statement:“Find ways to improve oil recovery”

Real Problem Statement “Learn why the well is not producing as

expected”

New Bills

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1204/20/23

Perceived Problem Statement:“Find a Better Printing Ink”

New Bills

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1304/20/23

• Better Problem Statement. • Brainstorm and List all the things

that could cause the ink to smear.

Darfur Cookstoves

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1404/20/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1504/20/23

Real vs. Perceived Problem: Darfur

Perceived Problem Statement:“Design a screw press for Darfurians to turn

garbage into biofuel pellets ”

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1604/20/23

Real vs. Perceived Problem: Darfur

Perceived Problem Statement:“Design a screw press for Darfurians to turn

garbage into biofuel pellets ”

Not sufficient solid waste to meet the demands.

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1704/20/23

Real vs. Perceived Problem: Darfur

Perceived Problem Statement:“Design a screw press for Darfurians to turn

garbage into biofuel pellets ”

Real Problem Statement: “Redesign the cooking stove to obtain higher temperatures and make it more fuel efficient.”

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1804/20/23

Murray River Dams

Right Problem Definition

BUT

Wrong Solution

Dam the Torpedo or Torpedo the Dam?

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1904/20/23

The Australian government wanted to increase agricultural production by finding ways to grow crops on wastelands. It was decided to cultivate land in the New South Wales region of southeastern Australia, which is very arid.

Dam the Torpedo or Torpedo the Dam?

The following solution was chosen by the Australian government:

“Design and build a dam to divert the river water inland to irrigate the land.”

Unfortunately, no new vegetation grew.

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2004/20/23

KT Potential Problem Analysis

Unfortunately they did not apply

The Kepner-Tregoe Strategy

Potential Problem Analysis

to learn what could go wrong

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2104/20/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2204/20/23

London Underground

Right Problem Definition

BUT

Wrong Solution

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2304/20/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2404/20/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2504/20/23

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2604/20/23

Jubilee trains didn’t fit track

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2704/20/23

Define

Generate

Decide

Implement

EvaluateSafety Considerations

Ethical Considerations

Satisfy Objectives

Experimental Design

Carry Through

PlanCritical PathDeployment ChartGantt Chart

K.T. Analyses Decision

(Musts/Wants)

Problem (Is/Is Not)Situation (Timing, Trend, Impact)

Potential Problem

A Heuristic

PS/DS-Duncker DiagramExplore the ProblemFind Out Where the Problem Came From

Statement-Restatement

Random Stimulation/Other People’s ViewsOsborn’s ChecklistBlockbusting

Analogy

Improving Oil Recovery

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2804/20/23

Perceived Problem Statement:“Find ways to improve oil recovery”

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2904/20/23

The Five Steps of the Heuristic