Welcome to the final part of our exclusive interview series with injection molding experts, Björn Noreik and Andreas Thümmel. If you missed the earlier blogs, be sure to catch up on Part 1 where we discussed industry trends, and Part 2 where we explored the evolving needs of injection molding professionals.
In this concluding blog, Björn and Andreas shed light on how Minitab’s tools and solutions directly address pain points in the injection molding process—helping companies reduce time-to-market, stay compliant with regulations, and optimize their equipment maintenance. If you’re looking for practical insights into how Minitab can help your operations thrive, this is the blog for you.
| Björn Noreik is a Minitab Certified Trainer and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over 25 years of experience optimizing manufacturing processes and products across various industries, including automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and plastics. As an expert in statistical tools and machine learning approaches, Björn helps project teams enhance quality and efficiency through methodologies like Design of Experiments (DoE). He also serves on the board of the European Six Sigma Club Germany (ESSC-D) and is a jury member for the German Six Sigma Award. | |
| Andreas Thümmel is a professor for applied mathematics in Darmstadt and an experienced consultant, offering training, workshops and project work to his clients. For this in 2009 he founded a company to provide this in the market. His experience is based in analyzing and optimization of complex economic and industrial data in various industries including materials science, aerospace industry, automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical, bioscience and plastics industries. His main focus is related to research, development and support based on statistical and data science approaches to improve the related developments and processes for his partners and clients. |
Both Björn and Andreas agree that flexibility is key in solving the diverse challenges faced in the injection molding industry, and Minitab's suite of tools provides that essential adaptability. Björn emphasizes that Minitab's tools allow manufacturers to reduce both time-to-market and production costs by leveraging key methods such as regression models, Design of Experiments (DoE), and Statistical Process Control (SPC) to optimize processes and guarantee product quality.
Björn explains, "You can use historical data and regression models to understand and simulate processes before production even begins. Using DoE helps identify the best settings for production, which ensures robust processes from the start."
Andreas adds that Minitab’s versatility is a major asset in tackling complex injection molding problems. "We have to deal with different things, so we need a flexible tool like Minitab to do our analysis. Minitab is not limited to specific industries; it’s designed to handle various industrial processes, including plastics. By using statistical analysis and regression models, Minitab helps optimize processes and lead to high-quality production."
Together, these tools streamline every step of the manufacturing process, helping companies get products to market faster while maintaining strict quality standards, ultimately reducing overall costs.
In an industry like injection molding, maintaining compliance with regulations such as FDA standards is crucial. Björn highlights the importance of using Minitab’s Power Sample Size and Capability Analysis tools to meet these requirements. "FDA now requires a rationale for selected sample sizes. More and more customers are using PowerSampleSize functions along with AQL/RQL topics to meet regulatory demands."
Andreas reinforces the value of Minitab in this area, noting how it helps businesses meet both regulatory and quality expectations with confidence. "Minitab helps at this stage because it’s flexible and can handle industry statistics and risk analysis. For regulated industries, Minitab supports compliance with tools like FMEA and DoE, ensuring that the initial quality is high and remains consistent throughout the production process."
Additionally, Minitab’s Control Charts and In Process Control (IPC) ensure that manufacturers can maintain oversight over critical parameters during production, enabling them to detect issues early and maintain compliance throughout the process. With Minitab, companies can not only meet but exceed regulatory standards, ensuring safer, more reliable products.
Preventing equipment failure is critical for maintaining efficiency in injection molding, and Minitab’s tools can help companies optimize their maintenance schedules based on real-time data. Björn envisions a more model-based approach to Statistical Process Control (SPC) for better predictive maintenance.
While traditional quality control charts remain a staple in quality management, Björn believes that a shift toward scrap-based or quantity-based maintenance intervals could prevent breakdowns and reduce downtime. Minitab’s data analysis capabilities allow companies to track and analyze key performance indicators to identify patterns that lead to equipment failures.
In other words, Minitab doesn’t just help companies detect when equipment is close to failure—it helps them predict and prevent it from happening in the first place. Andreas agrees:
"What many customers initially underestimate is how powerful the combination of Minitab Workspace and Minitab Statistical Software (MSS) can be. The real advantage comes from the seamless integration of these tools, allowing manufacturers to link different methods—like design, analysis, and process improvement—into one cohesive workflow. This interconnection is crucial for optimizing production and ensuring consistent quality."
With data-driven insights, companies can implement more effective maintenance schedules, saving both time and money while keeping operations running smoothly.
From reducing time-to-market to supporting regulatory compliance and preventing costly equipment failures, Minitab’s comprehensive suite of tools offers injection molding professionals the power to enhance their processes at every stage. Whether it’s leveraging Minitab Workspace for streamlined workflows, real-time SPC for continuous monitoring, or advanced tools like regression models and Design of Experiments (DoE), Minitab helps companies achieve robust and proven processes that guarantee quality and efficiency.
Ready to see how Minitab's solutions can be tailored to your specific needs? Talk to our team today and discover how we can help optimize your injection molding operations with data-driven insights that save time, reduce costs, and improve overall product quality.
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