Quick learning curve & easy on-boarding process!
Updated November 11, 2020
Quick learning curve & easy on-boarding process!
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Arena
Arena is being used across the whole organization, however it is more specifically used by regulatory, quality, and operations departments. We use Arena as our main document control system for our device, including our Device Master Record and Design History Files, as well as all of our quality system documents. When manufacturing our system, all documents of the latest revision are pulled from Arena prior to the initiation of any stage. Our quality system goes through updates often, and these are documented in Arena after review by the respective team members.
- Easy navigation and search of documents.
- Display of information.
- ECO process, steps are clear and to the point.
- I'd like to see some functionality that assists the creation and fulfillment of document types based on existing documents. For examples, across our organization the same type of report may be placed in different categories because the creator isn't informed. If there is a way to either compare, search for similar documents based on type when creating a document, this would prevent confusion.
- I'd like the ability to create reports and plans that are directly linked to each other, rather than just by a numbering system. Some sort of link between these two would be easier for traceability.
- Maintains are quality system and CAPA practices to standard.
- Ease of use increases time to market, on-boarding of new users is typically a quick process.
- Product Features
Arena is much more straight forward than other doc control platforms I've used in terms of ease of use and ease of search. The naming conventions of the item categories, as well as the change processes are clear and intuitive should a revision need to be made. In previous systems I've used, there was a grey area between "files" and "items" which caused issues when revising an uploading new versions of documents. Additionally, I like that the document revisions and history is able to be searched fairly easily.
Using Arena
Yes- Arena is primarily used as our doc-control system where changes are controlled. When changes only require a Letter to File for the FDA, all changes are tracked in Arena in relation to this project. During audit, these can be pulled from Arena to show all changes are documented and approved. Additionally, for European regulatory efforts, are technical documentation is saved in Arena with references to other documents in Arena. This ensures that the revision of documents are submit to Notified Bodies is always the most recent version.
Arena has kept the change control process consistent with what it was prior to stay at home orders, and has provided ease in document changes despite the recent changes to organization. Rather than in person communication, our business has been forced to do a majority of work remotely. There are now more activities and changes going on with products that are less present to all affected employees. Arena acts as the core platform to support us in these times, and makes it easy to organize and view product and QMS related changes, even to those who are not directly involved.
Our company uses Arena for ECO, Training, Supplier Organization, CAPA, amongst other functions. The training process has recently been expanded within Arena due to the recent remote work implementation. As we onboard employees remotely, this is one of the first programs they recieve access to to complete full training, much of which is typically done in person.
I would say Arena provides for a straightforward, intutitive platform for users with various levels of document control experience.
I have not had much direct interaction with the Arena Customer success team, as I have not personally faced any issues. I will say that the upgrades made to the Arena platform are always clearly explained to the user upon implementation. This speaks to the the platforms concern with customer success with new developments.