For years, manufacturers have struggled with scheduling tools that are too slow, too complex, or too reliant on key individuals. It’s time for something better.
To understand why EVO APS was developed, we sat down with Jeff Johnson, CEO of Kudos Solutions, to discuss the challenges of traditional scheduling and how EVO APS is changing the game.
Jeff: Scheduling is one of the most overlooked inefficiencies in manufacturing. Businesses have optimised their supply chains, automated production lines, and digitised operations, yet many still rely on intuition and outdated APS tools to build production schedules.
The biggest issue? Traditional scheduling methods don’t explore enough possibilities fast enough.
• Many manufacturers still use Excel or legacy APS systems, which can’t handle the complexity of modern production.
• Scheduling is heavily dependent on key individuals – when they retire or leave, the knowledge goes with them.
• Traditional APS tools are rigid, meaning planners spend too much time adjusting schedules manually rather than optimising them.
Manufacturers are constantly firefighting – reacting to last-minute changes, supplier delays, and production constraints – instead of proactively optimising their schedules.
Jeff: EVO APS fundamentally changes how scheduling works. Instead of relying on human intuition or pre-set rules, EVO APS is AI-driven – it analyses thousands of scheduling scenarios in minutes to find the best possible outcome based on real-world business constraints.
• It’s objective. Instead of guessing, EVO APS measures scheduling success based on business-defined strategies.
• It’s fast. Traditional APS tools can only process a handful of scheduling options at a time. EVO APS runs thousands of iterations per minute to find the most efficient schedule.
• It eliminates reliance on key individuals. Scheduling expertise is built into the system, so businesses aren’t vulnerable to staff turnover.
• It seamlessly integrates. EVO APS enhances, rather than replaces, traditional APS systems like Opcenter APS.
This means manufacturers no longer have to settle for “good enough” schedules – EVO APS delivers the best schedule possible, every time.
Jeff: Five years ago, AI-driven scheduling might have sounded like science fiction. Today, it really is a necessity. Manufacturing is becoming more complex and competitive, and businesses can’t afford to waste time or resources on inefficient scheduling.
EVO APS isn’t replacing planners – it’s giving them a superpower.
• Instead of spending hours adjusting schedules manually, planners can evaluate AI-optimised schedules in minutes.
• Instead of relying on gut instinct, they can use objective, data-driven decision-making.
• Instead of struggling with rigid APS tools, they can quickly model and test different scheduling strategies to see which delivers the best results.
Manufacturers who embrace AI-driven scheduling now will gain a huge competitive edge. Those who don’t? They run the risk of being left behind.
Jeff: EVO APS uses Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) – a type of AI designed to mimic natural selection and continuously improve solutions.
Here’s how it works:
• Define a Business Strategy – The user sets what “good” looks like for their company – whether that’s minimising costs, maximising throughput, or balancing efficiency and sustainability.
• Generate & Evaluate Schedules – EVO APS rapidly creates thousands of possible schedules, applying business rules and constraints.
• Evolutionary Optimisation – Using a fitness function, EVO APS compares every schedule, keeping only the best-performing ones. Over multiple iterations, the schedules keep improving.
• Select the Best Schedule – Once the AI completes the process, it presents the best option based on objective business goals.
• Seamless Integration – The final schedule can be loaded directly into Opcenter APS, making adoption quick and easy.
The result? A better, faster, and more consistent approach to scheduling.
Jeff: We’re launching a series of live demos so manufacturers can see EVO APS in action.
We want to show businesses how much better scheduling can be when it’s data-driven, objective, and optimised at scale.
🚀 Want to see EVO APS in action?
📅 Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at AI-powered scheduling.
👉 Sign Up for the EVO APS Demo
Let’s compare a human planner vs. EVO APS:
* Potential to do 1000s per minute depending on the complexity of the problem
A seasoned planner with 30 years of experience may have built 35,350 schedules in their lifetime. EVO APS can analyse that many in the time it takes to have a lunch break!
That’s the power of AI-driven scheduling.
Final Thoughts
EVO APS isn’t just an improvement - it’s a transformation.
For manufacturers looking to produce more, consume less, and stay ahead of the competition, AI-driven scheduling is the next step forward.
The future of scheduling starts now. Are you ready to lead it?
