Optimizing inventory, like most problem-solving, requires a thoughtful process and a few steps. Naturally, the easiest way to prevent backorders is to always have a lot of inventory on hand. There are ramifications for not optimizing inventory, though. By overproducing and maintaining high of inventory levels, products could spoil or even decay. Excess inventory not only creates costs today, it also generates hidden costs later if you need to produce more goods to replace products that sat on the shelf for too long. Read more…

Many customers tell us how much they like Minitab Workspace, but experience pushback from IT leadership who question its need with having access to Visio. While it's true that many Microsoft 365 users have access to Visio and there is some overlap in the products, they have very different applications. Read more…

Effective inventory management plays a critical role in ensuring smooth operations, reducing costs, and meeting customer demands for supply chain managers. To achieve optimal inventory levels, it is essential to have a robust monitoring and control system in place. In this blog, we will explore the practical applications of Minitab's graphical tools, such as Pareto charts, control charts, and scatter plots, and how they can provide valuable insights into inventory patterns, leading to more efficient and effective decision-making processes.

In today’s highly competitive business environment, a trusted supply chain that functions seamlessly is essential. Even small errors can have an impact on the entire supply chain, resulting in lost revenue, unsatisfied customers, and irreparable damage to your brand.

We all know that quality is important. Assuring quality delivers an array of benefits – from utilizing less resources, promoting customer loyalty and brand satisfaction, and of course, overall savings when things get done right the first time.

When facing a problem, you've most likely heard the saying "take the bull by the horns." It's often also easier said than done.

COVID-19's economic repercussions have forced businesses worldwide to deal with the phenomenon that occurs in multi-level supply chains where orders at the end of the supply chain, close to the customer, are amplified with each additional supply chain actor. This is called the bullwhip effect.

We sat down with Emily Steinkamp, Director of Global Learning and Development at Minitab, to discuss her experience using Workspace for her team’s data management needs

It’s officially the spookiest time of the year.  

As adults around the world set up Halloween decorations, prepare delicious snacks, and host gatherings, children are busy devising their strategies and scheming to maximize their candy haul during trick-or-treating. After all, it only comes once each year! 

Given the window to collect as much candy as possible is so narrow, we wanted to give your little ones a competitive edge, powered (of course) by Minitab’s Predictive Analytics module. To demonstrate this, we imagined a scenario where data from trick-or-treaters was collected to determine which factors might be most important for maximizing candy haul. 

Everyone has their own favorite graph type or visual tool. I’m not ready to declare this one my favorite yet, but this oldie but goodie has got to get more time and attention. That’s right: I’m talking about Control Charts with Stages, also sometimes called Before/After Control Charts.  

According to Smartsheet, it enables teams to manage projects, automate processes and scale programs in one powerful platform. Many organizations are using Smartsheet, and in turn, asking continuous improvement (CI) professionals to adopt it. The problem is –many of the features and CI tools that are critical to successfully executing a project are absent from Smartsheet. Minitab Engage is a CI tool specifically designed to start, track, manage, and share innovation and improvement initiatives from idea generation through execution.

The cosmetic industry's manufacturing process is intricate. It sits at a critical intersection between scientific precision and creative formulation, where even the slightest misstep can have significant consequences. After all, these products are applied to sensitive areas like skin, hair, and even around the eyes. Ensuring their safety and effectiveness requires finding the perfect balance of ingredients. In this blog, we will explore how Minitab supports the teams and organizations that work in cosmetic manufacturing.

Microsoft Excel is a tried-and-true resource for most companies, and it does offer extreme value. However, when it’s used to track continuous improvement projects, its value diminishes. Wasting time gathering data from different reports across different internal systems takes time away from driving the change that matters. Let’s look at areas in which Excel falls short, and how purpose-built Minitab Engage provides a one-stop project management solution for continuous improvement and operational excellence programs.

When we talk about digital transformation, it’s about evolving the way work is done. It’s about using digital tools to radically modernize and improve the daily life of workers, managers, and the performance of a factory. If we think about what this change looks like, it's about moving from a reactive manufacturing culture to one that's more predictive and controlled… and data-driven.

In the world of quality control, leveraging predictive analytics can revolutionize how organizations approach proactive quality management. Minitab's suite of predictive analytics tools empowers Quality professionals to anticipate, prevent, and address quality issues, ensuring consistent standards and product excellence.

The cloud is everywhere, and its scope is expanding. In fact, Gartner forecasts worldwide public cloud end-user spending will reach nearly $600 billion in 2023. In the same report, Gartner reports overall IT spending is projected to grow 5.1% this year with the majority of new investments going into cloud technology. It’s an exciting and perfect time to adopt the cloud for all its benefits; improved agility and collaboration, a helpful boost with innovations, accelerated time to value and much more. Did you know you can move your quality initiatives into the cloud too?

Quality Control is a critical pillar of medical device manufacturing. After all, if products do not meet the highest standards of safety and functionality, people could get misdiagnosed, hurt or even die. Every device must adhere to exact specifications and regulations; even minor deviations can have significant repercussions. Using an example like optimizing a component for MRI, we’ll highlight how Minitab Statistical Software can help you quickly identify sources of risk in your production process and address them, saving time, money and potentially lives as well.

Here are seven quality improvement tools I see in action again and again. Most of these quality tools have been around for a while, but that certainly doesn’t take away any of their worth

The best part about these tools is that they are very simple to use and work with quickly in Minitab Statistical Software or Engage, but of course you can use other methods, or even pen and paper.

Having too much of something is usually a good thing, except if you work in manufacturing. Conversely, having too little is even worse. We’ll explore how leveraging data insights and forecasting techniques can empower automotive manufacturers to run lean operations, avoiding the pitfalls of excess or insufficient inventory.

Minitab allows hospitals to use before and after control charts to measure and showcase improvement post knee surgery - or any surgery or treatment - in a better and easier way for their patients.

Is your organization prepared to tackle supply chain disruptions similar to those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic? Explore how Minitab's data-driven insights can enhance your resilience. Learn more in this blog post.