MDSI Named Microsoft Certified Solution Provider

Market Leader in Software CNCs Continues to Break New Ground

ANN ARBOR, MI—February 18, 1999–Manufacturing Data Systems™, Inc. (MDSI™) announced today that it has been named a Microsoft© Certified Solution Provider (MCSP). MDSI's advanced training on Microsoft products will enable the company to provide additional support to its OpenCNC© software CNC customers.

MDSI's OpenCNC product is the first production-proven, unbundled software CNC on Microsoft© Windows NT©, on the market. The company currently serves as a Microsoft Independent Solution Vendor (ISV), a program for emerging companies who produce innovative products based on the Microsoft platform and suite of technology products and components. Now with the additional MCSP designation, MDSI can provide its customers an even greater competitive advantage in the manufacturing marketplace.

"Windows NT has become the operating system of choice for our OpenCNC customers," says James R. Fall, president and CEO, MDSI, "so that they can run other Windows applications at the control. The Certified Solution Provider designation is a further indicator of our strong commitment to Microsoft, and in particular, Windows NT's ability to integrate the manufacturing enterprise. We have made a significant investment in our support organization to meet the needs of our Windows NT customers."

OpenCNC has already helped revolutionize the CNC industry by proving that manufacturers can control a complete range of CNC machine tools entirely from software-and as a result, the company is leading the software CNC market. According to an Automation Research Corporation (ARC) special report, MDSI holds 42% of the software CNC market, a market that ARC forecasts will grow 103% by the year 2003, to $235 million.

"MDSI is one of a select group of manufacturing software companies that is helping to provide open systems software solutions to the manufacturing industry," says Don Richardson, technical evangelist for manufacturing at Microsoft. "MDSI in particular has helped pioneer the software CNC market. We welcome them to the family of MCSPs and look forward to their input as we continue to strengthen manufacturing technology solutions."

About MDSI

Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. supplies factory automation software and services that increase manufacturing flexibility and enable agile manufacturing. The company's primary product is OpenCNC, a software-based CNC control that reduces machine tool control costs and extends the productive life of machine tools. MDSI's business strategy emphasizes technological and price/performance leadership, hardware independence and comprehensive customer support. The company's customers, spanning virtually every industry, include Boeing, Caterpillar, Dana-Spicer, Detroit Diesel, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Lockheed-Martin, Marconi Precision Aerostructures, Tecumseh Products Company, Teledyne, and Textron.

OpenCNC is a registered trademark of Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. MDSI and the MDSI logo are trademarks of Manufacturing Data Systems Inc. Microsoft, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows CE and SQL Server, ActiveX, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.