Case Study: Burley improves inspection consistency and quality control with Minitab

Sharing a Vision of Uncommon Quality Burley Uses Minitab® to Improve Inspections Across Facilities

Burley, a world leader in bicycle trailers, child carriers, and jogging strollers, wanted to improve quality and safety across facilities by making inspection results more consistent. Working with Minitab Statistical Software, the company aimed to gain better real-time visibility into production, establish baseline quality metrics, and reduce variation between inspectors at its headquarters and manufacturing partner.

Using Minitab, Burley conducted an attribute agreement analysis to compare how different inspectors judged defects and where they disagreed. The analysis revealed overall inspection accuracy was just under 60%, leading Burley to revise inspection standards, add a color-coded risk and action matrix, and roll out standardized training and a visual defect guide. Minitab helped Burley pinpoint weak spots, improve consistency, and strengthen its ability to deliver safer, higher-quality products.

Burley

Mary Craighead

Quality Manager