The Aras Innovator software is used for product lifecycle management (PLM), advanced product quality planning (APQP), lean product development, and new product introduction (NPI). Aras switched to an open source model in 2007, where clients obtain the software for free, and Aras Corp provides technical support, software updates, and other consulting as a subscription service.
Aras PLM works for our company, yet I don't have experience with any other software system. The system does not refresh and update quickly. Often times users need to force a refresh or logout and logon to verify changes and updates. The Lock and Unlock feature needs getting used to.
PV is great for developing new formulations and moving them to production without exporting to other software. It helps track raw materials for both lab and manufacturing use. Background work is required to add new raw materials to make them available, but it is not overwhelming or difficult, just tedious sometimes
Aras PLM uses terms and labels that can be confusing like Subsystem / Subsystem Version, Project Record Number (PRN). Companies need to understand these terms and develop business processes to set user standards.
I personally use Aras PLM to manage information technology project documents. In my opinion, Aras PLM is more geared to product and engineering. I would like to see a general project management Aras PLM version with terms and labels that I am familiar with.
The description field should be made required. Many of our engineers have created records and left that blank because it was not required. This would help with the context or background of each record.
Our company is moving from repositories like IBM Notes, MS Sharepoint, and plain network file share directories to a more controlled system of recordd like Aras PLM.
It makes it possible to move from lab to shop floor fast with accurate formulation tracking and versioning. The ability to cost out prototypes really helps when looing for material cost savings and formula optimization. It provides great theoretical properties to use in designed experiments generated by software such as Minitab.
Our company developed numerous IBM Lotus Notes databases to perform document control. Aras PLM is the better choice to IBM Notes databases and home grown databases.
ProductVision is more powerful and flexible, with the ability to calculate more theoretical properties and better search functions. PV integrates with other software systems better and is more compatible with software such as Excel and Minitab for functions such as statistical analysis and presentation preparation. Much more useful in general than BatchMaster.