Use Create 2-Level Factorial Design (Default Generators) to create a designed experiment to study the effects of 2 − 15 factors. With a 2-level factorial design, you can identify important factors to focus on with further experimentation. When you create a design, Minitab stores the design information in the worksheet, which shows the order in which data should be collected. Once you have collected your data, use Analyze Factorial Design to analyze the data.
For example, a group of engineers plans an experiment to investigate the effects of three factors on the warping that occurs in a copper plate. They create a 2-level factorial design by specifying the design information, including blocks and center points, in Minitab.
After collecting the data, an engineer enters the response data in an empty column in the worksheet and then analyzes the design.
Many of the choices you make when you create a design depend on your overall experimental plan. For more information, go to Phases of a designed experiment.