tools-only The 39 TRIZ Engineering Parameters
Complete reference for the Contradiction Matrix parameters.
Overview
The 39 parameters describe characteristics that can improve or worsen in a technical system. Use these to identify contradictions.
Quick Reference Table
| # | Parameter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weight of moving object | Mass of object in motion |
| 2 | Weight of stationary object | Mass of object at rest |
| 3 | Length of moving object | Linear dimension of moving object |
| 4 | Length of stationary object | Linear dimension of stationary object |
| 5 | Area of moving object | Surface area of moving object |
| 6 | Area of stationary object | Surface area of stationary object |
| 7 | Volume of moving object | 3D space occupied by moving object |
| 8 | Volume of stationary object | 3D space occupied by stationary object |
| 9 | Speed | Velocity of object or process rate |
| 10 | Force | Mechanical interaction (push/pull) |
| 11 | Stress or pressure | Force per unit area |
| 12 | Shape | External contour or appearance |
| 13 | Stability of composition | Integrity of system structure |
| 14 | Strength | Resistance to breaking/deformation |
| 15 | Duration of action (moving) | Service life of moving object |
| 16 | Duration of action (stationary) | Service life of stationary object |
| 17 | Temperature | Thermal condition |
| 18 | Illumination intensity | Light characteristics |
| 19 | Energy use (moving object) | Energy consumed by moving object |
| 20 | Energy use (stationary object) | Energy consumed by stationary object |
| 21 | Power | Energy per unit time |
| 22 | Loss of energy | Waste energy |
| 23 | Loss of substance | Material waste |
| 24 | Loss of information | Data loss |
| 25 | Loss of time | Time waste |
| 26 | Quantity of substance | Amount of material |
| 27 | Reliability | Dependability over time |
| 28 | Measurement accuracy | Precision of measurements |
| 29 | Manufacturing precision | Accuracy of production |
| 30 | External harm to object | Susceptibility to damage |
| 31 | Object-generated harmful factors | Harm produced by object |
| 32 | Ease of manufacture | Simplicity of production |
| 33 | Ease of operation | User-friendliness |
| 34 | Ease of repair | Maintainability |
| 35 | Adaptability/versatility | Ability to change |
| 36 | Device complexity | Number of components |
| 37 | Difficulty of detecting/measuring | Observability |
| 38 | Extent of automation | Self-operation capability |
| 39 | Productivity | Output per unit time |
Detailed Definitions
Geometric Parameters (1-8)
1. Weight of moving object The mass of an object that moves during operation. Includes objects with temporary or relative motion. Examples: Vehicle, projectile, robotic arm, flowing material
2. Weight of stationary object The mass of an object that doesn't move during its primary function. Examples: Building, bridge, installed equipment, furniture
3. Length of moving object Any linear dimension of a moving object: height, width, depth, diameter. Examples: Length of a train, wingspan of aircraft, height of a crane
4. Length of stationary object Any linear dimension of a non-moving object. Examples: Building height, pipeline length, cable span
5. Area of moving object The outer or cross-sectional surface area of a moving object. Examples: Wing area, tire contact patch, sail area
6. Area of stationary object The surface area of a non-moving object. Examples: Floor space, solar panel area, heat exchanger surface
7. Volume of moving object The cubic measure of a moving object. Examples: Tank capacity, engine displacement, cargo volume
8. Volume of stationary object The cubic measure of a non-moving object. Examples: Building volume, storage tank, room size
Physical Parameters (9-18)
9. Speed The velocity of an object or rate of a process. Examples: Vehicle speed, data transfer rate, production rate, clock speed
10. Force Any mechanical interaction causing motion or deformation. Examples: Lifting force, cutting force, braking force, torque
11. Stress or pressure Force per unit area, tension or compression. Examples: Hydraulic pressure, material stress, atmospheric pressure
12. Shape The external form, contour, or geometric configuration. Examples: Aerodynamic shape, ergonomic design, packaging form
13. Stability of the object's composition The integrity and structural wholeness of a system. Examples: Chemical stability, structural integrity, data integrity
14. Strength The ability to resist breaking, deformation, or wear. Examples: Tensile strength, impact resistance, durability
15. Duration of action by a moving object The time that a moving object can perform its function (service life). Examples: Tool life, battery runtime, tire life
16. Duration of action by a stationary object The time that a stationary object can perform its function. Examples: Building lifespan, road life, equipment life
17. Temperature The thermal condition of the object or environment. Examples: Operating temperature, heat dissipation, thermal limits
18. Illumination intensity Light characteristics: brightness, wavelength, quality. Examples: Display brightness, lighting level, laser power
Energy Parameters (19-22)
19. Use of energy by moving object Energy consumed by or required to move an object. Examples: Fuel consumption, motor power, propulsion energy
20. Use of energy by stationary object Energy consumed by a non-moving object. Examples: Standby power, heating energy, lighting power
21. Power The rate of energy transfer or work done per unit time. Examples: Engine power, processor speed, throughput
22. Loss of energy Waste or dissipation of energy. Examples: Heat loss, friction losses, transmission losses, inefficiency
Resource Parameters (23-26)
23. Loss of substance Waste or loss of material. Examples: Material waste, evaporation, wear debris, scrap
24. Loss of information Partial or total loss of data or signals. Examples: Data corruption, signal loss, memory loss
25. Loss of time Time wasted or inefficiently used. Examples: Waiting time, setup time, delays, downtime
26. Quantity of substance The amount of material in or used by the system. Examples: Material usage, inventory, raw material consumption
Quality Parameters (27-31)
27. Reliability The system's ability to perform consistently over time. Examples: MTBF (mean time between failures), dependability, consistency
28. Measurement accuracy The precision and accuracy of detecting/measuring. Examples: Sensor precision, calibration, resolution
29. Manufacturing precision The accuracy of production processes. Examples: Tolerances, dimensional accuracy, repeatability
30. External harm affects the object Susceptibility to external damaging factors. Examples: Corrosion resistance, shock resistance, environmental protection
31. Object-generated harmful factors Harmful outputs produced by the object. Examples: Emissions, noise, vibration, waste, heat
Usability Parameters (32-39)
32. Ease of manufacture The simplicity and convenience of fabrication. Examples: Manufacturing complexity, assembly difficulty, tooling needs
33. Ease of operation The convenience of using the object. Examples: User-friendliness, learning curve, accessibility
34. Ease of repair The ability to fix, maintain, or service. Examples: Maintainability, serviceability, modular design
35. Adaptability or versatility The ability to respond to external changes or multiple uses. Examples: Flexibility, configurability, multi-purpose
36. Device complexity The number and intricacy of elements. Examples: Part count, system complexity, integration level
37. Difficulty of detecting and measuring The ease of monitoring or measuring the system. Examples: Observability, testability, diagnostic capability
38. Extent of automation The degree of autonomous operation. Examples: Automation level, self-regulation, AI integration
39. Productivity The output or performance per unit time or resource. Examples: Throughput, efficiency, output rate, yield
Common Contradiction Pairs
These parameter pairs frequently conflict:
| Improving | Often Worsens |
|---|---|
| 9 (Speed) | 1 (Weight), 19 (Energy), 27 (Reliability) |
| 14 (Strength) | 1 (Weight), 36 (Complexity) |
| 27 (Reliability) | 36 (Complexity), 32 (Ease of manufacture) |
| 39 (Productivity) | 25 (Loss of time), 22 (Loss of energy) |
| 33 (Ease of operation) | 36 (Complexity), 35 (Adaptability) |
| 38 (Automation) | 36 (Complexity), 27 (Reliability) |
Tips for Selecting Parameters
- Choose the closest match - If no parameter fits exactly, pick the nearest one
- Consider both directions - The matrix is not symmetrical
- Think abstractly - Parameters apply to any system, not just mechanical
- Check related parameters - Similar parameters may yield different principles
- Use multiple pairs - Complex problems may have multiple contradictions