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
5/1/2013
1
What’s the Problem?
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
2
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
3
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
5/1/2013
4
The Annoying Wait
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
5/1/2013
5
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
6
Find a Better Solvent
Coal

Oil
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.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
7
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
5/1/2013
8
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
5/1/2013
9
The Better Solvent
• Why is the Deposit Forming?
• Brainstorm and List all the Possible Causes.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
10
Improving Oil Recovery
Perceived Problem Statement:
“Find ways to improve oil recovery”
Real Problem Statement
“Learn why the well is not producing as
expected”
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
11
New Bills
Perceived Problem Statement:
“Find a Better Printing Ink”
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
12
New Bills
• Better Problem Statement.
• Brainstorm and List all the things
that could cause the ink to smear.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
13
Darfur Cookstoves
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
14
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
5/1/2013
15
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
5/1/2013
16
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
5/1/2013
17
Murray River Dams
Right Problem Definition
BUT
Wrong Solution
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
18
Dam the Torpedo or Torpedo the Dam?
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.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
19
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
5/1/2013
20
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
5/1/2013
21
London Underground
Right Problem Definition
BUT
Wrong Solution
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
22
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
23
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
24
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
25
Jubilee trains didn’t fit track
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
26
A Heuristic
Define
Find Out Where the Problem Came From
Explore the Problem
PS/DS-Duncker Diagram
Statement-Restatement
Generate
Blockbusting
Osborn’s Checklist
Random Stimulation/Other People’s Views
Analogy
Decide
Implement
Situation (Timing, Trend, Impact)
Problem (Is/Is Not)
Decision (Musts/Wants)
Potential Problem
K.T.
Analyses
Plan
Carry Through
Gantt Chart
Deployment Chart
Critical Path
Experimental Design
Satisfy Objectives
Evaluate
Ethical Considerations
Safety Considerations
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
27
Improving Oil Recovery
Perceived Problem Statement:
“Find ways to improve oil recovery”
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
28
The Five Steps of the Heuristic
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5/1/2013
29