Evolution trends of material usage and processing in spectacle frame

Nowadays' optical frames are the result of a collaboration between designers and engineers; it is a combination of high technology and art. Around 250 technical operations are performed in order to make a high-quality metal frame, and there are 120 to 180 operations to make a plastic frame. Although the Asian manufacturers of optical frames are prevailing in the world market, a relatively rudimentary trial-and-error method is being used. A more systematic and analytic approach is thus needed for them to grasp the evolution trends in the competitive market. This paper discusses how Gabriel Tarde's diffusion S-curve and the TRIZ theory can be employed to analyze the evolution trends in optical frame design and manufacturing.