Stop Overstocking Steel While Scrapping Production Schedules Custom AI Forecasting Built for Your Shop Floor
Imagine cutting excess inventory by 30% and boosting on-time deliveries by 25% – without the guesswork of seasonal orders or supplier delays.
Join 150+ businesses with optimized stock levels and zero stockouts
The "Inventory Chaos" Problem
Unpredictable raw material demands from fluctuating construction bids, like sudden shifts in rebar quantities for high-rise projects
Seasonal surges in steel orders, such as I-beams for commercial builds, that tie up warehouse space and block access to other stock
Supplier delays in carbide tooling disrupting your CNC machine runs for precision millwork and missing subcontractor deadlines
Overstocking specialty alloys like 6061 aluminum during slow quarters for bridge fabrication, draining cash reserves on unused billet stock
Manual tracking errors in ERP systems leading to scrapped aluminum extrusions and costly rework fees on custom facade panels
Inaccurate forecasts from siloed data between shop floor CNC logs and sales teams' bid pipelines for structural components
Our Tailored AI Forecasting Solution for Your Fabrication Needs
We've built forecasting systems for fabrication shops just like yours, integrating real-time data from welders to welders to ensure every prediction hits the mark.
Why Choose Us
Here's the thing: off-the-shelf inventory tools are like using a standard hammer on custom welds – they don't fit. We craft a custom AI model that digs into your unique data, from historical cut lists to upcoming bridge projects. It's flexible, pulling in factors like aluminum price swings or client rush orders. You're probably thinking, 'Will this work for our quirky workflows?' Absolutely. We build it around your ERP, shop logs, and even weather impacts on outdoor fab work. No templates. Just a system that forecasts like it's been on your floor for years.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Real ROI on Your Shop Floor
Zero Stockouts, Full Production Runs
Picture this: your plasma cutters humming without pausing for late titanium deliveries on aerospace-grade ductwork. Our custom forecasts reduce stockouts by 40% within the first quarter, keeping jobs on schedule and clients happy – no more expedited shipping fees eating into margins on those tight HVAC installs.
Cash Flow That Actually Flows
Tied up $200K in excess stainless steel sheets last year for unused roofing panels? Our optimization frees up 25-35% of that capital in 6-9 months, letting you invest in new MIG welders or bid on bigger commercial contracts instead of watching inventory rust in the yard.
Field-Tested Accuracy for Volatile Markets
Construction booms and busts, like the recent Southeast highway expansions? Our model factors in regional trends and material price indices to keep your forecasts 90% accurate over 12 months – far beyond generic spreadsheets that crumble under volatile steel tariffs or labor shortages.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, we were drowning in over-ordered 10-gauge sheet metal after a slow winter for duct fabrication. Their custom forecast nailed our spring HVAC rush – cut our excess inventory by 28% in just three months, and our TIG welders finally hit full shifts without interruptions on those commercial installs."
Mike Reynolds
Operations Manager, Precision Metal Works
"Let's be honest, forecasting 5000-series aluminum for custom railings was a nightmare with all the bid changes on public transit projects. AIQ built this system that pulls from our job quotes and ERP data directly. Saved us $45K in holding costs last quarter alone, and no more panicked calls to suppliers at 4 PM for extrusion runs."
Sarah Lopez
Inventory Lead, ForgeFab Industries LLC
"We run tight on A36 structural steel for bridge components – one wrong order and we're toast on DOT deadlines. Their AI integrated our shop floor IoT sensors from the shear lines and sales pipeline perfectly. On-time delivery jumped from 72% to 96% in six months. Game-changer for our crew during peak infrastructure season."
Tom Carver
Plant Supervisor, Apex Steel Fabricators Inc.
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Data Mapping
We dive into your fab shop's workflows, mapping out data from cut schedules, supplier logs, and project bids to understand your exact pain points.
Custom Model Building
Our engineers craft an AI forecast tailored to your needs, training it on your historical data like past rebar orders and seasonal demands for accuracy.
Integration and Testing
We plug it into your systems for seamless use, then test with real scenarios – like a sudden order spike – to ensure it performs under pressure before full rollout.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does your forecasting handle sudden spikes in orders from construction clients?
Let's be honest, those last-minute bridge or HVAC bids can throw everything off. Our custom AI model is trained on your past data to spot patterns in rush orders, factoring in things like regional infrastructure funding announcements. We integrate directly with your quoting system, so when a big job lands, it instantly adjusts forecasts for materials like I-beams or ductwork steel. In one case, a client saw a 25% reduction in emergency buys after we tuned it for their volatile pipeline. It's flexible – you set the thresholds for alerts, ensuring your shop never grinds to a halt. We test it against your real scenarios during setup, so it's ready for the unpredictability of fab work.
What data sources do you use for accurate metal inventory predictions?
We pull from wherever your shop's truth lives – ERP exports, CNC machine logs, supplier invoices, even sales CRM for upcoming projects. No generic inputs; it's all tailored to fabrication specifics like cut list histories or weld joint demands. For example, if you're heavy on stainless for food processing gigs, we layer in seasonality from past years. You're probably thinking about data security – we encrypt everything and build only what you own. One fabricator we worked with fed in their Autodesk files, and the model nailed aluminum sheet needs down to the millimeter, cutting overstock by 32%. It's practical, field-tested integration that respects your workflow without overwhelming your team.
Can this system integrate with our existing ERP like Epicor or Plex?
Absolutely, and that's where we shine. Unlike assemblers slapping on superficial links, we engineer deep, two-way integrations that sync real-time. For a metal shop using Plex, we mapped inventory levels to auto-update forecasts as plates get consumed on the laser cutter. It handles custom fields too, like grade-specific tracking for A36 vs. 4140 steel. Setup takes about 4-6 weeks, with minimal disruption – we shadow your processes first. A client running Epicor reported seamless data flow that eliminated manual reconciliations, saving their inventory clerk 15 hours weekly. It's built for longevity, so as your ERP evolves, our system adapts without rework.
How much does a custom inventory forecasting solution cost for a mid-sized fab shop?
Costs vary based on your setup, but think practical ROI from day one. For a 50-employee shop with $10M revenue, we're looking at $45K-$75K for full build and integration – that's paid back in 6-9 months through reduced holding costs and fewer stockouts. We start with a free consult to scope your needs, like how many material types you track (steel, aluminum, exotics). No subscriptions; you own it outright. We've seen shops recoup via $100K+ annual savings on excess inventory alone. It's an investment in your core asset – efficient fab ops – not a recurring bill. Let's chat specifics; we'll model your payback based on real numbers from similar clients.
What if our fabrication processes change, like adding new welding tech?
Flexibility is key in manufacturing – one day it's stick welding, next it's robotic arms demanding different stock. Our system is modular, so we can retrain the AI with new data flows in weeks, not months. For instance, when a client upgraded to fiber lasers, we adjusted forecasts for thinner gauge needs without rebuilding the whole thing. It's designed around your evolving workflow, with easy updates via a simple interface. No lock-in; you control the parameters. Shops love how it scales – from small runs of custom brackets to high-volume structural beams. If changes hit, we're there to tweak, ensuring predictions stay as sharp as your cuts.
How accurate are your forecasts compared to our current spreadsheets?
Way more reliable – we're talking 85-95% accuracy versus the 60-70% hit rate of manual sheets, especially with volatile metals pricing. The AI crunches variables like supplier ETAs, economic indicators, and your internal job queues that humans miss. Take a fabricator dealing with rebar for concrete pours: our model predicted a 15% demand dip during rainy season, avoiding $60K in unused stock. It's not magic; it's machine learning tuned to your data. We validate during testing with historical back-tests, so you see the proof before going live. Short answer? It turns gut feels into field-tested precision, keeping your floor efficient and profitable.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.