Arena Solutions provides cloud-based bill of materials (BOM) and change management software for small and midsize hi-tech manufacturers. Its suite of cloud applications, including BOMControl, PartsList, and PDXViewer, enable engineering, manufacturing, and their extended supply chains to speed prototyping, reduce scrap, and streamline supply chains. Engineers looking to streamline BOM creation and management will find important new functions in the fall 2012 release of Arena Solutions’ cloud-based BOMControl system.

BOMControl is a cloud-based BOM and change management software system that includes item management, supplier collaboration, compliance management, and project collaboration. The new release includes more than 30 updates and improvements, which are all very nice features representing the power of cloud and giving some indication of how product lifecycle management (PLM) may evolve. In the future, PLM will be achieved by connecting hundreds of apps (if not more) in the cloud, such as the following:

• PartSaver bookmark connects PLM with electronic components distributors and their catalog through the cloud. PartSaver to BOMControl is a brand new feature because it enables a user to clip part content from a distributor/manufacturer/content aggregator (Octopart) Web site and add that definition to Arena in two clicks. Currently, no other PLM/CAD/ERP provider has this capability.
• Supplier item lookup, connected to a dedicated search engine for electronic parts through the cloud, has gone through a number of iterative improvements to deliver better market data and better matching to customer data. It also includes a BOM scrubbing capability.
• Cloud single sign-on (SSO) enables Arena customers’ IT team to extend Active Directory (one username/password for all corporate apps) to Arena PLM as well. On-premise applications may support Active Directory integrations, but cloud applications often cannot connect to the customer’s IT Active Directory, thus they require unique username/passwords. Arena is the first Cloud PLM provider to support SSO.

TEC blog post (Oct 2012): BOM Management for Electrical Engineers by Arena Solutions
TEC blog post (May 2012): Arena Solutions: More Than Just a Pretty Facelift
TEC product overview: Arena PLM