Properly managing a dental lab is a tough task. You need the right amount of people skills, technical knowledge, and of course, you have to be great with money and budgeting issues.
Here are seven tips to help you better manage your dental lab. Also read: How Small Labs Benefit from Using Dental Lab Software.
1. Stop Procrastinating
Admit it, you're guilty of procrastinating. You know you have so much to do today, but you just can't find the motivation to get it done.
If a task takes <2 minutes, do it now. The two-minute rule adds up.
A good way to break the habit is by following the two-minute rule. The concept is simple: If a task can be completed in two minutes, get up and do it immediately. You'll be amazed at how much you can get done.
2. Create a Schedule
In order to truly maximize your time, it's always a good idea to take a look at the week ahead and plan out a schedule.
Break down your week's tasks into deadlines and time requirements. For instance, the most pressing project needs to be completed first.
Create a shared production schedule and assign tasks in real time..
3. It's Okay to Take Breaks
Yes, it's important to come up with an efficient dental lab management style. However, part of that style needs to include personal time and breaks.
Don't be afraid to give yourself periodic breaks throughout the day. If you're working through the entire workday, the quality of your work will likely suffer.
4. Ask For Help
As an office manager, you may feel like you have to appear as if you have everything under control 24/7. While that's certainly one way to manage your office, it's okay to ask for help from time to time.
If you find yourself overwhelmed, reach out to a co-worker or manager. It's better to swallow your pride than deliver a poor product.
Furthermore, look into utilizing a dental lab customer software and production management enterprise, proven to help lighten the workload for many managers. You'll be able to effectively streamline laboratory production in a web-based process with cloud integration, regardless of the size of your lab.
5. Re-Evaluate Your Current Workflow
You know that old software you're using? It's time for an update.
A dental lab can only be as efficient as the resources its workers have. Updating your older equipment and dental lab software can make your day-to-day life easier by providing convenience and accessibility as discussed above. Standardize integrations to cut double entry for customer and business data.
6. Order Supplies in Bulk
If you're constantly running out of equipment, it's time to rethink your ordering habits.
Generally, it's a good idea to order bulk dental supplies. You'll get a better price and won't have to worry about running out.
7. Pennies Add Up
Last but not least, make sure you're eliminating as much waste as possible. Smaller costs tend to add up when you put things into perspective.
For instance, going paperless in your lab is one sure way to save on costs and benefits the environment as well.
Coordinate pickups and deliveries with barcode scanning and signatures.
Explore Lab Management Tools
Running a dental lab isn't always easy, but we hope that these tips make your workday a bit easier.
Block time, assign tasks, centralize case status, and give doctors self-serve updates. Small process tweaks, plus the right tools, keep work flowing and margins healthy.
Thousands of technicians and managers rely on Magic Touch tools to track cases, schedule work, and communicate with doctors. Book a customized overview to see how the workflow fits your lab.
FAQ
- How can I see where a case is in production? Use case tracking with live status and due dates.
- Can doctors submit cases and pay online? Yes, through the Customer Portal.
- How can drivers log deliveries and signatures? Use Route Manager to scan packages and capture signatures.
