The Factorization Method for Simulating Systems With a Complex Action

We propose a method for Monte Carlo simulations of systems with a complex action. The method has the advantages of being in principle applicable to any such system and provides a solution to the overlap problem. We apply it in random matrix theory of finite density QCD where we compare with analytic results. In this model we find non--commutativity of the limits $\mu\to 0$ and $N\to\infty$ which could be of relevance in QCD at finite density.