Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly changing nearly every field of work, creating both excitement and many questions. Supply chain management is no exception. Some of the most common questions we hear are:
- Will AI take over planning roles entirely?
- Can machines make judgment calls in unpredictable situations?
These questions are especially important in the complicated world of Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), where the stakes are high, parts are many, and unknowns are common.
The evolution of the planning decision
The truth is, we’re not just seeing minor improvements, we’re witnessing major change. We are standing at the edge of a fundamental shift in how planning decisions are made. And it is happening fast, also in your organisation.
In a previous post, The Evolution of the Planning Decision, we explored how decision-making in planning has slowly developed from static rule-based systems to changing, data-driven insights powered by AI. That change is driven by a simple idea: planners cannot make good decisions without understanding the context in which they work. AI adds value by processing large amounts of data and showing useful information. It makes the decision-making process faster and smarter.
But we are now entering a new phase. It is not just about having smarter tools; it is about building independent partners. AI is evolving from calculator to colleague.
From chatbots to agents: a new era of AI
The last few years have seen explosive growth in large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT that generate human-like text, answer questions and act like they are thinking. But now we are seeing the rise of AI agents, task-oriented programs that respond and act.
AI agents are different from chatbots. They are proactive and often work with others. They can be given goals like “optimise the stock level for all Category C parts for Q4” and they will work towards those goals, using ERP systems, finding vendor data, starting procurement actions and learning from outcomes.
These agents can work across time and systems, linking decisions together, working with other agents and responding to new information as it becomes available. Current pilot projects are testing AI agents that are managing parts inventories, predicting maintenance schedules, and even negotiating with suppliers; all without human intervention.
The obvious question is: Where will this end?
Context is key (and the main challenge)
In the MRO world, planning is complex because there are lots of unknowns. Today, planners depend on their judgment, or at least their best guesses, in this uncertain environment. These guesses are based on years of experience, business knowledge, personal preferences and gut feeling.
What happens if we make all this context clear and give it to an AI agent?
In theory, the MRO planner becomes redundant. In practice, we are still far from that. There are rare cases, exceptions and creative workarounds that no agent can yet copy. After all, experience does not just live in spreadsheets. It comes from impromptu conversations, past failures and instincts built over time.
My view is: AI will not replace planners entirely. At least not yet. But it will definitely make planning much more efficient.
A hybrid future: let AI handle the easy stuff
Here is a simple vision of how it could work: let AI agents handle the “easy” parts. For instance, the non-critical, cheap, fast movers, for instance. These are the parts that can be automatically forecasted, ordered and tracked by AI, freeing up planners to focus on the more complex, high-risk and costly decisions.
Imagine this:
- An AI agent tracks usage rates and delivery times.
- It predicts demand, checks vendor availability, and places an order directly.
- On the supplier side, another AI agent processes the order and confirms delivery.
No human interaction needed.
This is not sci-fi. This is starting to happen.
The result? Human planners are freed from the boring repetitive work and able to work on exceptions, strategy, supplier relationships and building resilience.
Final thought: Human + AI, not human vs AI
AI agents in MRO planning are not here to replace humans. They are here to support them. By taking away boring tasks, we create space for what really matters: managing risk, making sure systems keep running and building resilient supply chains.
The rise of AI agents is not the end of human planning. It is the beginning of smarter planning. The real question is not whether AI can replace planners.
The real question is: Are you ready to work alongside them?
