Todd Kassal of Illinois: Bringing Quantum Intelligence to CK RubberTrack’s Manufacturing Success

At first glance, CK RubberTrack in Illinois looks like any other high-output manufacturing facility—machines running in tight sequences, raw materials moving on tight schedules, and supply chains stretched across continents. But behind the scenes, Todd Kassal, Project Manager and strategic lead, is orchestrating a quiet revolution—one powered not by brute force, but by quantum computing-inspired intelligence.

Kassal has a simple vision: use next-generation tools to solve today’s most complex manufacturing problems. The twist? He’s doing it without a quantum computer.

Instead, he’s leveraging quantum-inspired algorithms—optimization models rooted in quantum physics principles but executable on conventional hardware—to drive smarter decision-making in operations, logistics, planning, and even product innovation.

A Classical Industry Meets Quantum Logic

In industries like heavy equipment and rubber manufacturing, change comes slowly. Traditional planning systems are often siloed, inflexible, and limited to historical analysis. But Kassal saw something different in quantum computing—not the futuristic dream of parallel universes, but a practical framework for tackling tangled business problems.

Quantum systems are naturally suited to navigating massive, interconnected decision trees—exactly what’s needed to optimize:

• Inventory levels amid fluctuating demand

• Supply chains facing geopolitical disruption

• Scheduling for machines and shifts under constant pressure

• Product customization without sacrificing speed

“We’re not waiting for quantum processors to mature,” Kassal explains. “We’re using quantum thinking now to improve what we can control today.”

Rethinking Demand Forecasting with Quantum Probabilities

For CK RubberTrack, demand forecasting is critical. The company produces rubber tracks for agriculture, construction, and specialized machinery, where seasonality and unpredictable order volumes create planning headaches.

Kassal introduced a quantum-enhanced forecasting model that blends historical data with dynamic variables—like global crop cycles, steel and rubber futures, regional equipment sales, and even long-range weather trends. Unlike traditional models, which provide a single estimate, Kassal’s system offers a probability curve of possible demand scenarios.

That shift allowed CK RubberTrack to:

• Reduce surplus inventory by 25%

• Improve on-time delivery by 31%

• Better align raw material purchases with expected needs

“Our team now sees uncertainty as a variable, not a threat,” Kassal says. “That’s the power of quantum-style planning.”

A Supply Chain That Thinks Like a Physicist

When it comes to sourcing materials—rubber compounds, steel reinforcements, adhesives—timing, cost, and availability are always in flux. Kassal implemented quantum-inspired optimization models that run real-time simulations of supply chain scenarios.

These systems evaluate:

• Freight costs across routes and modes

• Supplier reliability based on past delays

• Tariff and geopolitical risks

• Environmental and weather-based transportation disruptions

During a recent global shipping crunch, CK RubberTrack needed to reroute supplies from three countries on short notice. Thanks to Kassal’s system, the team found a cost-neutral alternative through Brazil and the U.S., with less than 4 hours of downtime.

“That level of responsiveness would have taken us days with spreadsheets,” Kassal notes. “Now it’s minutes.”

Manufacturing Optimization: Real-Time Scheduling Reimagined

Most factories rely on batch scheduling. But as custom orders increase and staff schedules fluctuate, rigid plans fall apart. Kassal’s answer? Quantum-style scheduling tools that compute the best production paths across millions of combinations of inputs.

The system adjusts for:

• Machine maintenance

• Employee availability

• Shift preferences

• Material readiness

• Order priority and deadlines

By running these variables through a quantum-inspired annealer, CK RubberTrack reduced production bottlenecks by 36% and increased throughput by 18%—without adding labor or machines.

“It’s about orchestrating chaos,” Kassal says. “Quantum algorithms just happen to be amazing conductors.”

A Smarter, More Informed Workforce

One of Kassal’s most important contributions wasn’t just technological—it was cultural. He made sure that the people on the shop floor understood how these systems worked, what data they were based on, and how to interact with them intuitively.

Instead of complex dashboards, workers see scenario-based prompts:

• “If we delay Track Type A, we can complete Order B and C today—approve?”

• “Expected rubber delivery is 12 hours late—reroute production?”

• “New supplier available with 6% savings but 4-day lead—switch?”

By turning complexity into clarity, Kassal made sure that technology supported human decision-making, not the other way around.

Product Development 2.0: Quantum Simulations for Materials Innovation

Now, Kassal is turning his focus toward the materials themselves. In collaboration with academic and quantum software partners, CK RubberTrack is experimenting with quantum chemical simulations to model how different rubber formulations behave under stress, heat, or moisture—before any physical prototyping is done.

That kind of foresight could:

• Cut R&D timelines in half

• Produce longer-lasting, application-specific rubber compounds

• Reduce waste in experimental development

“We want to design better tracks from the molecule up,” Kassal explains. “Quantum computing gives us a microscope powerful enough to do it.”

Leading Transformation from the Inside Out

Todd Kassal isn’t a tech evangelist parachuting into manufacturing. He’s a project manager rooted in the daily demands of the industry, building change from the ground up.

His approach is grounded in:

• Practical business outcomes

• Collaborative implementation with his team

• Choosing the right technology for the job

• Measurable ROI

The success of Kassal’s initiatives has led to internal process benchmarks that CK RubberTrack now uses across departments—from procurement to logistics to production and quality control.

The Future: Manufacturing Powered by Possibility

Kassal’s work is part of a broader movement to bring quantum intelligence to classical industries—not replacing what works, but enhancing it with tools designed to navigate complexity and uncertainty.

His results show what’s possible when leadership, vision, and cutting-edge problem-solving come together:

• A 30% improvement in resource efficiency

• Faster response to market shifts

• Stronger supplier networks

• More empowered, informed teams

• The groundwork for product breakthroughs

Final Thought

In an industry known for tradition, Todd Kassal is quietly building a new tradition—one rooted in intelligence, speed, and adaptability. Quantum computing may be the most advanced tech of our time, but in Kassal’s hands, it becomes a practical tool for better decision-making.

Whether it’s anticipating demand, rerouting supply chains, optimizing the factory floor, or modeling the next generation of rubber compounds, Kassal is proving that the future of manufacturing won’t just be automated—it will be smart, strategic, and quantum-aware.

And it’s happening right now, in Illinois, one algorithm at a time.