Our new open download of the Aras enterprise PLM software suite is the latest in the series of feature-packed releases (some openly available while others are subscriber-only like Service Packs, Security Updates, Hot Fixes, etc) has been up on the site for a bit.

This one is a major release that incorporates dozens of corporate community contributions constituting hundreds of innovative features and enhancements which I thought would be good to show off.

So, did a DEMO recording with a full overview that highlights on new additions including:

• ECO / MCO simple engineering change workflows
• New Redline compare capabilities for BOMs, suppliers, documents, and more
• Even more modern Microsoft ‘look & feel’
• Powerful new Search including ad hoc queries, saved searches, Microsoft Live Search, and GlobalSpec (the largest Parts database in the world with over 180 million parts in 2.3 million part families)
• Modular process planner for FMEAs and Inspection & Test Control Plans for Product Risk
• Microsoft MOSS / SharePoint integration
• Graphical Web services 'builder' in Solution Studio

As well as some other noteworthy stuff from previous V9 releases like:

• Lockheed Martin security protocols embedded
• Full suite of CAD & EDA connectors & visualization
• Internationalization with multi-language translations including Japanese, Chinese (simplified & mandarin), German, Russian, and many others… including English (of course)
• And a lot more too

You can check out the DEMO at http://www.aras.com/PLM-Software/100114.aspx

What’s your take? Are we pushing enterprise PLM software to the next level of usibility? And what are the other important enterprise capabilities you’d like to collaborate and contribute next?