Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師): HKCIE Seminar on Extenics (可拓學)

The seminar entitled “Extenics: China original theory” which organized by Hong Kong Chinese Institute of Engineers (香港中國工程師學會), Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) –Manufacturing & Industrial Division (MIE), Hong Kong Society for Quality (HKSQ), TQM and Shenzhen Intellectual Property Society (SZIPS) on 29 Feb 2016. Extenics (可拓學) is original developed by Prof. Cai Wen (蔡文) through his 30 years research. Extenics includes three steps and they are “Extension”, “Transfer” and “Evaluation”. In the world, there are three famous innovation methodologies. They were “Theory of Solving Problems Inventively (TRIZ - Theoria Resheneyva IsobretateIskehuh Zadach)” which was developed by Alshuller in Russia; “Nakayama Masakazu (NM) method which was develop by Nakayama Masakazu in Japan; and “Extenics” which was developed by Prof. Cai Wen in China. Dr. Aaron Tong (Former Chairman, HKIE-MIE & HKSQ) and I took a photo with Prof. Cai Wen.

Prof. Cai Wen (蔡文) (The Director of International Academy of Extenics (HK), The National Distinguished Experts of China) was the first speaker. He introduced the theory of Extenics and how it generated creative thinking. Extenics Theory (可拓學) is equal to Fundamental Principles of Extenics (可拓論) plus Extenics Innovative method (可拓創新方法) and Extenics Engineering (可拓工程).

Firstly, he used a story of measure elephant (曹沖稱象) to explain how to create idea and solve contradiction problem.

Then Prof. Cai explained how creative idea generated of (基元) through Thing Element (物元) (fundamental elements of things such as name, characteristics and measures), Function Element (事元) (Product function which satisfy people needs), Relationship Element (關係元) (started from relevant things to create new product) .

Prof. Cai also mentioned everything could be extended and we would use different resource. The following diagram showed that we could only control little resource but that could be extended to more and we also need to consider all usable resource. A famous hot Chinese statement is “羊毛出在豬身上”.

Five fundamental variables were introduced and they were location change, plus/minus, expansion/reduction, disassemble and copy.

After that Prof. Cai briefed the extenics four steps for creativity and they were “Model Built”, “Extension”, “Exchange/Transfer” and “Evaluation”.

The second speaker was Mr. Yin Hanfan (鄞漢藩) (General Secretary, SZIPS) and his topic was “Extenics Innovation Activities: Sharing the Creativity Training to Teenagers in Shenzhen”.

Mr. Yin introduced the contents of training for teenagers’ creativity. He focused on creating patent and said “The world is flat, details decide success or fail.”

The third speaker was Mr. Shao Bo (劭波) (Shenzhen Thrive-god Technology Development Co. Ltd.) and his presentation was the application of Extenics in industry.