Amid complex variables adding uncertainty to global supply chains, the digital transformation (DX) of manufacturing has become a necessity rather than a choice. At the core of this transformation is 'quality management.' Quality management is a task directly linked to productivity, beyond mere cost reduction. Recently, the importance of data-driven quality management has been growing, but fragmented data and lack of standardization are hindering the efficient use of data.


Amidst this, data analysis software company Minitab is evolving into an integrated problem-solving platform company by combining artificial intelligence (AI) with its 50 years of accumulated statistical capabilities. Founded in 1972, Minitab is known as a synonym for statistical software and is now leading the 'Quality 4.0' era through the Minitab Solution Center (MSC), which involves digitalizing manufacturing processes and utilizing automation technologies like big data and AI to improve quality in real-time.

IT Donga interviewed Min Cheon-hong, Head of Minitab Northeast Asia, about Minitab's goals in the Quality 4.0 era and its strategy for the Korean market. Min Cheon-hong, an expert with over 20 years of experience in financial IT and data analysis, joined Minitab in 2021. He emphasized the importance of practical AI strategies, having directly experienced the limitations and risks of AI technology in the fields of AI and cybersecurity, aligning with Minitab's philosophy of pursuing AI as a tool to assist human decision-making.

Minitab's AI Strategy for the Quality 4.0 Era

Min Cheon-hong stated, “In the past, the focus was on data collection, visualization, and building big data. In the future Quality 4.0 era, the key will be to maximize quality and efficiency using AI while responding to security and regulations.”


He particularly pointed out that “about 75% of AI adopted by companies is not properly utilized, and even when used, it is mostly limited to research and development and education.” He added, “Instead of making large-scale investments blindly, companies should pursue a strategy of applying AI at the right place with minimal cost to achieve the best results.”

Minitab's AI strategy is not a sudden alignment with recent AI trends but is revealed as a result of gradually internalizing AI functions. Since 2015, Minitab has progressively introduced analysis assistant functions and launched an AI assistant based on a large language model (LLM) to help even beginners easily interpret data. Additionally, since 2021, machine learning functions have been provided in modular forms, along with advanced features like ModelOps and AutoML.

Beyond Statistical Analysis Tools, to an Integrated Problem-Solving Platform


Min Cheon-hong emphasized the importance of securing reliable data and establishing a standardized integrated platform to implement the Quality 4.0 era. At the center of this is the Minitab Solution Center (MSC). MSC is an 'end-to-end problem-solving integrated platform' that encompasses the entire process from idea generation to data analysis and dashboard visualization, beyond a simple statistical analysis tool.

Min Cheon-hong defined Minitab as “a company that provides a problem-solving platform based on 50 years of accumulated data integrity and proven statistical technology,” explaining that “through MSC, we support problem-solving and strategic decision-making that companies face in manufacturing sites, ultimately focusing on improving quality and efficiency.”


The brainstorming and AI insight functions of MSC structure the causes of problems and automate the data preprocessing and refining process to enhance analysis efficiency. Moreover, complex statistics can be processed with just a few clicks, and AI explains the results in natural language to assist non-experts in making decisions. The analysis results are visualized in a data-driven dashboard, and the entire project process can be consistently managed in a workspace. Furthermore, by integrating predictive analytics and machine learning, it enables proactive quality management beyond simple response. Recently, Minitab strengthened its integrated platform strategy by acquiring simulation company 'Simul8' and quality data management solution company 'Prolink.'

Particularly, Minitab focused on preventing AI hallucinations. Min Cheon-hong stated, “MSC's AI assistant easily explains analysis results in natural language and suggests the next steps for problem-solving,” adding that “in fields directly related to human safety, such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare, it is essential to prevent hallucinations and ensure the integrity of result data. Minitab is recognized as one of the most credible data analysis tools widely used by pharmaceutical companies preparing for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.”

Expansion in Korean Pharmaceutical, Medical, and Defense Industries… Bringing Global Success Stories to the Domestic Market


The greatest competitive edge that has allowed Minitab to maintain a solid customer base for over 50 years lies in its credibility. Min Cheon-hong stated, “Over 80% of the Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. use Minitab to increase their return on investment (ROI).” As a specific example, Kang-hee Kim, a manager at LG Chem, stated, “In 2023, the use of Minitab solutions played a crucial role in LG Chem recording an operating profit of approximately KRW 96 billion.” Min Cheon-hong also added, “In the past, the primary purpose was to improve the quality of manufacturing processes, but now it is being widely utilized beyond specific fields.”

In the Korean market, Minitab plans to focus on supporting growth in the pharmaceutical, medical, and defense sectors. Min Cheon-hong expressed his ambition, stating, “While Korea's electronics and automotive industries are already world-class, the pharmaceutical, medical, and defense sectors have significant growth potential,” and “Minitab will play an important role in leading this leap.” Additionally, for companies struggling with digital transformation, Minitab is also proceeding with the 'localization' of its problem-solving platform to reflect subjective elements according to demand.

Meanwhile, Minitab, together with its domestic partner Iretech, is continuously conducting education in various fields such as statistics, quality, technology management, big data, and machine learning. It is included in the training courses of the Korean Standards Association (KSA), and in August, it participated as a sponsor in the national quality event 'The 51st National Quality Circle Competition' hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, and organized by the Korean Standards Association, sharing information related to enhancing companies' data analysis capabilities and efficient smart factory operations.

Finally, Min Cheon-hong stated, “While cloud-based integrated platforms have already been adopted in the global market, the full-scale digital transformation is just beginning in Korean manufacturing sites,” adding, “We will continue to listen to the needs and feedback of Korean companies and focus on actively promoting overseas success stories in the domestic market through various webinars and events.”

IT Donga Reporter Kim Ye-ji (yj@itdonga.com)

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