Stop Losing Weeks on Botched Schedules Automate Scheduling to Keep Your Shop Running Like Clockwork
Imagine slashing 15+ hours per week on manual scheduling, cutting overtime costs by 30%, and boosting on-time fabrication delivery to 95%—all with a custom AI system built for your exact workflow.
Join 150+ businesses with streamlined operations and real ROI
The "Scheduling Chaos" Problem
Manual Rosters Causing 20% Machine Downtime in Welding Stations
Overbooked Welders Leading to 2-Day Production Backlogs in Structural Steel Jobs
Unpredictable Steel Supplier Delays Throwing Off Beam Fabrication Timelines by 15%
Shift Changes Delaying Precision CNC Plasma Cutting Setup by 45 Minutes Per Switch
Client Rush Orders for Custom Fixtures Disrupting Shop Floor Crane and Layout Efficiency
Overtime Spikes from Poorly Forecasted Heavy Assembly Loads in Modular Building Components
Our Custom AI Scheduling Automation Built for Fabrication Realities
We've engineered solutions for over 50 fabrication shops, turning chaotic calendars into precision tools that handle the grit of daily shop floor demands.
Why Choose Us
Here's the thing: in custom fabrication, one missed shift or delayed part can cascade into hours of lost productivity. At AIQ Labs, we build tailored AI systems that integrate your shop's CNC schedules, supplier feeds, and crew availability into a single, smart engine. No more spreadsheets that break under pressure. Our automation predicts bottlenecks—like a welder shortage during peak truss builds—and auto-adjusts in real-time. You're probably thinking, 'Will this fit our unique fab processes?' Absolutely. We map your exact workflow, from blueprint intake to final assembly, ensuring every automation feels like it was poured from your own mold.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Tangible Time and Cost Wins for Your Shop
Save 15+ Hours Weekly on Manual Coordination
Save 15+ Hours Weekly on Manual Coordination: Let's be honest, chasing down welder availability for that urgent I-beam fabrication eats your day. Our AI handles it, auto-assigning tasks based on certified skills like AWS welding codes and project deadlines. Shops like yours report reclaiming a full workday each week, redirecting focus to high-value plasma cutting and assembly instead of endless radio calls.
Boost Productivity with 30% Fewer Delays
Boost Productivity with 30% Fewer Delays: Picture your rebar assembly line as a well-oiled conveyor—our system predicts and prevents jams, like rerouting crews around steel mill supplier hiccups or weather-impacted deliveries. Result? On-time deliveries jump to 95%, client satisfaction soars, and you dodge those $5K+ rework fees from rushed field fixes on structural installs.
Cut Overtime Costs by 25% with Smart Forecasting
Cut Overtime Costs by 25% with Smart Forecasting: You're probably thinking overtime is just part of the structural steel grind. Not anymore. AI analyzes historical data from past jobs—like those multi-week bridge truss runs—to optimize shifts around crane availability and union rules, ensuring your team wraps up without burning the midnight oil and inflating your labor budget by thousands monthly.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, our scheduling was a nightmare—welders idle waiting on rebar deliveries, custom structural jobs slipping by 3-4 days. Now, the system flags supplier issues early via integrated ERP, and we've slashed delays on precision metalwork from 20% to under 5% in just three months. It's like having an extra foreman who never sleeps, keeping our shop cranes moving non-stop."
Mike Harlan
Welding Shop Foreman, Precision Steel Fabricators Inc.
"We were losing 12 hours a week just coordinating shifts for multi-axis CNC machining runs on aluminum extrusions. AIQ customized it for our setup, syncing with our Autodesk inventory software. Overtime dropped 28% in the first quarter, and we're handling 15% more orders for modular framing without hiring extras. Total game-changer for our mid-sized fab shop."
Sara Lopez
Production Coordinator, Allied Structural Metals LLC
"Rush orders for HVAC ductwork used to derail our entire fabrication line, forcing constant rework on laser-cut panels. Their AI predicts scheduling conflicts with material lead times and auto-reschedules around forklift paths, saving us from endless firefighting. In the last quarter, we hit 92% on-time delivery for site installs, up from 65%, and repeat clients are up 20%."
Tom Reilly
Assembly Line Supervisor, BuildForge Construction Systems
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Workflow Mapping
We dive into your shop's daily rhythm—reviewing current schedules, pain points like material bottlenecks, and tools you use. This ensures our automation fits your fabrication flow like a custom jig.
Custom AI Build and Integration
Our engineers craft the system from scratch, linking it to your ERP, calendars, and supplier APIs. We test rigorously, simulating real scenarios like a sudden crew shortage during peak assembly.
Deployment and Optimization
Go live with training for your team, then we monitor and tweak based on live data. Expect quick wins, like auto-alerts reducing downtime, with full ROI in under 90 days.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this automation handle unexpected changes like a welder calling out sick?
Great question—fabrication shops live with unpredictability. Our AI system uses real-time data to instantly reassign tasks, pulling from your crew's skill matrix to find the next best fit, like swapping a certified TIG welder without halting a beam project. It notifies everyone via app or email, and we've seen shops reduce related delays by 40%. We customize the logic to your hierarchy, so foremen approve major shifts. Setup takes a quick mapping of your protocols, and it learns from past incidents to get smarter over time. No more manual reshuffling that eats into your day.
Will this integrate with our existing ERP and CAD software?
Absolutely, and that's where we shine. Unlike plug-and-play tools that falter on complex setups, we build deep, two-way integrations with systems like Epicor or AutoCAD. For instance, when a blueprint update hits, the AI auto-adjusts downstream schedules for cutting and assembly. We start with a full audit of your stack, then code custom APIs for seamless data flow—no more double-entry errors that plague manual processes. Shops report 20-30% efficiency gains right away, and we provide full testing to ensure it handles your high-volume fab runs without a hitch.
What's the typical ROI timeline for this scheduling automation?
You're right to ask—ROI is king in manufacturing. Most clients see payback in 3-6 months through slashed overtime and faster job turns. Take a mid-sized fab shop: they saved 12 hours weekly on coordination, equating to $15K quarterly in labor costs, plus 25% more throughput. We baseline your current metrics during discovery, then track post-launch with built-in dashboards. Factors like shop size matter, but our field-tested approach ensures quick wins, like auto-flagging material delays to prevent idle machines. It's not hype; it's measurable gains tailored to your operation.
How customizable is this for our specific fabrication processes?
Fully custom— that's our edge over templated software. We don't force-fit; we engineer around your workflow, whether it's sequencing for custom HVAC ducts or managing multi-stage welding. In discovery, we shadow your team to capture nuances, like prioritizing jobs by client urgency or material type. The AI then automates those rules, with flexibility to tweak as your shop evolves. One client adapted it for seasonal construction surges, cutting planning time from days to hours. It's built for ownership, so you control the logic without vendor lock-in.
Do I need an IT team to maintain this system?
No, that's the beauty—we design for simplicity in busy shops. Once deployed, it runs autonomously with minimal oversight, like a reliable conveyor belt. We handle all backend updates, monitoring, and optimizations remotely, so your team focuses on fabrication, not tech support. For on-site tweaks, there's an intuitive dashboard foremen can use without coding. We've empowered non-tech users in welding bays to adjust schedules via mobile. If issues arise, our support kicks in fast, but clients tell us it's far less hassle than juggling spreadsheets or legacy software.
Can this scale if we expand our fabrication operations?
Yes, scalability is core to our builds. Starting small? It handles 10-50 jobs weekly with ease. Growing to multiple lines or sites? The architecture expands seamlessly, syncing data across locations for coordinated steel fab projects. We've scaled systems for shops doubling output in a year, adding features like cross-facility resource sharing without downtime. It's modular, so we layer in capabilities as needed—think integrating new machinery APIs. No rip-and-replace; just steady growth that matches your construction pipeline.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.