Opinions on and Experiences with Excel 2010's Evolutionary Solver method

Microsoft has augmented the existing Simplex (Linear) and Gradient (Non-linear) solver engines of the standard Solver Add-In by an Evolutionary solver engine aiming at non-smooth discontinuous problems where global optimal solutions are generally hard (or most of the time even impossible) to find with the other engines. In fact, it is one of the solvers that was previously only available through Frontline's Premium Solver product line, so I think it can be considered a generous addition to the standard solver that ships with Excel.

I haven't heard a lot about people using this new engine and guess that most solver users haven't noticed this recent additio开发者_StackOverflow社区n by Microsoft. I become aware of it here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/what-s-new-in-excel-2010-HA010369709.aspx

I would therefore like to hear about your opinions and experiences with it, also with respect to reasonable settings as it seems to take a lot more time to converge than the other methods.

I've used Evolutionary solver engine developing a MPS (master production schedule) trying to involve most aspects and get an optimal solution, I've found this:

Sometimes it gives the optimal solution, but sometimes you have to give it some kind of hints, such as moving some variables, as will, and see what happens, therefore, I wouldn't recommend it for final decisions, but give it a chance!