profiles

	Ellen Domb Ellen Domb is the founder of the PQR Group and editor of The TRIZ Journal. TRIZ is Dr. Domb’s 6th career: she has been a physics professor, an aerospace engineer, an engineering manager, a product line general manager, and a strategic planning/quality improvement consultant. In 2005, she was named by Quality Digest Magazine as a leading voice for the future, citing the integration of TRIZ for innovation in quality improvement and quality planning systems. Ellen's client work, books, and articles are aimed at making it easy for people to learn TRIZ and to incorporate new thinking methods into their organizations. Clients include the Global 500--Dow Chemical, Hewlett-Packard, 3M, and others--and entrepreneurial companies with 3-50 employees.
	Ralph Czerepinski Ralph Czerepinski is principal of Cz innovation, a consulting firm specializing in problem-solving utilizing TRIZ methods. Prior to his retirement after 34 years at the Dow Chemical Company, he served a number of years as their TRIZ champion, facilitating many problem-solving sessions, and co-leading numerous classes in TRIZ. Dr. Czerepinski's vast research and problem-solving experience includes extensive work in the fields of reprography, emulsion polymers, waterborne coatings, polymer property control, adhesives, composite technologies, imbibitive polymers, and thermal analysis, in addition to many others. He holds a BS Degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Washington.
	Michael Slocum Michael Slocum is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of strategy and innovation. He has over 18 years of research, development, quality, and design experience. Dr. Slocum's latest thought leadership is embodied in his book “INsourcing Innovation.” He has solved over 4,300 technical and non-technical problems using TRIZ and has developed or participated in over 500 patentable innovations. Dr. Slocum's work at Ontro has been recognized by Fortune magazine as being one of the 25 Breakthrough Technologies of 2005. He has applied similar advanced methodologies to launch vehicles, the International Space Station, submarines, 44 satellite systems, weapons systems, medical programs, pharmacological systems, and other projects. Dr. Slocum has extensive research and practice in Performance Excellence and the integration of systematic innovation with Six Sigma. and various other technical and non-technical programs. He is currently researching the development of a total product/process development system that integrates comprehensive QFD, Six Sigma, and TRIZ in an Axiomatic Design structure.
	Joe A. Miller Joe A. Miller is an independent consultant and Principal of Quality Process Consulting. He integrates TRIZ, QFD, and Systems Dynamics analysis into the design, development, and provision phases for both product and service applications. His more than 30 years experience in medical product and system development and management includes extensive problem solution consulting and the development and teaching of proprietary project management, TQM and technical problem solving courses. Mr. Miller has been a TRIZ practitioner and member of the PQR Group since 1998.
	Darrell Mann Darrell Mann is has conducted extensive research on modifications of TRIZ to modern business and technology. He is the most-published author in the TRIZ Journal and a featured presenter at many engineering and strategic planning conferences. He has collaborated with Ellen Domb on research articles, university and conference presentations, and client engagements since the founding of the PQR Group, and used the PQR model to help develop the Systematic Innovation Network, which is active in 9 countries.
	Mark Barkan Mark G. Barkan is an expert in the fields of innovation as applied to product and process design and improvement. He holds Ph.D., MBA, and Certified TRIZ Specialist degrees, applied over 30 years of research & development, quality, and design experience in manufacturing environment, including senior executive positions in engineering and manufacturing. Based on application of TRIZ in technical and business situations, Dr. Barkan developed Innovation on Demand (IoD) methodology, which integrates TRIZ, Six Sigma and Value Engineering/Management, and enables its user companies to achieve their business objectives through complete utilization of available resources. Proactive Failure Prevention (PFP) is a significant part of IoD. He has helped a number of companies to improve their competitive position through cost reduction, new product development, and business systems improvement. Watch for his new book featuring the methods and the applications. Dr. Barkan is the President of the International TRIZ Association; he is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Altshuller Institute of TRIZ Studies where he serves as the Editor of “Izobretenia”, a publication of the Altshuller Institute, devoted to continued TRIZ development.
	Ned Schneider Ned Schneider has 15 years industry experience with 3M, Allergan, and Advanced Medical Optics as a Senior Project Engineer designing and developing new products, processes, and automation. Twelve of the 15 years were in the medical device field and four years project engineering experience at 3M Dental which won a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Ned has received Corporate Awards from 3M, Allergan, and Advanced Medical Optics for outstanding performance. He says much of his project success resulted from using Design of Experiments to gain the knowledge of products and processes necessary for breakthrough business results. In 2004 Ned started a consulting and engineering business named Advanced Response Engineering, providing Design of Experiments training, Six Sigma implementation, procuring automation, and product & process development services, featuring TRIZ. Ned has a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a BS degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from North Dakota State University. He is an ASQ certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Certified Quality Engineer.
	Marco Aurélio de Carvalho Marco Aurélio de Carvalho is a lecturer, researcher and consultant in the areas of product development and TRIZ / systematic innovation. He is a mechanical engineer and has a master´s degree in product development. His professional experience includes working with Volvo, John Deere, Electrolux and Bosch in the areas of product planning, engineering design and quality engineering. He has more than 20 publications, including books "121 Heuristics for Solving Problems" and "Product Life Cycle Management" (the latter in Portuguese). Currently, Marco is a lecturer at UTFPR (Paraná Federal Technological University), a PhD candidate at UFSC (Santa Catarina Federal University) and owner of consulting company Aditiva. At UTFPR, Marco is a lecturer in product development, creator and manager of the GDP3 MBA program. As a PhD candidate, he is developing a TRIZ-based forecasting methodology. As a consultant, Marco has been consulting and solving problems for Bosch, Electrolux, FIAT, Infraero, Petrobrás, QSP, SENAC, SENAI, Siemens, TECPAR, Volvo, Whirlpool, Xerox, and other companies. He is member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), ETRIA (European TRIZ Association), PDMA (Product Development Management Association, SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), and WFS (World Future Society).
	Akhilesh Gulati Akhilesh Gulati is the Principal of Pivot Consulting. He specializes in ISO 9000 and Lean & Six Sigma tools such as productivity improvement, cost and waste reduction, process enhancement, and customer satisfaction, and was among the first to add TRIZ to these systems. He has over 20 years of experience in team leadership, and coordination, problem solving, lean manufacturing and kaizen events,process and productivity improvement. Experienced in a wide variety of industries:ship building, oil and gas, aerospace, insurance, healthcare, distribution, hi-tech and manufacturing. MBA, MS, BS, California Quality Award Examiner, Senior Member and ASQ Section chair.