The QAD Alternative
The smarter alternative to QAD for medical device teams
Matrix Quality is built by medical device engineers and delivers faster onboarding, richer AI tools, and end-to-end compliance — without QAD's complexity or cost.
Matrix Quality vs QAD — at a glance
Matrix Quality
QAD
Built for Medical Device
Purpose-built for MedTech and life sciences
Manufacturing ERP with a QMS module — not MedTech-first
ISO 13485 Certified
Yes, certified quality management system
Supports ISO 13485 workflows but heavily dependent on customer configuration
AI-powered features
AI-assisted requirements, risk detection, test generation
Minimal AI capabilities; traditional rule-based workflows
Time to value
Weeks, not months
Typical deployments run 12–24 months with heavy SI involvement
Integrated compliance platform
Requirements, quality, and traceability in one platform
QMS is one module within a broader ERP ecosystem
EU / global support
European team, MDR-ready
Global presence but EU MedTech regulatory depth varies
This comparison is based on publicly available information and internal analysis as of June 2026. Features and capabilities may change over time. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, you can refer to the official website of QAD.
Common frustrations with QAD
Teams switching from QAD consistently report the same pain points.
Deployments take far too longQAD implementations are routinely measured in years, not weeks. The platform is built on a large ERP foundation that requires extensive configuration, data migration, and validation before a quality team can begin doing real work. For medical device companies under regulatory timelines, a 12–24 month deployment cycle is simply not viable.
The QMS is a module, not a productQAD's quality management capabilities exist as a layer on top of a broader manufacturing ERP. This means quality teams are working inside a system that was not designed with their workflows in mind. Navigation is complex, terminology leans toward manufacturing operations rather than design controls or post-market surveillance, and teams often need expensive customisation to make standard MedTech workflows function properly.
Cost is disproportionate for dedicated quality teamsQAD is priced and scoped for large enterprise manufacturers. For a medical device company that primarily needs a robust eQMS — not a full ERP — the total cost of ownership is extremely high. Licensing, implementation partners, ongoing maintenance, and upgrade cycles all add up to a budget that dwarfs what a purpose-built quality platform would cost.
Heavy reliance on system integratorsVirtually every QAD deployment requires a certified implementation partner, and ongoing changes — even minor workflow adjustments — often require external consulting resources. This creates a long-term dependency that slows agility and inflates operational costs well beyond initial projections.
No meaningful AI capabilitiesQAD was designed in an era before AI was a practical tool for quality management. There is no native AI for requirements analysis, no intelligent risk signal detection, and no automated test case generation. Quality teams are left doing manual, repetitive work that modern platforms now automate, putting them at a competitive disadvantage on speed and accuracy.
MedTech-specific workflows are an afterthoughtDesign controls, DHF management, post-market surveillance, and MDR/FDA submission-ready traceability are not native to QAD's architecture — they require configuration or third-party modules. Medical device teams frequently find that they are bending the software to fit their regulatory obligations rather than the software supporting those obligations out of the box.
The challenge
Our solution
When writing, validating, and preparing technical documentation and audits.
During audits thanks to Matrix Quality.
Customers brought their products to market sooner thanks to Matrix Quality.
See exactly how the two platforms stack up on the criteria that matter most to regulated quality teams.
Matrix Quality
QAD
This comparison is based on publicly available information and internal analysis as of June 2026. Features and capabilities may change over time. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, you can refer to the official website of QAD.
— Industry Fit —
Target industries
Medical Device, Life Sciences
Manufacturing, Automotive, Food & Beverage, Life Sciences
MedTech-specific workflows
✅ Built-in design controls, DHF, PMS
⚠️ Requires significant configuration
Regulatory standards
✅ ISO 13485, IEC 62304, MDR, FDA
⚠️ Supported with configuration; not pre-built for MedTech
— Compliance —
ISO 13485 certified
✅ Yes
⚠️ Configurable but not certified out of the box
FDA 21 CFR Part 11
✅ Yes
✅ Supported
Audit trail
✅ Full, automatic audit trail
✅ Available but can require configuration
— Usability —
Setup time
✅ Days to weeks
12–24 months typical
Training required
✅ Minimal — intuitive, role-based UI
Extensive training required; complex ERP interface
— AI Capabilities —
AI-native
✅ Yes
No
AI features
✅ Requirements analysis, risk detection, test generation
No native AI quality features
— Support —
EU support
✅ Yes, European team
⚠️ Global support; EU MedTech depth varies
Onboarding support
✅ Dedicated CSM from day one
Typically requires third-party SI engagement
Matrix Quality
— Industry Fit —
Target industries
Medical Device, Life Sciences
MedTech-specific workflows
✅ Built-in design controls, DHF, PMS
Regulatory standards
✅ ISO 13485, IEC 62304, MDR, FDA
— Compliance —
ISO 13485 certified
✅ Yes
FDA 21 CFR Part 11
✅ Yes
Audit trail
✅ Full, automatic audit trail
— Usability —
Setup time
✅ Days to weeks
Training required
✅ Minimal — intuitive, role-based UI
— AI Capabilities —
AI-native
✅ Yes
AI features
✅ Requirements analysis, risk detection, test generation
— Support —
EU support
✅ Yes, European team
Onboarding support
✅ Dedicated CSM from day one
QAD
— Industry Fit —
Target industries
Manufacturing, Automotive, Food & Beverage, Life Sciences
MedTech-specific workflows
⚠️ Requires significant configuration
Regulatory standards
⚠️ Supported with configuration; not pre-built for MedTech
— Compliance —
ISO 13485 certified
⚠️ Configurable but not certified out of the box
FDA 21 CFR Part 11
✅ Supported
Audit trail
✅ Available but can require configuration
— Usability —
Setup time
12–24 months typical
Training required
Extensive training required; complex ERP interface
— AI Capabilities —
AI-native
No
AI features
No native AI quality features
— Support —
EU support
⚠️ Global support; EU MedTech depth varies
Onboarding support
Typically requires third-party SI engagement
Switching is easy / Migrate from QAD in 4 simple steps
We handle the heavy lifting. Most teams are fully live in under 8 weeks.
Free migration assessment (30 min)
We analyse your QAD configuration and map it to Matrix Quality.
Automated data export & mapping
Documents, CAPA records, and training data migrated with full traceability and version history preserved.
Configure, validate & sign off
Workflows, roles, and templates configured with IQ/OQ documentation ready.
Go live — and keep improving
Full onboarding with a dedicated Customer Success Manager from day one.
“
“I think we easily saved six months by working with Matrix One to create efficient digital workflows.”
CV
Carl Van Lierde
VP Product Development, Vipun Medical
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