Social Technology Extends PLM Collaboration

Aras Corp. has announced the general availability of version 11 of its Aras Innovator PLM (product lifecycle management) platform. Version 11, reports the company, introduces new secure social technology that enables visual collaboration among such cross-disciplinary teams as engineering, operations and quality within the context of PLM. The technology works regardless of location or organization, enabling suppliers, outsource manufacturers and design partners to participate in collaborative discussions. In a related announcement, Aras has also launched Aras Flow, a mobile app that enables tablet users to work with Aras Innovator 11.

Aras Innovator 11 introduces new Visual Collaboration functionality that enables users to collaborate on 2D drawings, and 3D models, schematics, layouts, images and Microsoft Office formats within PLM product structures and processes. Here, users view and markup a 2D drawing. Image courtesy of Aras Corp.

With the Visual Collaboration functionality in Aras Innovator 11, users can view content, add markups and make comments within product structures as well as processes like BOMs (bills of materials), parts, models, drawings, documents and change workflows. Viewable data types include 2D drawings, 3D models, schematics, layouts Microsoft Office formats and images. Marked-up viewables are linked with text comments into discussion threads that are visible to other users with the proper permissions. The functionality uses the PLM permission model to control comment visibility and participation.

This image depicts a marked up Microsoft Office document in Aras Innovator 11. Image courtesy of Aras Corp.

Visual Collaboration in Aras Innovator is enabled in the browser and does not require installation or plugins. It is also fully extensible and can be combined with custom business items and workflows created in Aras Innovator 11, according to the company. The company also reports that the underlying secure social technology can be integrated with other enterprise systems to deliver the capabilities anywhere.

The Program Management application in Aras Innovator 11 has been upgraded with a number of new features such as project and template cloning. This image shows the Program Management dashboard. Image courtesy of Aras Corp.

Additional features in Aras Innovator 11 include usability updates to the platform’s Program Management application and new file handling features. Capabilities for Program Management now include project and template cloning, deliverables in template and editable customizable Gantt charts. Project tree editing has also been improved. New file handling features, says Aras Corp., provide a simple, consistent user experience with the same behavior in forms and dialogs.

The Aras Innovator 11 Program Management application now also includes editable customizable Gantt charts. Image courtesy of Aras Corp.

Aras Flow brings mobile accessibility to Aras Innovator 11. With their tablet, users can visualize as well as markup designs, sketches or other content with touch or a pen, and they can participate in discussions and comment threads in product structure context. Main features include voting, e-signatures, task checklists and photo, video and audio recording capture. Users can also pin change workflows to their start screen for real-time status updates. Additional features include handwriting recognition for turning notes into text and live tile updates that show new comments on the Start screen. Aras Flow for the Aras Innovator suite is available for free from Aras Windows Store.

Aras Flow, a touch-enabled mobile app for the Aras Innovator 11 PLM system, enables users to approve proposed product changes, redline documents, sketch new ideas as well as capture and add photos, audio and video from their tablet. Image courtesy of Aras Corp.

“Developing and manufacturing products that combine electronics, software and mechanical aspects requires a level of cross-discipline collaboration that’s been hard with traditional PLM systems,” said John Sperling, vice president of Product Management at Aras, in a press statement. “We’ve changed that by making collaboration for everyone secure, visual and easy.”

The new Visual Collaboration functionality is an Aras subscriber-only feature and is not enabled in trial downloads of Aras Innovator. Companies with an active Aras Premier subscription receive free upgrades to the latest release regardless of the amount of customization in their current system. Aras Corp. advises subscribers to contact Aras support or their certified Aras partner to schedule the upgrade process.

Go here for more information on Aras Innovator 11.

Download the Aras Innovator 11 release notes.

Watch a demo of Aras Innovator.

Learn more about Aras Flow and watch a demo.

Download Aras Flow from the Aras Windows Store.

See why DE’s Editors selected Aras Innovator 11 as their Pick of the Week.

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

Editor’s note: Amended to clarify the availability of Visual Collaboration functionality on Feb. 5, 2015.