Editor’s Pick: Arena PLM Summer 2016

Dear DE Reader:

Back when it took paragraphs to explain what Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) meant and “the cloud” referred to puffy atmospheric things, Arena Solutions was pioneering the path toward PLM (product lifecycle management) on the cloud with practical solutions that solved pain points like controlling bills of materials, engineering documents, changes and supplier relationships. Today’s Pick of the Week marks the opening of another new path. If you work in a standards-based or regulated industry, this should get your attention.

The just-announced Summer 2016 release of the Arena PLM suite of applications has a number of interesting things going on. For example, current Arena PLM users will notice some interface changes that make things less cluttered. And the Arena Analytics business intelligence solution sees expanded functionality for importing data from external systems for your analysis pleasure.

But the big enchilada is a new Training Management module for Arena QMS (quality management system). Now, Arena already provides the ability to combine PLM and QMS in a single platform. This new module automates, simplifies and brings training management and its components into that single platform.

The short of it is that all your employee training records – plans, history, electronic signatures, what have you – are tracked, securely stored, fully traceable and auditable. All this data is maintained in context, easily accessible and ready for you to demonstrate to some auditor that your operations comply with your industry’s regulatory requirements and standards. This should make for a comprehensive quality management solution with everything from controlled documents like policies, procedures and work instructions connected with QMS processes such as non-conformances and supplier audits as well as training.

It also should make the training manager’s job much easier. Often, training management leverages a “training matrix” kept on a spreadsheet or a separate training system. Either way, you’re transferring files manually. That’s error-prone and time-consuming. Not to mention that keeping parallel databases in sync is nearly impossible. That stuff is gone, and so are the expenses.

The new Arena Training Management module for Arena QMS sounds like a practical and elegant solution. You can judge that for yourself by learning more about it from today’s Pick of the Week write-up. Then, hit the link and watch the on-demand, registration-free webinar on the Arena Summer 2016 release. At the 10-minute mark, this new module and its features are introduced with a nice demonstration.

Thanks, Pal. – Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, DE