Arena PLM Reviews

Pros

It's very user-friendly, intuitive and functions perfectly.

Cons

I have noticed that the terminology in the software does not always align with other industry standards, so some adjustments are necessary. There is also an unresolved issue with BOM comparison between revisions as it works for different part numbers but not for different revisions of the same part number.

Pros

Arena serves as the central hub for document control in our company. Searching for documents and tracking changes is not an issue with Arena.

Cons

The UI contains a lot of small text and empty space.

Pros

The ability to customize the product to suit our needs is the standout feature for me. Once you learn how to use it, the software excellently maintains records of products, parts and documents, all of which are easy to navigate.

Cons

The aspect I like the least about this product is the number of steps required to complete tasks. It becomes annoying to update information for numerous items, and the import tool, which is meant to streamline the process, lacks proper documentation which makes it even more frustrating to learn. While I appreciate the flexibility it offers, there are certain features that could significantly enhance efficiency, particularly when making the same change to a large batch of items.

Pros

Since it operates on the cloud, there's no need for a dedicated computer server. It works seamlessly on Windows, iOS, Mac and Android OS, allowing me to switch between devices while keeping track of document approvals. Its user-friendly nature reduces the learning curve and boosts my productivity quickly. Additionally, the system's ability to merge multiple documents into one is highly useful. Overall, it's an excellent tool for document control, simplifying version updates, and ensuring everyone can easily access the master document.

Cons

Some processes, such as requesting document approval, still need to be done manually. For instance, even after all the approvers give their approval, the platform still requires administrator approval.

Pros

Arena proves to be an effective tool for managing complex Bill of Materials and supplier/sourcing relationships. Finding sourcing information is not a problem, and it's easy to track where a specific component is utilized.

Cons

I find the user interface a bit outdated and visually unappealing. The search functions do not always deliver the best results.

Pros

I experienced no learning curve with Arena which makes it incredibly easy to start working with the tool. Item management allows for seamless switching between current and previous revisions.

Cons

The interface has room for improvement. It would be great if they focused on developing a mobile version of the software. Apart from that, I believe it is a valuable tool.

Pros

I must admit that I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I would have liked. There is room for improvement in terms of intuitiveness. Unfortunately, the cons overshadow the pros.

Cons

There is no technical support available for Documentation Management and Quality Management, which are not relevant to medical device applications.

Pros

Our primary use of ARENA revolves around part and document management. The standout feature of ARENA is its ability to easily link related parts. When generating a new part, building a BOM and attaching relevant documentation become hassle free. On the flip side, locating these items when searching for a specific part is also simple. Creating new items and documents is pretty easy, and the reviewing system is user-friendly, complete with notifications for reviewers.

Cons

I find the search function a bit tricky to use, and it occasionally experiences glitches. Also there are times when searching for known item numbers or document names yields no results, and wildcard searches can be finicky. The behavior of the Changes functions also poses challenges with Revisions. Depending on whether a change has been rejected or withdrawn, it can be impossible to make further edits to a revision until that change is "deleted," even if it had already been rejected. These minor issues can affect the system's ease of use.

Pros

The approval signature flow functions exceptionally well. The analytics feature is quite powerful, although it does come at an additional cost.

Cons

The notification emails come too frequently, and as I familiarize myself with the system, they can be quite puzzling. Additionally, there is no option for bulk permissions update. Whenever a vendor has a new team member, I have to manually add them one by one to every Engineering Change Order they need to view.

Pros

I have been using this software since 2014, and I absolutely love it. As mentioned before, it is very user-friendly, and it takes no time to become comfortable working with it. I have reached out to the support service a few times, and each time I received feedback within 24 hours. I also like that the developers listen to user inquiries and continually improve Arena through new releases. Additionally, the provision of webinars before software updates, along with shared videos for administrators, is highly valuable.

Cons

It's challenging to pinpoint any major issues because the product is great. However, I do wish there were fewer limitations on mass uploading a large number of items. For instance, sometimes our ECOs have more than 100 items, but we can only upload a maximum of 50 at a time.

Pros

Once you learn how to use it, Arena is fantastic. It's easy to use, reliable and cloud-based. Online help and support, as well as training videos, are readily available.

Cons

Learning the system can be difficult, especially for users accustomed to rich application interfaces. It can be a tough transition for those used to modern applications.