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Turbocharger brainstorming

Ideas by the truck load….."haven't you heard about our brainstorming service?"

'We need more appropriate materials for the task in hand and more advanced processing, if we are to stay ahead of the competition' is a familiar plea heard by TWI's brainstorming team.

When one of its key clients in the automotive business revealed this recently TWI's verbal proposal started with the words; 'Have you heard about our brainstorming service?'.

The client's sole objective was to extend the operating temperature range and performance of turbochargers for automotive applications, so reducing waste and cost.

By assembling a team of experts from a number of in-house sectors TWI was well prepared to set about the task in hand. The client's objective was sub-divided into five areas of interest;

  • Reduce turbo lag
  • Increase operating temperature capability
  • Improve reliability
  • Conform to environmental standards
  • Control manufacturing costs

The idea generation session, or brainstorming as it's dubbed, was conducted initially by posting ideas on sticky  labels for the whole team, seven TWI staff and four from the client, to assess. The golden rule of such a free-thinking parley is that no idea is too absurd for consideration.

The relative merits of each of the ideas were voted upon and this enabled a short list to be drawn up highlighting a matrix of thoughts for further investigation. One restriction was that projects resulting from the ideas produced should be realised within 18 months.

The prioritisation matrix and mind mapping output of the process was created on the day of the meeting and represented a basis for project selection for turbocharger development within 18 months.

TWI advised that, should the client want to expand or develop any of the ideas proposed, it would be receptive, and that a cost benefit analysis would be prepared as a basis for further work.

For information about TWI’s capabilities please email contactus@twi.co.uk

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