Propel PLM

PROS & CONS

What are the best aspects of this product?

Arena is great software for Product Lifecycle Management. This software allows you to control BOM (Bill of Material), changes and processes. It is easy to use and cost-effective solution. Arena provides you with multiple features for managing the product life-cycle and provides you with collaboration with vendors and CM (Contact Manufacturers). The software integrates with ERP packages and NetSuite. What’s more, if you want to implement a PLM solution at Start-up or SME (Small & Medium sized companies) this software is great option.

What aspects are problematic or could work better?

In my opinion, they need to work on their marketing strategies. With all of these options they offer, they could take #1 position in their area.

What specific problems in your company were solved by this product?

Not available

Are you a current user of this product?

Yes

PROS & CONS

What are the best aspects of this product?

Nothing. We didn't even start using it because of the inability to negotiate with customer support.

What aspects are problematic or could work better?

Terrible customer and sales service. They oversold a number of licenses by far (misguiding and misinterpreting our needs). Their sales team provided a training session via zoom (3 calls 1.5 hour each) that in fact turned out to be a Quick Start program (they never communicated on the calls that it was onboarding program) that apparently charge XK USD - over 4 digit number per hour for a distant training call. During the call, we set up an account for testing purposes and never used it afterward since the software did not meet our needs and requirements. We never started using their software and requested to cancel the contract then. Now, they are chasing us to pay annual contract licenses as per originally quote and threatening with the court. Bad policies and totally inflexible.



Another problem is that they never provided the actual trial (our team never used it but they claimed they set up accounts, no confirmation was received on our side).

Are you a current user of this product?

No

PROS & CONS

What are the best aspects of this product?

The tool is easy to use and very flexible, met all our needs. Arena integrates well with EE Cad package OrCAD. Also, the plug-in allows to push parameters to schematic designs, and this means that your designs will never be out of sync with all released parts. With this software you can include products from beta development through 5k production.

What aspects are problematic or could work better?

When you set up the database it can be difficult to move to another solution and uproot it. Also, the cost per seat is growing and this means that everyone who want to access the database they need to be granted and this may costs a lot of money since your company is growing.

What specific problems in your company were solved by this product?

Arena is great solution for BOM (Bill of Materials), tracking and managing life-cycle of the product. Also, allows you easy communication and contacts with other manufactures.

Are you a current user of this product?

Yes

PROS & CONS

What are the best aspects of this product?

Arena is easy to use software, and what’s more important you don’t need knowledge in IT to run this software. I love their continual upgrades, make our work better. You can create Change Orders easily and you can keep track of every completion. You can easily enter and manage your data and this saves time for your administrative workers.

What aspects are problematic or could work better?

You need to be careful when you want to make some changes in admin settings for items, categories and etc. otherwise you can lose your data after changes have been implemented. It’s time wasting to select data one by one instead of selecting multiple files.

What specific problems in your company were solved by this product?

Arena helps us to track multiple files of every revision (documents, SOP, assemblies, parts, etc.) we can track Bill of Materials, SOP information and associated records. Also, we can easily track change orders. QSR, DHR, DMR options help us for long term tracking of information.

Are you a current user of this product?

Yes

PROS & CONS

What are the best aspects of this product?

Arena PLM is customizable software and easy to use, we managed to set up the software in very short time. In 1 week training, the software was ready to use by my team members. We have better access into delivery times and this helps us make better decisions. We increased our soundness and quality of our products. Also, Arena allows us to create “What if” shortage scenarios so we can work on our improvements.

What aspects are problematic or could work better?

It is complicated to capture a mechanical part of numerous processes and with numerous vendors. Also, it would be great if there was a dedicated entry for inventory that is in the process.

What specific problems in your company were solved by this product?

Arena provides us with a full picture of what was being changed, which parts were being changed and when they were due. Arena helps us to eliminate any duplicates between BoMs. What’s more, with this software we keep track of all our materials, full process of material development and its material certifications.

Are you a current user of this product?

Yes