Using the Optimization Plot
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Once you have created an optimization plot, you can change the input variable settings. Move the red vertical bars to change the factor settings and see how the individual desirabilities and the composite desirability change. For factorial and response surface designs, you can adjust the factor levels. For mixture designs, you can adjust component, process variable, and amount variable settings. You might want to change these input variable settings on the optimization plot for many reasons, including:

·    To search for input variable settings with a higher composite desirability

·    To search for lower-cost input variable settings with near optimal properties

·    To explore the sensitivity of response variables to changes in the design variables

·    To "calculate" the predicted responses for an input variable setting of interest

·    To explore input variable settings in the neighborhood of a local solution

When you change an input variable to a new level, the graphs are redrawn and the predicted responses and desirabilities are recalculated. If you discover a setting combination that has a composite desirability higher than the initial optimal setting, Minitab replaces the initial optimal setting with the new optimal setting. You will then have the option of adding the previous optimal setting to the saved settings list.

With Minitab's interactive Optimization Plot you can:

·    Change input variable settings

·    Save new input variable settings

·    Predict the response for variable settings

·    Delete saved input variable settings

·    Reset optimization plot to optimal settings

·    View a list of all saved settings

·    Lock mixture components