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Minitab Test Menu On Vs Microsoft Word
Minitab output is full of graphs (we get six graphs for capability studies). Comprehension of analyses is easy for company leadership. DOE is not a part of excel package. Chi sq test option is not there in Analysis ToolPak. However excel can compute Chi sq value by specifying expression =Chitest (observedrange,expctedrange). 7 Performance claims based upon Jetstream 1.1 tests using Microsoft Edge 18 vs. Chrome 69 and Firefox 62. Go here for more details on this performance claim. 8 Availability and functionality may vary on non-Windows devices.
- 3 Verdict:
Which is the best statistical software for Lean Six Sigma or statistical problem solving?
This is a question that quality professionals often ask, when they are starting to foray in to any kind of structured improvement program. Irrespective of the forum, most often, the question is about Minitab vs xxx. This indicates the popularity of Minitab. So I decided to do a series of posts comparing different statistical software available in the market, one at a time. The first one in this series is going to be Minitab vs SigmaXL
Minitab vs SigmaXL
While there are many good statistical software - both paid and free or opensource, Minitab and SigmaXL are one of the most popular in the Lean Six Sigma professionals community. Here is a summary of my evaluation of the latest versions of the software - Minitab 18 and SigmaXL 8.0.
| SL | Features | Minitab 18 | SigmaXL 8.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Type | Stand alone | Microsoft Excel Add-in |
| 2 | Individual User Licence | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Concurrent user licence | Yes | No |
| 4 | Primary User Base | Business Users + Statistical and Six Sigma experts | Statistical & Six Sigma Experts |
| 5 | Popularity | 90% of Fortune 100 companies use Minitab Statistical Software | Mostly used by smaller companies, and expert consultants. |
| 6 | Famialirity | Needs initial familiarity time | Excel based, so excel users feel familiar |
| 7 | Operation System | Windows Only | Windows, Mac |
| 8 | Learning Curve | Smoother - users with relatively less experience in statistics can start using in-built Minitab Assistant feature to decide which tool to use | Steeper - requires thorough knowledge of statistics for use, and guidance is limited to self-research. |
| 9 | Help Documentation | Exhaustive documentation, Online as well as inbuilt/offline point of use help, with brief descriptions, explanation of statistical concepts, how-to instructions, sample data, explanations and tutorials | Limited to how-to documentation in a downloadable PDF workbook |
| 10 | Pricing | Costlier for individual users, but can be cost effective considering concurrent (can be installed in unlimited computers) user licensing option | Cheaper for individual user licence, but concurrent user licencing option doesn’t exist |
| 11 | Graphical Tools | Rich Graphical reports that can be saved as projects, and exported /copied to Microsoft Word and PPT | Graphical reporting limited to features available in Excel |
| 12 | Auto updation of Graph | Many graphs, including control charts can be updated automatically (or manually) by adding new data | Analysis needs to be re-executed |
| 13 | Pre-analysis of data | Uses many pre-analyses of data to check adequacy of sample size, dispersion of data, stability of data, and auto-recommends statistical methods (for example recommends p-chart or laney p-chart automatically) | No pre-analysis or recommendation feature. Give results as per statistical formulas, based on options selected by the user |
| 14 | Statistical Tools | Comprehensive - basic to most advanced tools are available | Most basic tools are available. Limited number of advanced tools are available. |
| 14.1 | Hypothesis tests | Yes | Yes |
| 14.2 | ANOVA | More than 2 way/factors possible, including ANOVA general linear model | Only up to 2 way is possible. ANOVA general linear model, and multi-way ANOVA is not available |
| 14.3 | Corelation and Linear regression | Yes | Yes |
| 14.4 | Power and sample Size | Yes | Yes |
| 14.5 | Control Charts | All types of control charts avaailable | Limited types. Cusum, EWMA not available |
| 14.6 | Design of Experiment | Yes, including general full factorial - capable of designing and analyzing simple to complex experiments | DOE available for up-to two level and fractional factorials. Complex design of experiments not supported |
| 14.7 | Response surface method | Yes | No |
| 14.8 | Reliability Analysis | Comprehensive reliability analysis tools available | Limited to Weibull analysis |
| 14.9 | Non-normal data analysis | Comprehensive options of non-normal distribution | Limited to converting non-normal data to normal using Box-Cox transformation |
Verdict:
As long as advanced statistical analysis is not required, and you and your team are confident about the tools and options to use, SigmaXL will suffice your needs, and save some money.
Minitab Test Menu On Vs Microsoft Account
However, if you or your team members are primarily business users, who want to use statistics as a tool to solve business problems or get deep insight into your data, Minitab should be preferred over SigmaXL.
Minitab can display the following toolbars:- Standard: Access basic Minitab file tools, edit tools, navigation tools, and Help.
- Project Manager: Access Project Manager folders and information. Click a Project Manager toolbar button to open and tile the corresponding Project Manager folder and any related windows. To return to your previous window setup, click the appropriate Project Manager button again.
- Worksheet: Assign formulas to columns; insert or clear cells, rows, and columns; move columns; and move to the next or previous brushed row.
- Graph Editing: Select, add, or delete graph items; choose different editing modes; or zoom in or out on the active graph.
- Graph Annotation Tools: Add objects such as lines, rectangles, and text to a graph.
- 3D Graph Tools: Rotate 3D graphs and 3D surface plot lighting, and resize the data region. By default, this toolbar appears only when a 3D scatterplot, 3D surface plot, or 3D wireframe plot is active.
- Assistant: The Assistant helps you to choose the right analysis from a limited set of analyses, perform the analysis, and interpret the results.
- Regression: Analyze and graph regression models.
- Binary Logistic Regression: Analyze and graph binary logistic regression models.
- Poisson Regression: Analyze and graph Poisson regression models.
- General Linear Model: Analyze and graph a general linear model.
- Screening Designs: Create, analyze, and graph screening designs.
- Factorial Designs: Create, analyze, and graph factorial designs.
- Response Surface Designs: Create, analyze, and graph response surface designs.
- Mixture Designs: Create, analyze, and graph mixture designs.
- Taguchi Designs: Create, analyze, and graph Taguchi designs.
- Response Optimizer: Modify and view the input variable settings in an optimization plot.
- Six Sigma: Access six sigma tools.