Arena PLM Reviews

Pros

Where do I begin? Arena has proven to be an exceptional tool in ensuring that everyone works with the same data which eliminates silos and centralizing all product-related information in one location!

Cons

While I acknowledge that the admin side of things can be somewhat a little too much but overall, I would still recommend it!

Pros

Creating comprehensive product BOMs and parts on a daily basis with ARENA is incredibly fast and simple. The assistance of their excellent application and integration specialists allows quick product imports when introducing new products from partners or through acquisitions.

Cons

Some features would benefit from redundancy in certain areas, like BOMs and the parts world. This would help new users in learning and accelerate the creation process.

Pros

Arena is a user-friendly tool that is easy to learn and use.

Cons

The search feature in Arena is quite frustrating, and it tends to get stuck on Chrome and Firefox unless I delete cookies on a weekly basis. It is limited to a specific "world" and gets stuck with limiters (e.g., searching only within completed changes) that are not obvious when starting a search. If I am unfamiliar with the previous naming conventions used, finding information in Arena becomes a time consuming task.

Pros

One of the features I love the most about Arena PLM is that the software remembers my previous searches which eliminates the need to re-enter part numbers. It's an excellent feature.

Cons

To obtain the correct export file in Excel format, I need to ensure that the setup is done correctly.

Pros

About Arena PLM I like the intuitive interface that allows for in-depth exploration of the BOM, including sourcing details, where-used information and more.

Cons

I really like the customization aspect and the ability to run reports. However, I find it absent in terms of adding columns based on the company's specific requirements.

Pros

The step by step approach in Arena makes everything much easier.

Cons

Our previous software allowed us to enter an MPN and automatically create the part. I truly miss that function. It is easy for me to forget to add sourcing information because it is in a completely separate tab. Additionally, the search function can be improved, as it is challenging to find the desired parts.

Pros

From document control to BOM management, and the ability to connect various manufacturing components through links for different projects, along with the 'where used' tab, Arena PLM proves to be an essential tool for any manufacturing department.

Cons

The learning curve for using Arena is quite steep. It requires active assistance from someone familiar with how it is customized to our company's needs.

Pros

Arena offers comprehensive BOM management services and is incredibly easy to set up.

Cons

It would have been beneficial to have generic examples of BOM setups across various industries.

Pros

With Arena PLM it becomes easy to track quality records and provides multi-functional access.

Cons

Adding more features that needs improvements, user-friendliness would be a valuable addition.

Pros

I love how user-friendly Arena is as it allows me to easily make various changes and document them all.

Cons

Honestly, there is nothing about this software that I have disliked so far. Everything has been working well.

Pros

The product boasts numerous useful features that ensure robust support for our processes.

Cons

Executing tasks such as adding items and files often involves numerous clicks, which can be annoying at times.

Pros

Compared to competing products, Arena is considerably easier to use (once you become familiar with it). Everything is neatly categorized into sections like "Items," "Requests," "Changes," etc., so there's no need to search through one massive database. The website and instructions provide clear guidance throughout.

Cons

I wish the advanced search function was more user-friendly. It relies greatly on preexisting knowledge, such as when to use asterisks, which can cause issues at times.

Pros

The flexibility of exporting BOMs to Excel and the ability to sort them are highly valuable.

Cons

The user interface is not intuitive. There are too many different styles of selecting commands, which can cause a lot of confusion.

Pros

The product offers the built-in features we require while allowing us to configure them to suit our specific needs.

Cons

When bringing new employees on board, there is a steep learning curve they must overcome.

Pros

Streamlined workflows make my work easier and being on the cloud eliminates any worries about updates.

Cons

Some features are difficult to use, especially when it comes to creating ECOs. Thankfully, we have a dedicated product documentation team to assist with that.

Pros

I admit that integration took some time, mainly because I should have started with the initial intent of focusing on quality processes before moving on to items. Thankfully, we now have a better understanding of it.

Cons

The user interface remains a hurdle as we onboard and cross-train new staff members.

Pros

Searching for parts and quickly accessing related drawings for comparison purposes, as well as looking up BOMs to determine the requirements for specific assemblies, is not a problem or difficult.

Cons

Currently, adding parts to an assembly must be done one by one. It would be advantageous to have the ability to add multiple parts at once.

Pros

The software is quite intuitive and includes all the different aspects one might need, such as training, NCRs and documents.

Cons

In my opinion, the NCR world requires the most improvement. It lacks intuitive navigation and crucial steps/information needed for thorough investigations are missing.

Pros

Navigating the system is not a hassle, and it's almost self-explanatory.

Cons

Sometimes, the search criteria are not instantly apparent.

Pros

This software allows users to quickly find what they're looking for.

Cons

When reviewing items within Arena, the initial layout of information can be unclear at times.