Minitab is a statistics package. It was developed at the Pennsylvania State University by researchers Barbara F. Ryan, Thomas A. Ryan, Jr., and Brian L. Joiner in 1972. Minitab began as a light version of OMNITAB, a statistical analysis program by NIST.
Today, Minitab is often used in conjunction with the implementation of Six Sigma, CMMI and other statistics-based process improvement methods.
Minitab Inc. produces two other products that complement Minitab 16, Quality Trainer, an eLearning package that teaches statistical tools and concepts in the context of quality improvement that integrates with Minitab 16 to simultaneously develop the user’s statistical knowledge and ability to use the Minitab software and Quality Companion 3, an integrated tool for managing Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing projects that allows Minitab data to be combined with project management and governance tools and documents.
Uses of Minitab:
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Data and File Management – spreadsheet for better data analysis.
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Regression Analysis
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Power and Sample Size
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Tables and Graphs
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Multivariate Analysis – includes factor analysis, cluster analysis, correspondence analysis, etc.
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Nonparametrics – various tests including sign test, runs test, Friedman test, etc.
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Time Series and Forecasting- tools that help show trends in data as well as predicting future values. Time series plots, exponential smoothing, trend analysis.
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Statistical Process Control
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Measurement System Analysis
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Analysis of Variance – to determine the difference between data points.