Arena PLM Summer 2016 Released

Cloud-based PLM (product lifecycle management) application developer Arena Solutions has announced the availability of its Arena Summer 2016 release of its suite of PLM, supply chain and quality management solutions. A key new capability in this release is the Arena Training Management module for the Arena QMS (quality management system).

Arena describes its new Arena Training Management module as intended to help manufacturing and engineering companies automate and simplify training management to ensure regulatory compliance, increase training effectiveness and reduce training management costs. This expansion of the Arena product suite, adds the company, further extends its ability to deliver a unique combination of PLM and quality management in a single cloud-based solution platform.

The new Arena Training Management module for the Arena QMS (quality management system) is built directly into Arena’s engineering and operations document control systems, which eliminates reliance on spreadsheets to maintain a traditional “training matrix” as well as a separate training system. Image courtesy of Arena Solutions Inc.

Arena QMS is designed to help organizations ensure that they produce safe and effective products, with adequate controls in place, from design and manufacturing through delivery and service, explains Arena. It can help engineering and manufacturing companies in regulated and standards-based industries as diverse as medical devices, consumer electronics and high tech innovate quickly while complying with standards such as those from the FDA, ISO, OSHA as well as Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) and service organization control (SOC) reports.

However, adds Arena, the success of any quality-management program is directly related to the quality of the training received by those involved in the entire product lifecycle management process. Typically, training management has involved spreadsheet “training matrices,” purpose-built systems or email and paper forms. Frequently, document control and training data reside in two separate systems.

The new Arena Training Management module is engineered to provide an efficient, automated system related to the quality of the training received by those involved in a company’s entire PLM process.

Described by Arena as easy-to-use and as delivering a traceable and auditable solution, the Arena Training Management module enables training managers to maintain an affordable program while minimizing resources and effort. Central to this capability is that the module is built directly into the engineering and operations document control system.

Arena explains that because the Arena Training Management module is part of its single platform combined Arena PLM and Arena QMS solution, it eliminates reliance on spreadsheets to maintain a traditional “training matrix” as well as a separate training system that requires manual file transfers to keep documents synchronized. Furthermore, the Arena Training Management module does away with the need for an expensive integration from a document control system to stay in sync with updates to policies, standard operation procedures (SOP) and work instruction revisions.

The company adds that connected QMS processes such as CAPA (corrective and preventive actions), complaints, non-conformances, 8Ds (Eight Disciplines) problem solving and supplier audits are managed in the same single system, which delivers a comprehensive quality management solution.

Among the features of the Arena Training Management module are electronic signatures and flexible training plans for one-time or regularly recurring training. Training records and history are maintained in context, and all information is exportable.

“Training and a defined quality management system are important to any company that must ensure that their teams have the ability to develop and manufacture the highest quality products,” said Steve Chalgren, Arena’s executive vice president of Product Management and chief strategy officer, in a press statement. “Arena Training Management is a reflection of our continued investment in Arena’s quality management capability.”

The Arena Summer 2016 release also sees updates to the Arena Analytics product design business intelligence solution, including the ability to import data from external systems in CSV format. Additionally, the user interface and the Arena API (applications programming interface) feature for integrating Arena PLM with third-party solutions has been enhanced.

The Summer 2016 release, including Arena Training Management, is available immediately. For more information, click here.

Watch the Arena PLM Summer 16 Release webinar on-demand.

Click here to arrange a demo of Arena PLM.

Download the Arena Quality Management system data sheet.

Browse Arena’s Resource Library.

Check out the Arena blog on product design, development and manufacturing.

See why DE‘s editors selected Arena Summer 2016 as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.