MDSS becomes Factivity

MDSS has changed its name to Factivity Inc. to reflect its evolution from a provider of classic ERP inventory systems to total factory floor process solutions.

By Plant Engineering Staff May 23, 2007

MDSS has changed its name to Factivity Inc.

A company that specializes in information systems for manufacturing companies, MDSS’ former name was an acronym for Manufacturing Decision Support Systems Inc. The name change reflects the company’s evolution from a provider of classic ERP inventory systems to total factory floor process solutions. The new name is derived from FACTIVITY, a factory software system that tracks and controls factory floor activity, which the company brought to market in 1990.

“The focus of what we do everyday at this company is so intrinsically woven into improving total shop floor productivity, not just‘inventory counting and recording’ anymore,” said John Leibert, Factivity president and CEO. “The name change will more clearly reflect our evolution over the last decade from the older style management model of ‘top down’ accounting systems to the on-time dynamic systems of today and the future. Today, what we really are all about is ‘factory activity,’ thus FACTIVITY.”

The company was one of the original members of MESA. Leibert chaired the organization as it worked with industry representatives, vendors and analysts to set the initial 11 functional areas of a Manufacturing Execution System.

Factivity Inc. will continue to focus on expanding its functionality with additional modules for deeper machine integration and for simple drop-and-drag finite scheduling to advanced planning and scheduling solutions.