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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    MasterControl Quality Excellence

    Score8.4 out of 10
    N/AMasterControl Quality Excellence is a Quality Management System (QMS) for the life sciences. It enables life-sciences companies to enable flexible quality event management, simplified document management, and automated training management that work together to close the loop on quality.

    $25,000

    per year

    Polarion ALM

    Score10 out of 10
    N/APolarion ALM is an application requirement management software platform now owned and supported by Siemens since the 2015 acquisition. It is available on the cloud (Polarion X) and on-premise. Polarion connect teams and projects to improve application development processes with a single, unified solution for requirements, coding, testing and release.

    $42

    per month per user

    Pricing
    MasterControl Quality ExcellencePolarion ALM
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Polarion X Base
    $42
    per month per user
    Polarion ALM
    Contact Sales
    one or more years per user/concurrent
    Polarion Requirements
    Contact Sales
    one or more years per user/concurrent
    Polarion QA
    Contact Sales
    one or more years per user/concurrent
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    MasterControl Quality ExcellencePolarion ALM
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoYes
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptional
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    MasterControl Quality ExcellencePolarion ALM
    Considered Both Products
    MasterControl
    No answer on this topic
    Siemens AG
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    96%
    Would buy again
    158 Answers
    96%
    Would buy again
    23 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    95%
    Delivers good value for the price
    123 Answers
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    22 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    96%
    Happy with the feature set
    157 Answers
    96%
    Happy with the feature set
    23 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    90%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    72 Answers
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    16 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    75%
    Implementation went as expected
    80 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    20 Answers
    Best Alternatives
    MasterControl Quality ExcellencePolarion ALM
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    No answers on this topic
    PTC Windchill RV&S
    Score2 out of 10
    Enterprises
    No answers on this topic
    OpenText ALM/Quality Center
    Score9.3 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    MasterControl Quality ExcellencePolarion ALM
    Likelihood to Recommend
    7.9
    (166 ratings)
    9.8
    (24 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.2
    (11 ratings)
    9.1
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    7.2
    (161 ratings)
    7.6
    (2 ratings)
    Availability
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    6.3
    (6 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Online Training
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Configurability
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    1.0
    (1 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Professional Services
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    4.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    MasterControl Quality ExcellencePolarion ALM
    Likelihood to Recommend
    MasterControl
    The MasterControl Quality Excellence suite is well suited for the life sciences and biotechnology as well as manufacturing companies that could benefit from the regulatory compliance that this suite of products offer. This product is highly recommended for industries that want to reduce paper overhead and digitally transform their QMS into a singular location
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    The question is actually not trivial to answer in 200 words. To summarize, I can say that we have had consistently positive experiences with all customers where we have used Polarion ALM. The sector in which the customer operates only played a subordinate role. We use Polarion ALM in almost all sectors: Medical technology, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, agriculture, automotive and many others. It is also interesting to note that in the beginning we were mostly active in the development of products, systems or software. Over time, this has changed more and more for some customers and risk management or projects for lessons learned have taken up more space. This enabled us to banish a seemingly endless number of Excel lists. Who doesn't know this problem: at first there is only one Excel list on the drive. Day by day there are more. Some with a date in the file name. Others with an employee abbreviation. In the end, nobody can tell which is the current and complete list. The really good thing about Polarion ALM is that it is extremely flexible to use and the configuration determines what the project is used for in Polarion ALM. It is customizable to my situation and not rigid.
    Read full review
    Pros
    MasterControl
    • Organization - the layout and idea behind how the website is displayed and functions.
    • Compliance - ensuring our documents are kept up to date and accurate.
    • Quality - by having a platform with all documents with all standards set out at once, quality standards are easily accessed.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    • Requirements Management:
    • Polarion ALM provides a centralized repository for capturing and managing requirements. Teams can define, organize, and link requirements to other artifacts like test cases and development tasks.
    • Test Management:
    • Polarion ALM facilitates end-to-end test management. Teams can create detailed test cases, manage test execution, and track test results.
    • Traceability and Impact Analysis:
    • Polarion ALM ensures traceability across all phases of the development lifecycle. Users can establish links between requirements, test cases, development tasks, and other artifacts. This traceability helps in impact analysis, allowing teams to understand how changes in one area may affect other parts of the project.
    • Customization and Adaptability:
    • Polarion ALM is highly customizable to fit the unique needs of different organizations and industries. Users can create custom workflows, define custom fields, and adapt the tool to their specific development processes.
    Read full review
    Cons
    MasterControl
    • License model can become very expensive for small startup businesses.
    • More development with validation and more transparent information on how the improvements and or fixes may impact the current configuration. Currently, everything is listed, but it is not tailored to my system.
    • More information regarding the transition of previous processes to new processes. i.e., FBS to AQEM. I am currently working on the ADV/FBS forms and will eventually transition to AQEM/ADAPT. Still, I would like more information regarding the transition to inform current stakeholders about the improvements on the horizon.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    • More robust engine as far as the actual took is concerned. There are navigation components in trace to reporting which we feel can be improved especially when dealing with cross global accessing of the tool. It slows us down a bit so it's backend driven optimization as well as some front end "clunkiness" that can be improved.
    • Improve some filtering capabilities especially in creating custom reports and generally all around the ALM components of the tool.
    • As of the version we have, the ability to enhance replationship types in traceability is limited.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    MasterControl
    would rate MasterControl Quality Excellence a 7 out of 10 because, while it offers strong compliance tools, centralized document control, and effective audit readiness features, there are still areas that could be improved to enhance the overall user experience. The platform can sometimes feel complex and unintuitive, especially for new users, and customizing workflows to fit specific organizational needs can be challenging. Additionally, integration with other enterprise systems isn't always seamless, which can slow down processes. Despite these drawbacks, the system remains a reliable and valuable tool for maintaining quality and regulatory compliance.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    There is too much at stake to go into a new system. But with everything else being promised as far as newer more innovative products, the justification to not renew is a huge risk so that is not a concern
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    MasterControl
    Some tasks require the users and SysAdmin to access multiple modules at a time. For example: to create a training course and an exam for a document in the system, the user needs to finish creating the document in the doc module, then go to the training module to create a course and an exam separately. Ideally, from the document page we should be able to access the training course, which could have some fields auto-populated. And from there, also create and link an exam, all without leaving the document page.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    Polarion ALM can be used individually and what I do with Polarion ALM is decided by my configuration. Lesson-learned, operational risk management, product, system or software development or customer management .... doesn't matter at all. I decide with my configuration what I will do with Polarion ALM. Of course, you can also use Polarion ALM out-of-the-box for your development because it comes with a large set of project templates.For this reason, I would also recommend not to just get started. A suitable consultant will show you the right templates and customize them according to your needs. Having Polarion ALM is like having a car. You know exactly how to operate the car. You've done it a thousand times before. The details are in the configuration: did I have a navigation system installed or not? Do I have a lane departure warning system or not? Do I have cruise control or not? Unlike when buying a vehicle, almost all functions are already available and can be used, usually at no extra cost. However, if something is missing, it can be obtained via the manufacturer's extension portal. Individual extensions are subject to a charge. Polarion ALM - easy to deploy and easy to use.
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    MasterControl
    they are good about keeping it running
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    update, reindex takes to long
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    MasterControl
    some reports take time to filter and to get them to give the correct information. This is usually because of inputs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    MasterControl
    The Technical Support team has grown exponentially over the last couple years. Some front line support staff are new to the system and so know less than the clients do. Back line staff are more seasoned and provide immediate assistance to the front line staff. They have an extensive knowledge bank to assist them as well as client access to most KB articles. Annual user group conference gives us chance to meet the support staff an also to resolve any outstanding issues. Any critical vendor notices are emailed immediately when found and a patch offered at the same time. These are rare, but quickly resolved.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    Support for customers using the full range of Polarion could be better.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    MasterControl
    I rated the MasterControl in-person training a 10 because it was clear, practical, and well-paced. The trainer explained concepts thoroughly and answered questions effectively. I appreciated the hands-on walkthroughs, which made it easier to understand how to apply the system in real scenarios. Overall, it was a valuable learning experience that boosted my confidence in using MasterControl.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    competent trainer, good training project
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Online Training
    MasterControl
    transparent and immediate when the documents are updated. Easy to check on training and customizable to the company's expectations. Allows easy exam creation with GXP assist and the correlation between job codes and courses has proven reliable. What i would advocate is that you see who has trained on the course in the Course Infocard, to the document infocard
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    easy to follow, efficent
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    MasterControl
    The implementation of MasterControl Quality Excellence was largely successful, earning an 8 out of 10. The project was well-structured, and the implementation team provided solid guidance throughout the process. Key milestones were met on time, and the system was configured to meet most of our core requirements. One of the most valuable aspects was the hands-on training and support during go-live, which helped ensure user adoption. However, there were some challenges around data migration and aligning the system’s capabilities with our existing workflows, which required more time and effort than anticipated. Overall, the experience was positive, and the lessons learned have positioned us well for future system enhancements.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    Automated install and backup procedure ist missing
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    MasterControl
    The products we evaluated were considered as potential replacements for MasterControl Quality Excellence. At this time, we continue using MasterControl Quality Excellence primarily due to the significant volume of data in our system and the operational impact of a platform transition. Intellect QMS emerged as a strong alternative, offering extensive, intuitive business process development tools and a wide range of built-in QMS processes out of the box. MasterControl Quality Excellence currently maintains the advantage solely because of the logistical and business burden associated with migrating to a new system.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    Polarion ALM has the best usability, extensibility and reactiv product management. The support is also very good compared to other companies. Or in other words it is closer to the customer. Codebeamer is for sure also a good ALM tool with a great feature set, but existing customers are often neglected. We will see, what PTC as the new owner of codebeamer will change at this point.
    Read full review
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    MasterControl
    No answers on this topic
    Siemens AG
    should be more flexible
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    MasterControl
    there are many updates
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    No answers on this topic
    Professional Services
    MasterControl
    they are excellent
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    MasterControl
    • Helped me keep up to date on any knowledge pertaining to my workflow.
    • Sometimes, using it for lesson plans with minor adjustments to review it again can be repetitive.
    • Helped with scheduling classes and keeping up to date with when they occur.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    • Many of our customers have achieved things that they could not have done without Polarion
    • Possibility to make engineering enjoyable and not so documentation oriented (especially in regulated industries)
    • Automatic and all the time up-to-date reporting gives savings in time
    • Information reuse is typically giving benefits in resource use and time-to-market. Up to 40% reduction in time-to-market seen.
    • 10-20% reduction in R&D cost is typically achievable
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Polarion ALM Screenshots

    Screenshot of Requirements Management - This feature is used to gather, author, approve and manage requirements across the full project lifecycles.Screenshot of Test & Quality Management - From this interface, users can manage all testing activities from a central platform.Screenshot of Issue & Risk Management - This interface is used to track all possible and reported failures, or plan and assign tasks to mitigate them.Screenshot of Connectors & Extensibility - Out of the box integrations with popular tools. Free, open APIs can be used to build apps and extensionsScreenshot of Agile / Hybrid Project Management - Modern agile techniques can be adopted at once or incrementally with out of the box project templates that can be adjusted to meet any needs.Screenshot of Core Functionality - Collaboration, Traceability and Workflow - 3 core principles built into the software