For Minitab users
Welcome to DMAIC.io! This page helps Minitab users get started. A lot will feel familiar — below we show where to find your usual features and how things are organised differently here.
Core concepts compared
Minitab works with a project that contains multiple worksheets. DMAIC.io follows a similar model but additionally organises work along the DMAIC phases (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control).
Where do I find what?
The table below maps typical Minitab menu entries to their DMAIC.io equivalent.
| Minitab | DMAIC.io | Note |
|---|---|---|
| File → New Worksheet | "Worksheet" module (Data area) | Worksheets live in the central Data area and are not bound to any DMAIC phase — every analysis module can access every worksheet. |
| Stat → Basic Statistics → Display Descriptive Statistics | "Descriptive Statistics" module | Results appear in the output panel next to the input. |
| Stat → Quality Tools → Capability Analysis | "Process Capability" module (Measure/Analyze) | Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk are computed automatically. |
| Stat → Control Charts | "Control Charts" module (Control phase) | X̄-R, I-MR, p, np, c, u — all the Minitab standard charts are available. |
| Graph → Histogram / Scatterplot / Boxplot | Charts live inside the respective analysis modules | No separate Graph menu — charts are produced in context. |
| Stat → ANOVA / Regression | "Hypothesis Test" module (Analyze), "Regression" module (Improve) | ANOVA is part of the Hypothesis Test module in the Analyze phase. Regression lives in the Improve phase, where it is typically used for model building. |
| Stat → DOE | "Design of Experiments (DOE)" module (Improve phase) | Factorial designs, response surface and Plackett-Burman included. |
| Stat → Quality Tools → Gage Study | "MSA Type 1", "Gage R&R" modules (Measure phase) | Type-1 and Type-2 studies as standalone modules. |
A typical workflow
While in Minitab you usually open a worksheet and launch analyses from the Stat menu, DMAIC.io is project-oriented:
- Create a new project at the top left (or open an existing one).
- Pick the DMAIC phase you want to work in (D, M, A, I, C).
- Add modules to that phase via the hamburger menu (☰) on the phase tile — each module is a tool (worksheet, chart, test, charter, …).
- Modules open as tabs in the workspace — similar to multiple worksheets in Minitab, but grouped by phase.
- Results are saved into the project automatically (local browser storage). Use the Export/Import buttons at the top to save projects as JSON.
Data & worksheet
The worksheet module behaves like a Minitab worksheet: named columns, keyboard cell editing, copy/paste between Excel and the worksheet. CSV and XLSX import/export are available inside the module. Unlike Minitab, analysis modules pick their data source explicitly via a column picker — so you can always tell which data was used.
Tips for the transition
- Session window: DMAIC.io has no classic session window. Each analysis appears in the output area of its module and stays there while the module is open.
- Everything stays local: your projects and data are stored only in the browser (localStorage/IndexedDB) — there is no server and no cloud. That keeps them private, but it also means they can be lost if the browser cache is cleared, the profile is reset, or you switch to a different machine. Save your projects regularly via the Export button in the top header as a JSON file — you can restore them at any time through "Import".
- Module help: as soon as a module is active, a question-mark icon appears in the top-right header — directly to the left of this training icon. Clicking it opens a module-specific guide with methodology, examples and common pitfalls. The icon is only visible when the active module has help content registered.
- Validation: every statistical algorithm is validated against reference values (Minitab, R, NIST). The "Developing" area contains the Algorithm Lab with source code, formulas and test cases.