- Divide a system or object into independent parts
- Make a system or object easy to disassemble
- Increase the degree of fragmentation or segmentation
Principle 2. Taking out
- Separate an interfering part of property from a system or object, or single out the only necessary part (or property)
Principle 3. Local Quality
- Change the structure of an object or system from uniform to non-uniform, change an external environment (or external influence) from uniform to non-uniform.
- Make each part of an object or system function in conditions most suitable for its operation.
- Make each part of an object or system fulfill a different and useful function
Principle 4. Asymmetry
- Change the form of system or object from symmetrical to asymmetrical
- If a system or object is asymmetrical, change its degree of asymmetry
Principle 5. Merging
- Bring closer together or merge identical or similar systems or objects, assemble identical or similar parts to perform parallel operations
- Make operations contiguous or parallel; bring them together in time
Principle 6. Universality
- Make an object or structure perform multiple functions; eliminate the need for other parts
Principle 7. Nested Doll
- Place one system or object inside another; place each, in turn, inside the other parts
- Make one thing pass through another
Principle 8. Counter-Balance
- To compensate for the tendency of a system or object to deviate from a desired path merge it with others that provide a re-stabilizing effect
- To compensate for the deviation tendency of a system or object, make it interact with global/macro-scale phenomena
Principle 9. Prior Counter-Action
- If it will be necessary to perform an action with both harmful and useful effects, this action could be replaced with anti-actions to control harmful effects in advance
- Create beforehand stresses in a system or object that will oppose known undesirable working stresses later on
Principle 10. Prior Action
- Perform the required change of a system or object (either fully or partially) before it is needed
- Pre-arrange elements such that they can come into action from the most convenient place and without losing time for their delivery
Principle 11. Prior Cushioning
- Prepare emergency means beforehand to compensate for the possible problems that might occur later
Principle 12. Remove Tension
- Where harmful tensions may exist, create conditions to compensate, reduce or eliminate them
Principle 13. The Other Way Around
- Invent the action(s) used to solve a problem
- Make movable parts (or the external environment) fixed, and fixed parts movable
- Turn the system, object or process upside down
Principle 14. Curvature
- Turn flat or straight things into curved ones
- Go from linear to rotary motion
Principle 15. Dynamization
- Allow or design the characteristics of a system, object, external environment, or process to change to be optimal or to find an optimal operating condition
- Divide a system or object into parts capable of movement relative to each other
- If a system, object or process is rigid or inflexible, make it movable or adaptive
Principle 16. Slightly Less/Slightly More
- If 100 percent of an objective is hard to achieve using a given solution method then, by using slighly less or slightly more of the same method, the problem may be considerable easier to solve
Principle 17. Another Dimension
- If a system or object uses only one or two dimensions; make use of the unused dimensions
- Use a multi-storey arrangement instead of a single-storey arrangement
- Tilt or re-orient the system or object, lay it on its side
- Use another side of a given system or object
Principle 18. Resonance
- Find and use the resonant frequency of a system or object
Principle 19. Periodic Action
- Instead of continuous action, use periodic or changing actions
- If an action is already periodic, change the periodic magnitude or frequency
- Use pauses between actions to perform a different action
Principle 20. Continuity of Useful Action
- Make parts of a system or object work at optimal conditions continuously
- Eliminate all idle or intermittent actions or work
Principle 21. Hurrying
- Conduct a process, or certain stages (e.g. destructible, harmful or hazardous operations) at high speed
Principle 22. Turn Lemons into Lemonade
- Use harmful factors to achieve a positive effect
- Eliminate the primary harmful action by adding it to another harmful action to resolve a problem
- Amplify a harmful factor to such a degree that it is no longer harmful
Principle 23. Feedback
- Introduce feedback to improve a process or action
- If feedback is already used, change its magnitude or influence
Principle 24. Intermediary
- Use an intermediary carrier article or intermediary process
- Merge one system or object temporarily with another which can be easily removed
Principle 25. Self-service
- Make a system or object serve itself by performing auxiliary helpful functions
- Use waste or lost resources, energy, or substances
Principle 26. Copying
- Instead of an unavailable, expensive, or vulnerable object, use simpler and inexpensive copies
- Replace a system, object, or process with optical or virtual copies
- If copies are already used, move to an out of the ordinary illumination and viewing perspective
Principle 27. Cheap Disposable
- Replace an expensive system or object with a multiple of inexpensive alternatives, comprising certain less-important qualities
Principle 28. Another Sense
- Replace or supplement one sensory means with another (visible, touch, acoustic, taste or smell)
Principle 29. Fluidity
- Make solid things into fluid things
Principle 30. Thin and Flexible
- Use thin and flexible structures instead of large, three-dimensional ones
- Isolate a system or object from a potentially harmful environment using thin and flexible structures
Principle 31. Holes
- Add holes to a system or object
- If a system or object already has holes, use them to introduce a useful substance or function
Principle 32. Color Changes
- Change the colour of an object or its external environment
- Change the transparency of a system, object or an external environment
Principle 33. Homogeneity
- Make systems or object interact with others of a similar form or with similar properties
Principle 34. Discarding and Recovering
- Make portions of a system or object that have fulfilled their functions go away or modify them directly during an operation
- Conversely, restore consumable parts of a system or object directly in operation
Principle 35. Parameter Changes
- Change an object's physical state
- Change the concentration or consistency
- Change the degree of flexibility
- Change emotional and other parameters
Principle 36. Paradigm Shift
- Use phenomena occurring during disruptive shifts in an economy
Principle 37. Relative Change
- Use the relative difference that exist in an object or system to do something useful
- Make different parts of a system act differently in response to changes
Principle 38. Enriched Atmosphere
- Replace a normal atmosphere with an enriched one
- Expose a highly enriched atmosphere with one containing potentially unstable elements
Principle 39. Calm Atmosphere
- Replace a normal environment with an inert one
- Add neutral parts or elements to a system or object
Principle 40. Composite Structures
- Change from uniform to composite structures, be aware of and utilize combinations of different skills and capabilities
- Eliminate - which of the factors that the industry takes for granted should be eliminated
- Reduce - which factors should be reduced well below the industry's standard?
- Create - Which factors should be created that the industry has never offered?
- Raise - Which factors should be raised well above the industry's standard?