Case Study: Boston Scientific achieves packaging cost savings and stronger seal validation with Minitab

Sealing the Deal Boston Scientific Heredia Validates Changes to Packaging Process

Boston Scientific Heredia, the Costa Rica facility of Boston Scientific, needed to reduce packaging costs for its Amplatz Super Stiff Guidewires without compromising the sterile seal on a new, smaller plastic pouch. To do this, the team turned to Minitab Statistical Software to evaluate and validate changes to the sealing process, including the impact of front and rear heating band temperatures and conveyor speed.

Using Minitab, the team ran a designed experiment to identify the critical factors affecting seal strength, then used contour plots and capability analysis to confirm the best process settings. The analysis showed that front temperature, rear temperature, and their interaction were significant, while speed was not; the validated process met seal-strength requirements and supported more than $330,000 in combined savings to date.

Boston Scientific

Daniel Calvo Camacho

Packaging Engineer