Improvement Insights Blog

Does QI Macros® Compete with Minitab?

People often ask if QI Macros is in competition with Minitab. No, I tell them. We are both in competition with a common enemy. Here’s why:



“Hi, I’m Jay Arthur, author of “Lean Six Sigma Demystified” and QI Macros [software].

“I was at the American Society for Quality Lean Six Sigma conference, and my booth for QI Macros was right next to Minitab. You know, people are always asking me, “Jay, do you guys compete with Minitab?” I say, “No, we compete with ignorance and apathy.”

“Number one, people don’t know how these tools could help them, whether it’s me or Minitab.

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Posted by Jay Arthur in Improvement Insights, Jay Arthur Blog.

The Elephant in the Room

At the 2019 ASQ Lean Six Sigma Conference in Phoenix, a number of Black Belts from major companies told me about the Elephant in the Room that they were afraid to discuss with management even though it was harming their Lean Six Sigma effort. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this story in companies ranging from manufacturing to healthcare. Watch now to find out what it was.

“Hi, I’m Jay Arthur, author of “Lean Six Sigma Demystified” and the QI Macros [software], and I want to talk to you about the elephant in the room: The thing that I think is actually impeding Six Sigma.

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Posted by Jay Arthur in Improvement Insights.

Is QI Macros® Competing with Minitab®?

Maybe on one level or another, but we’re both competing with the 1,000 pound gorilla in the room. You probably know who it is, but here’s my take on it.

Join the Agile Quality Improvement Movement

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Posted by Jay Arthur in Improvement Insights, QI Macros.

Complex Statistical Software–a Barrier to Six Sigma

At the ASQ Lean Six Sigma Conference, the QI Macros booth was right next to my biggest competitor–the big dog in the market (you know who they are). A guy comes up to me and says: “We bought 150 copies of their product (pointing to the booth next to me) and it was really expensive. I asked our Green Belts if they were using it and they said No, it’s too hard to use.  What are they using; they said Excel.” He went on to say: “I’m thinking about getting the QI Macros because everyone is comfortable with Excel.”

And he wasn’t the only attendee who complained about the same issues: costs too much and too hard to use.

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Posted by Jay Arthur in QI Macros, Six Sigma.

Minitab and Excel: Which Should I Use and When?

In a recent blog post, Minitab asked: “Have you ever found yourself switching back and forth between a Microsoft Excel file and Minitab Statistical Software just to complete a single analysis?”

Comparing Minitab to Excel (without QI Macros) is a bit like comparing a calculator to an abacus.

If you have the QI Macros add-in for Excel, you don’t have to switch. You can do everything in Excel.

The blogger says: “Just try creating a Pareto Chart in Excel…I dare you!”

I’ll take that dare. If you have a column of defects (below), just click on the title for the column and choose the QI Macros Pareto Chart.

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Posted by Jay Arthur in QI Macros.