National Science Foundation Grant

1. 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

2. What’s the Problem? Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

4. 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. 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

6. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

7. 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. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

8. 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

9. 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

10. The Better Solvent • Why is the Deposit Forming? • Brainstorm and List all the Possible Causes. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

11. 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

12. New Bills Perceived Problem Statement: “Find a Better Printing Ink” Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

13. Better Problem Statement. Brainstorm and List all the things that could cause the ink to smear. New Bills Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

14. Darfur Cookstoves Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Murray River Dams Right Problem Definition BUT Wrong Solution Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

19. 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

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22. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

23. 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

24. 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

25. London Underground Right Problem Definition BUT Wrong Solution Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

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31. Define Generate Implement Evaluate Decide A Heuristic Find Out Where the Problem Came From Explore the Problem PS/DS-Duncker Diagram Statement-Restatement Blockbusting Osborn’s Checklist Random Stimulation/Other People’s Views Analogy Situation (Timing, Trend, Impact) K.T. Analyses Problem (Is/Is Not) Decision (Musts/Wants) Potential Problem Gantt Chart Plan Deployment Chart Critical Path Carry Through Experimental Design Satisfy Objectives Ethical Considerations Safety Considerations Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

32. Improving Oil Recovery Perceived Problem Statement: “Find ways to improve oil recovery” Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

33. The Five Steps of the Heuristic Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

34. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor