Arena PLM vs Epicor PLM

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Our analysts compared Arena PLM vs Epicor PLM based on data from our 400+ point analysis of PLM Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Arena PLM Software Tool

Product Basics

Arena PLM is a cloud-based solution that gives internal and external users access to relevant information throughout the entire design lifecycle. It provides capabilities such as project management, document management and collaboration functionality. It enables users to save money by developing useful bids and improving productivity through the automation of various workflows.

Compliance with ISO and FDA standards is also supported to ensure everything is “up to code.” Simple deployment with no coding needed is a vital feature.
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Epicor PLM is a software solution designed to streamline the entire lifecycle of a product, from conception to manufacturing and beyond. It caters to mid-sized and upper mid-sized manufacturers, providing them with a centralized platform to manage product data, CAD designs, and technical documents.

This translates into several benefits, including improved collaboration between engineering, design, and manufacturing teams. Streamlined change control processes help ensure everyone is working on the latest version of a product. Additionally, Epicor PLM integrates seamlessly with Epicor ERP (formerly Kinetic), creating a unified system for product development and enterprise resource planning.

When compared to similar PLM products, user experience highlights of Epicor PLM include its ease of use and intuitive interface. Furthermore, its tight integration with Epicor ERP is a major advantage for manufacturers who already use that system.

Pricing for Epicor PLM is typically based on a per-user, per-year subscription model, with costs varying depending on the specific features and functionality required.


Pros
  • Easy use
  • Central data
  • Change control
  • ERP integration
  • Collaboration
Cons
  • Customization cost
  • Limited integrations
  • Scalability concerns
  • Learning curve
  • Subscription cost
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$3,000/User, Annually
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$1,000 Monthly
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Windows
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Product Assistance

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FAQ
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Centralized Information: Store product data in one place so every user can access and review the most relevant information. It reduces redundancies and miscommunication among those with access to the system. 
  • Internal and External Collaboration: Share information and work with supply chain partners through this program. Users may also share notes, documentation and more to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands the project's scope or task. 
  • Cloud Deployment: Deploy this solution through the cloud so users can easily access it anytime and anywhere with a strong internet connection. 
  • Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance: Guarantee businesses meet every regulatory requirement and industry standard such as ISO, FDA and more. 
  • Simple Implementation: Install this platform seamlessly. No coding required. 
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  • Improved Collaboration Across Teams: Break down departmental silos by providing a single platform for engineers, designers, and manufacturing personnel to access and share product data. This fosters better communication and avoids errors caused by working with outdated or conflicting information.
  • Streamlined Change Control Processes: Effectively manage revisions and modifications throughout the product lifecycle. Epicor PLM allows you to track changes, gain approvals, and ensure everyone is working on the latest version, preventing costly mistakes and delays caused by implementing unapproved changes.
  • Enhanced Product Quality and Consistency: Ensure consistent quality by establishing clear design specifications and revision control. Epicor PLM facilitates the creation and adherence to design standards, minimizing errors and ensuring all manufactured products meet the required specifications.
  • Reduced Time-to-Market: Shorten the time it takes to bring new products to market by streamlining development workflows. Centralized data access, automated processes, and improved collaboration all contribute to a faster and more efficient product development cycle.
  • Boosted Productivity and Efficiency: Free up valuable resources by eliminating time-consuming tasks like searching for documents or manually tracking revisions. Epicor PLM automates repetitive tasks and centralizes information, allowing teams to focus on higher-value activities.
  • Informed Decision-Making: Gain valuable insights into the product development process with improved data visibility. Epicor PLM provides centralized access to product data, allowing for informed decision-making throughout the lifecycle, from design choices to material selection.
  • Lower Overall Costs: Reduce waste and minimize errors through improved product data management. Epicor PLM helps to avoid costly mistakes caused by using outdated information or miscommunication between departments. Additionally, by streamlining processes, it can lead to reduced labor costs.
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  • BOM Management: Control current, past and pending product revisions. Manage complex assemblies that consist of aspects such as electrical and mechanical components, documentation and software. It also sorts the information into a multi-tiered hierarchical assembly structure. 
  • Arena Exchange: Provide stakeholders with access to relevant product information in one centralized location. The chat feature allows internal and external users to discuss any arising issues during the gaps between formal processes. Partners may comment, view or download updated information such as reports, BOMs, AMLs and AVLs. 
  • Document Management: Share, track and store various documents while ensuring compliance with FDA, ISO and other regulatory standards. Users obtain authorization to product specifications, instructions, drawings and changes. This module also includes standard operating procedures, safety specifications and training records. 
  • Change Management: Manage entire product records and any related processes. Route, draft, release and trace engineering changes. Reviewers receive notifications via dashboards and email alerts. Visualization of factors such as backlog, change cycle time performance and progress are also available for all product lines. 
  • Item Management: Develop accurate and complete item records with structured documents and part information, efficiently permitting users to configure their hierarchical bill of materials structures. This feature tracks and manages manufactured assemblies and purchased components. 
  • Project Management: Connect files, changes, items and tasks to product records at all schedule levels and enable team collaboration. This apparatus tracks project progress through customizable phases that contain assignable tasks and milestones. Users may also gather data and use it to perform comprehensive cross-project analysis. 
  • Demand Analysis: Forecast the total components used to better negotiate with external partners. This tool is available for even the smallest component level, giving customers a leg-up over competitors that aggregate demand only for their most expensive parts. Users gain profit from untracked, inexpensive components as well as expensive ones. 
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  • Product Data Management (PDM): A central repository for storing and managing all product-related data, including CAD drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical documents. This eliminates the need for scattered files and ensures everyone has access to the latest information.
  • Change Order Management: A streamlined process for tracking and managing revisions throughout the product lifecycle. This includes creating change requests, obtaining approvals, and automatically updating relevant documents like BOMs, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
  • Bill of Materials Management (BOM): Create, manage, and revise product structures with ease. Epicor PLM ensures BOMs are accurate and reflect the latest product configuration, which is crucial for accurate production planning and cost estimation.
  • CAD Integration: Seamless integration with popular CAD software allows for efficient data exchange between engineering and product lifecycle management teams. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors.
  • Workflow Automation: Automate repetitive tasks such as document approvals, change notifications, and status updates. This frees up valuable time for teams to focus on more strategic activities.
  • Document Management: Securely store, manage, and control access to all product-related documents. Epicor PLM allows for version control and facilitates easy retrieval of past revisions, ensuring traceability and historical record-keeping.
  • ERP Integration (Epicor Kinetic): For companies using Epicor Kinetic ERP, Epicor PLM integrates seamlessly to create a unified system for product development and enterprise resource planning. This eliminates data silos and streamlines communication between departments.
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Product Ranking

#10

among all
PLM Software

#53

among all
PLM Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

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66
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Change Management
Compliance Management
Platform Capabilities
Project Management
Reporting and Dashboard
Deployment Options
Document Management
Platform Capabilities
Reporting and Dashboard
Part Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Arena PLM
Epicor PLM
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Bill Of Materials Management Change Management Compliance Management Design Management Document Management Packaging And Label Management Part Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Quality Management Recipe And Formula Management Reporting And Dashboard Requirements Management Supplier Management 84 100 100 90 96 22 89 100 100 98 57 100 92 83 70 90 66 92 100 31 95 100 94 74 9 100 53 66 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

33%
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 526 reviews
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82%
of users recommend this product

Arena PLM has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 82% when considering 526 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

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4.7 (9)
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4.1 (228)
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4.0 (27)
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4.1 (262)
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Awards

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SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Epicor PLM and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Deployment Options.

Deployment Options Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Implementation: Of the users who commented on this program's installation and interface, 57% said it's easy to install, simple to learn and the interface is clean.
Performability: Approximately 64% of users who addressed this solution's overall performance said it was user friendly, easy to navigate and reliable.
Modules: Of the users who discussed this platform's features, 48% stated that it offers a comprehensive dashboard, shares information with suppliers and tracks product progress.
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Centralized Data Management: Eliminates scattered files and ensures everyone has access to the latest product information, reducing errors and rework caused by outdated data.
Improved Collaboration: Breaks down departmental silos by providing a single platform for engineers, designers, and manufacturing to collaborate on product development, fostering better communication and streamlining workflows.
Streamlined Change Control: Tracks revisions and change orders efficiently, preventing costly mistakes caused by implementing unapproved modifications and ensuring everyone is working on the latest version of a product.
Enhanced Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks and centralizes product information, freeing up valuable time for teams to focus on higher-value activities like design innovation.
Integration with ERP Systems (Epicor Kinetic): For companies using Epicor Kinetic ERP, Epicor PLM integrates seamlessly to create a unified system for product development and enterprise resource planning, eliminating data silos and improving communication across departments.
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Search Tool: Roughly 51% of users who addressed this application's modules said the search tool isn't on par because it can't search partial names or part numbers and it's a little tricky to find the right documents.
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Customization Cost: Extensive customization to fit unique workflows or complex product structures can be expensive, potentially outweighing the benefits for some users.
Limited Integrations: While it integrates well with Epicor ERP (formerly Kinetic), Epicor PLM's integrations with other business systems can be limited, creating challenges for companies reliant on third-party software.
Scalability Concerns: Some users with very large enterprises or intricate product lines report concerns about Epicor PLM's ability to handle the size and complexity of their data, potentially leading to performance issues.
Learning Curve: New users might find the initial setup and learning curve steeper compared to simpler PLM solutions, requiring additional investment in training and user support.
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Arena PLM is a complex solution that manages every aspect of a product's lifecycle. Users find it easy to implement and learn because it has simple navigation, frequent updates and high-quality document storage. Its modules — ranging from BOM management and demand analysis to item and change management — streamline tasks and permit users to collaborate with suppliers openly. Although some users dislike the search tool, most find this program a robust system worth the time and money.

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Recent reviews of Epicor PLM highlight its strengths in centralizing product data and streamlining workflows, especially for users in complex manufacturing environments. One key advantage is its ability to manage revisions and modifications effectively, preventing costly errors caused by outdated information. This is particularly valuable in industries like aerospace, where even minor design tweaks can have significant consequences. However, some users with very large or intricate product lines mention concerns about scalability, suggesting Epicor PLM might be a better fit for mid-sized manufacturers. Another common theme in reviews is the ease of collaboration fostered by Epicor PLM. By providing a central platform for engineers, designers, and manufacturing personnel, it breaks down departmental silos and improves communication. This can significantly reduce rework caused by miscommunication or conflicting information. However, some users found the initial setup and learning curve steeper compared to simpler PLM solutions. This highlights the importance of considering the technical expertise of your team when choosing a PLM system. Overall, Epicor PLM appears to be a well-regarded solution for mid-sized manufacturers seeking to improve collaboration, manage complex product data, and streamline product development processes. However, its cost of customization and potential scalability limitations for very large enterprises are important factors to consider before implementation.

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