Case Study: Thales improves medical tube quality with Minitab

Quality a Vital Part of Medical Equipment

Thales, a global technology leader, needed to identify and fix the source of asymmetrical defects in electronic tubes used in its medical radiography equipment. To support this quality-improvement effort, Thales used Minitab Statistical Software as part of a Lean Six Sigma project.

Using Minitab, the team validated its measurement system with Gage R&R, analyzed process capability, and ran design of experiments to pinpoint the key factors affecting asymmetry. Minitab helped Thales determine optimal settings, including rotating the screen by 180°, and improve process capability from a Cpk of 0.49 to 1.13, while resolving 54% of the detected asymmetry problems and meeting customer specifications.

Thales