Lab Management

Originally developed for storing Class II narcotics in medical settings, Zimbis smart cabinets are proving to be a valuable inventory management tool for laboratories.

Thirty years ago, you needed two things to be hired in a laboratory: a heartbeat and a pair of hands. Except for management positions, applicants went through a very informal interview and, if they answered the questions reasonably well, they were immediately placed at a bench and started to learn “over...

In LMT’s joint survey with Dental Economics, 46% of dentists say they’ve switched their primary laboratory—meaning the one they use most often—in the last five years. Here’s what leads them to end laboratory relationships and what they look for next time around. 

The...

Artistic Dental Studio's Anthony Calonico, CDT, shares his personal experience with conflict in the laboratory.

Learning and educating can be fun, and even taste good! Anthony Calonico, CDT, explains how he uses root beer floats to spark conversation among staff members at Artistic Dental Studio.

From non-traditional work schedules to wellness programs, laboratory owners are thinking outside the box to help their employees better juggle work and personal lives.

If you are supervising employees or contemplating adding employees to your staff, your success will be measured by how your employees feel about you.

Studies show that having a good boss is more important than other work factors, including income earned. Almost half of those who report their bosses are...

Given all of the talk about the commoditization of our industry, the CAL-Lab Group’s focus on maximizing profits during its 90th annual meeting in Chicago was right on point. Chaired by Jim Gorgol, CDT, the meeting attracted 774 attendees and highlighted strategies for building your bottom line,...

Magic Touch Software’s Dental Lab Case and Production Management™ (DLCPM) Enterprise system offers a full set of customer relationship management tools and lab production and case management features. A cloud-based software platform, Dental Lab CPM Net™, is also available.

With this...

ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, a group of 29 practices around the country, is planning to double its network and hire up to 70 implant technicians in the next several years.

SCORE mentor George Obst discusses seven keys to cultivating employee commitment.

SCORE Mentor George Obst talks about setting and achieving the right set of goals for your laboratory to succeed.

In the last year, MicroDental has acquired four laboratories and is actively seeking additional laboratory members. Here, MicroDental President Len Liptak details what the company is looking for and the benefits it offers.

Many years ago I attended a dental industry seminar on personnel nightmares, given by John Ness, Founder of PTC and the Productivity Training system. He described four types of potential troublemakers in organizations but I was particularly struck by the type he called “Harry.”

“Harry’s,”...

Whether you have two technicians or 20, there is perhaps no greater challenge in the laboratory than managing your staff. From morale issues to interpersonal conflicts, Lab Owner and Manager respondents to LMT’s Personnel Survey share their strategies for achieving pleasant and productive work environments.

In our industry, where the economic barriers to entry are relatively low, it’s all too common to hear stories about employees leaving a lab and then winning that lab’s customers, or worse, other staff members. Of course, from the lab owner’s perspective, the former employee didn’t...

In our Ask SCORE column, George Obst, certified SCORE mentor and retired CEO and Founding Partner of Dental Services Group, draws upon his 30 years of experience to address questions about building successful and profitable laboratories.

How can I effectively solve recurring problems? In any type of...