Hallmark Dental Laboratory: Custom-Built Lab in Idyllic Setting

In 2019, Christian Hall, Co-Owner of Hallmark Dental Laboratory, knew something had to change. The 60-person Halifax, Nova Scotia lab had outgrown the space it had rented for 13 years. So, when a piece of land located across from a beautiful Rails-to-Trails became available, Hall realized it was an opportunity to build the lab from scratch with all the space it needed and a more streamlined layout.

For the interior design process, Hall worked with Lean Manufacturing consultants and met with technicians from each department to get their wish lists. “Each team pretended to be a case pan and figured out what layout would work best in order to limit steps and streamline our workflow,” Hall says. In addition, Hall dedicated half of the 10,000-square-foot building to the lab’s non-production areas so there is ample room for the administrative offices, two operatories, and a CE room for 30 people that features a projector with a 123" screen and tables...