SMOOTH RUNNINGS BY ANDY FAIRBANKS, FAIRBANKS DENTAL LABORATORY Leave a comment

I am no guru in the slightest but wanted to share a few experiences throughout my lab life and running of a dental laboratory, in the hope it helps a few people out. This is what worked for me.

‘SMOOTHER LAB IS AN EASY LIFE’.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? it can be, and it is not hard to implement, it is keeping on track that is the tricky bit and not slipping back into old ways.

TIME SCALES, WEDDINGS, HOLIDAYS, AND ASAP!

Turnaround times are a massive issue for labs, if they let the turnaround times dictate the workflow. We had a 2 week turnaround for all work, apart from large implant cases where we asked for 3 weeks. Even a simple whitening tray was 2 weeks, or a study model. We had no express charge and nothing slipped through with less than 2 weeks, I may also add that this was plus postage times. Fair enough we had the usual suspects moaning about not having it back when they wanted, but at the end of the day they knew our terms, so it is their fault. When these cases arose, we gave then 2 choices, either we do it to our time scale or post it back and they can send it somewhere else with a quicker turnaround. Keeping in mind by the time we posted it and they sent it to another lab the overall time scale would be longer. It is your rules, they are sending you work. If they do not like your rules, they can send it somewhere else. Might sound harsh, and I probably was to many of them, but I wanted to go home at 4pm and not be rushing around for some goon who wanted a crown back in a week. Implement time scales you are comfortable with and stick to them, keep in mind you want less stress and an easier life. Do not be worried about losing clients over this, if your work is good and they are a decent human being they will understand. If not, then they are not worth your time. 

Many people may say ‘I don’t have time to phone up on every case to change the date’, well to put it bluntly that is the wrong way to look at it as you get more time back in the long run.

DELIVERY, GO GO GO!

I found using the post or a courier service was 100x better than having drivers. The main reason that at the exact time each day the work lands in the lab and all work leaves at a set time. We used to post the work back after our 2 weeks in the lab on a next day delivery. If this is then late back due to postage delays it is not your fault, it is the couriers. You posted it back on time, blame the courier service! Another thing they cannot blame you for, the proof is in the tracking number. I may also add that this saves the lab ££££s when you sit and work out the costs. Some people may dispute this, but it was true for us. By the time you have paid the drivers wages for 12 months, ran vehicles and insurances, it all adds up. With post you are not having to pick up the slack if the drivers on holiday, when the labs closed its not costing you anything, you only pay for work you are receiving or returning, and it is just one less headache. Let the courier take on that stress while you concentrate on building up the quality of the lab and making more money.

WHERE IS THIS CASE?!

Admin, I know many people do not have one or any, but it will change the way the lab runs for the better. For those of you that do not have an admin, just imagine not having to answer or make phone calls, make payments, chase payments, chasing dates and information, or booking and bagging up work. You could probably save a third of your time each day, go home early via the pub or use that time to earn more money for yourself and pay for the new admin staff. This will make the lab run smoother, make your life easier, mean you do not have to be in the lab every day and you can take holidays. Admins provide you the time and space to concentrate on your work and pass on the stress.

WORKING TO DATES!

I am not sure where people stand on this next point I am about to make, but this worked for us. I hated it when I worked in other labs and jobs were started or batched by the return date, makes no sense to me. With implementing the 2 week turnaround on all cases we just did the work in batches from the day it was received. Work came in and went straight to the plaster room for casting. The following day all these jobs went onto the next stage, we never even looked at dates or stressed as they all had ample time.  Easy life. This also meant that if a job needed something extra it was not going to run short of time, it had come straight through from day one and we had breathing space on all cases. You can just bench rest cases that get finished early before returning them. Nothing ever went back earlier than 2 weeks, even if it was finished within 2 days. With jobs coming through like this with plenty of time on it also meant that if staff were off sick or we just wanted to leave early, there were no issues and no rushing around.

When staff had holidays, the duration of their holiday would be added to our turnaround times for that period. These dates and turnarounds would be sent out to clients with as much notice as possible, yes some may moan but it is your business and you can do what you want. They have holidays! This extra time enabled the work to be distributed evenly and slower rather than everyone rushing to get more units through when others were off.

WILL IT WORK?!

Trust your materials and be comfortable using them, this will speed everything up easily. This also applies to equipment. ‘Buy cheap buy twice’ is a good quote, and a true one. Unreliable equipment or materials just add extra stress and pressure which nobody wants. Yes, you may pay more for certain materials, but the cost saved in time and stress more than covers them. Same for equipment, the cost of a reliable piece of capital equipment divided by the amount of years it is going to last, and the amount of units that can be produce is well worth the investment.

I implemented these basic strategies and they worked for me. Some will disagree but that is the way of the world, I have zero to gain from this so no point in my lying to you all. I hope it helps a few folks out or makes you consider implementing a few ideas of your own. It is not about hard work but smart work. I have said it before, if anyone wants any further info or thinks I can help please drop me a message, I do not bite.

People always go on about, ‘work/life balance’, but that is still incorrect. In my eyes its ‘life/work balance’.