Outsourcing

Industry Fees Reflect Sluggish Economic Recovery

The majority of respondents to LMT's 2012 Fee Survey are delaying fee increases in the face of price-cutting competition and declining caseloads.

2012 Removables Survey: Removable Market Holding Its Own

Forty-five percent of respondents to LMT's exclusive 2012 Removable Survey rate the market as good and 35% classify it as fair. The majority say their removable business in the first half of 2012 is level or just slightly up or down compared to all of 2011. At one end of the spectrum is the 9% of...

The Future Looks . . .

>Respondents to LMT's Small Lab Survey speak out about the future of our industry. ###The Future Looks . . . Great My business has stayed strong through this terrible economy. If I made it through this, I can make it through anything. My cosmetic workload dropped off a bit during the past couple...

From the Series: Home-Based Labs

A Look Inside Ten Home-Based Laboratories: Rural Location, High-Tech Operation

Three-quarters of home-based lab owners responding to LMT's survey are "very satisfied" with their decision to work from home. In addition to the financial benefits, they appreciate the flexibility, relaxed atmosphere and their ability to balance work/home demands more easily.

Labor—Not Material Costs—is Key Factor Driving Selling Price of Chinese Crowns

Claus Dampmann, General Manager, ProLab Solutions, Inc. provides a counter viewpoint to those who have concerns about the materials being used in China.

The Future of the Small Laboratory: Grim Or Great?

The majority of respondents to LMT's Small Lab Survey are enthusiastic about the outlook for their own businesses, calling their future "good" or "great." However, their prediction for the market segment as a whole isn't quite so rosy.

Dental Laboratory Registration Bill Signed Into Law in Minnesota

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed into law a bill requiring labs to register and disclose material content and country of origin.

Positioned For Growth By Going Full Service

Eleven years after purchasing Choate Ceramic Laboratory, Co-Owners Jimmy Durham, David Fitch, CDT, and Alton Trotter, CDT, moved out of their ceramic comfort zone and into the realm of removables.

How to Stay Alive in Today's Market

3Shape Co-Founder Tais Clausen offers advice for maximizing your competitive edge and taking advantage of positive market trends.

From the Series: Faster, Smarter, Better: 36 Strategies to Boost Your Business

8 Faster, Smarter, Better Management Strategies to Boost Your Business: We Want to Hear Your Management Strategies

###Problem: I'd like to implement pre-scheduling to help make our workload more consistent; we're overwhelmed one day and slow the next. Strategy: Pre-scheduling—where the laboratory, rather than the dentist, determines the turnaround time for each case—helps ensure an even workflow,...

The Offshoring Dilemma

Reflecting on her recent trip to China, LMT Publisher Judy Fishman discusses the hot button issue of offshore manufacturing.

Lab 2 Lab: Why Outsourcing is Win-win

The shortage of skilled technicians and the abundance of new restorative systems are driving the demand for outsourcing. Subcontracting enables laboratory owners to test the market and see how a product fits into their workflow before they buy.

Offshore Outsourcing: Shopping in a Global Market

In our price-competitive, technician-deprived industry, offshore outsourcing is becoming an increasingly viable business strategy.

Outsourcing: How Did We Get Here?

The first wave of out-sourcing began two decades ago with jobs for making shoes, cheap electronics, and toys departing to developing countries. It caused a huge blow to the U.S. manufacturing sector...

10 Tips For Choosing a CAD/CAM System

Touted for its accuracy, automation and new material options, CAD/CAM technology is flourishing in the laboratory community. Dave Lesh, president of Dale Dental, offers 10 tips for choosing a CAD/CAM system.

CAD/CAM Technology: How to Maximize the Lab-to-Lab Partnership

More than 80% of laboratories offer CAD/CAM-fabricated restorations and nearly two-thirds of them outsource the understructures to another laboratory. LMT talks to these laboratory owners about how to get the most predictable, consistent results.

How to Buy CAD/CAM Scanners & Milling Systems

Nearly 50% of respondents to a recent LMT e-survey say they plan to invest in some type of cad/cam equipment within the next five years. If you're one of them, but are daunted by the options and don't know where to start, LMT's done your homework for