BlackBelt Fusion Reviews

Pros

Right away, the simple and clean SQL Server architecture stood out especially for collecting all kinds of automated test measurement data. We don't use IntraStage to bring together other manufacturing systems like ERP, PLM or MES so I can't really speak to that side of the product. There are plenty of capable tools out there that already handle those areas well anyway. Where IntraStage really delivers is test measurement data collection and it does that better than other products I've worked with. Another big advantage is that the database and data model aren't hidden from users. That gives us the freedom to use the data gathered by BlackBelt in the ways that make the most sense for our organization, without getting hit with unexpected vendor development charges. Like any SQL Server-based application, having a strong DBA behind it matters if you want the best performance. That's not really a positive or negative, just something important to keep in mind if your organization doesn't already have that skill set in-house. On top of that, the vendor's support has been excellent and consistently dedicated. They keep working closely with customers like us to improve the product and that kind of partnership is something I value highly.

Cons

One thing that cuts both ways is BlackBelt's extreme flexibility. It's definitely one of its strengths but at times it feels like the vendor is a little too willing to chase every manufacturing-data-related request. In my opinion, they'd be better off staying centered on what seems to be their strongest area which is test measurement data. The other possible concern is the size of the company. They seem to be a relatively small team and while they're clearly putting in the effort to support large-scale deployments across multiple sites for bigger organizations, I'm not completely convinced they've fully reached that point yet. I do think they'll get there but I'm not sure they're quite there today.

Pros

After rollout, the system covered our immediate needs for internal supportability and DVT/SVT visibility while staying within budget. We saw about a 70% drop in the engineering hours spent putting together weekly DVT and SVT reports. That freed up our R&D team to spend more of their limited time on product design and other value-added work instead of compiling and distributing reports. Because the IntraStage CSV format is well documented, we've been able to support the data output from our equipment internally. We were also able to modify and refresh reports and analytics without having to rely on database or software specialists. With automated reporting in place, we can provide customers with on-demand audits without travel or face-to-face meetings which became especially important during COVID.

Cons

At deployment, the custom reports were not available as off-the-shelf options so there was some upfront development time and effort involved. On the plus side, that process gave us reports that were specifically tailored to our requirements.

Pros

Right out of the box, the software comes with a well-developed set of tools for extracting, translating and storing test results data in a flexible data model. The built-in reporting handles the usual manufacturing and test KPIs well and also includes strong SPC functionality. Its native data model supports most standard test data variables, while still giving users a way to bring in customer-specific data when needed. On top of that, the open platform architecture makes it possible to customize the product around specific user requirements.

Cons

Although the included test adapters support standard result file formats, we still had to deal with several specialized formats that needed custom development. The reporting options also feel split between older legacy reports and the newer, more interactive Power BI-based reports. While the older static and paginated reports are still functional, they do not compare as well to the newer reporting experience. From what I understand, development is ongoing to move more reports over to the newer format.

Pros

A big strength of BlackBelt Enterprise is the way the data model is structured. The architecture is clearly documented and very simple to understand. After we migrated all of our manufacturing data into the system, data analysis became much simpler and tracking model genealogy was very clear. IntraStage also uses its own XML file specification and it is much stronger than what I have seen from other vendors. It is reliable, detailed and very well documented. The custom reporting tools are very useful once you learn how they work. It takes a little time to get comfortable with them but after that they become a really practical way to manage reporting requirements. I especially appreciate being able to organize reports into folders. Another standout feature is the report email alerts which are simple to configure thanks to the user-friendly logic form. The support from IntraStage has been outstanding. Even though our teams are separated by an 8-hour time difference, they have gone out of their way to meet with us at times that work on our side even when that means very early hours for them. Their staff are knowledgeable, helpful and genuinely very good to work with.

Cons

There are times when the software feels a bit slow while generating reports. We have also run into a few bugs here and there and occasionally those issues have caused report changes not to save properly. That said whenever I have reported a bug, IntraStage has responded quickly and resolved it fast. The built-in adaptors generally do a decent job but they are not perfect and can fail from time to time. We have had instances where some measurement data was missing and with very large data sets that can be difficult to track down. It is usually fixable because IntraStage can build custom adaptors tailored to your data but it is definitely something to keep in mind. The UX can also be a little hard to understand at first. There is a noticeable learning curve when you begin configuring the software and it takes some time to get familiar with how everything works. Fortunately, IntraStage offers useful training and the documentation is strong which helps a lot during onboarding.

Pros

After more than 10 years of using this software in a remote manufacturing environment, the early issues we had with the XML adapter and data access and visibility have been fully addressed. Working alongside the Intrastage development team has also been a very positive experience and together we've been able to solve every challenge that came up.

Cons

The recent modernization efforts and Azure security requirements have been challenging to work through. That said the upside is that our data is now much more secure.

Pros

Using it has been very user-friendly and simple to access. The data collection features are especially useful and have helped a lot when reviewing manufacturing processes for debugging and troubleshooting. The support from the vendor has also been excellent.

Cons

The recent modernization updates and Azure security protocols have been somewhat challenging to deal with.

Pros

It handles a broad range of SPC functions really well and it's user-friendly while also giving us access to our PCBA manufacturing data from our contract manufacturer.

Cons

Not all of the data was available and I had to put in a significant amount of time building the database and XML adapters to convert the source data into a format that matched the Intrastage database.

Pros

One of the biggest advantages of IntraStage has been its open architecture and open APIs which let us pull in data from a broad mix of systems. We're able to collect everything from test measurement data and Failure Analysis information to human-entered inputs and engineering data. Our organization has moved into a much more data-driven way of working and IntraStage has played a major role in making that possible. Since we first put it in place in 2012, the amount of data we've been collecting has increased dramatically and data availability is now something the engineering team fully expects. Another benefit is that the platform's flexible architecture lets us address data challenges in the way that fits our needs best, instead of forcing us to change our processes just to match how the software is structured.

Cons

As the amount of data has continued to grow, we've started to run into some issues with response times when pulling information out of the database. That said IntraStage is currently working on its next-generation system based on Microsoft's Power Platform technologies and we're optimistic that this move will significantly improve data access performance.

Pros

After getting used to the reporting tools, it becomes very helpful for day-to-day work. It lets me check the current status of units, edit and update different fields and pull both summary and detailed reports when needed.

Cons

Running reports can be very slow and getting results often takes longer than expected. Some reports take far too much time to open and another problem is that when updating and submitting changes, the system sometimes makes me submit more than once before the update actually goes through.

Pros

One thing that really stands out is how much flexibility there is with reporting. I've worked with other vendors that either didn't allow custom reports at all or charged a premium just to build something very basic. With IntraStage, I can create my own custom reports which has been a huge advantage. It also gives us the ability to track a product's history from a field failure all the way back through the manufacturing process which is incredibly valuable. Customer support has been outstanding as well. The team is highly knowledgeable, responsive and genuinely helpful. When we first discussed bringing field return and shipment data into the system so we could monitor return rates, they turned around a working prototype using our actual data in about a week. They've been excellent to work with throughout.

Cons

My only minor complaint is that custom reports are built using Microsoft Report Builder which I'm not particularly fond of. That said it really comes down to personal preference rather than an issue with the software itself. Beyond that I honestly can't think of any real downsides to the software.