UCDP #88 – Smarter Shop Loading: Fixed Ops Capacity, Recalls & Recon w/ Dave Anderson of EvenFlow AI
In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Dave Anderson, founder and CEO of EvenFlow AI, about how smarter shop loading can help dealerships get more production from existing technician capacity while improving customer experience, recall execution, and used-car reconditioning. Dave brings a PhD in theoretical and applied mechanics plus experience applying capacity optimization at United Airlines and in healthcare. He explains why many service departments operate more like emergency rooms—unpredictable demand, stacked arrivals, and constant logjams—when the goal should be to run more like a surgery center with work staged around expected demand and available resources. The conversation dives into technician shortages, burnout, revenue optimization, and why dealers may have 20% to 30% more production available from their current teams before adding headcount. Dave also explains how service capacity should be balanced across customer-pay, warranty, and recon work, why not every used vehicle should receive the same recon priority, and how better shop loading can help dealers get the right vehicles frontline-ready faster. Zach and Dave also discuss EvenFlow’s work around recalls, including customer readiness, parts and technician readiness, business optimization, and proactive outreach. They close with advanced scheduling, dynamic customer choice, promise-time accuracy, integrations, and a rapid-fire discussion on the fixed ops KPI leaders should watch daily, why AI cannot replace dealership management judgment, and how Dave personally uses multiple AI conversations to pressure-test strategic thinking. ⏱️ Key Questions & Timestamps 00:54 – Intro: Dave Anderson, EvenFlow AI, and smarter fixed ops capacity management 01:39 – What did airline and healthcare capacity optimization teach Dave about dealership service operations? 07:08 – How did a three-hour oil change lead to the idea behind EvenFlow AI? 08:58 – How did Automotive Ventures and FM Capital become involved with EvenFlow? 10:43 – How much additional technician output can dealers unlock before adding headcount? 15:12 – How should dealers connect service capacity to recon speed, inventory turn, and front-end margin? 18:50 – How does EvenFlow approach recall readiness, capacity, parts availability, and proactive outreach? 23:47 – Which advanced scheduling capability is most underappreciated, and how can dealers optimize without hurting customer trust? 27:26 – What data is required to get started, and what should dealers expect in the first 30, 60, and 90 days? 31:03 – Rapid fire: What fixed ops KPI should every dealer principal or GM review daily? 31:30 – What dealership management problem can no amount of AI fix? 32:52 – What is Dave’s favorite AI use case in his personal life? 34:48 – How dealers can connect with Dave Anderson and EvenFlow AI 🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://www.sellyautomotive.com/podcast 📄 Read the full transcription: https://blog.sellyautomotive.com/blog/smarter-shop-loading-fixed-ops-capacity-recalls-recon
