The Competitive Advantage of Bego's SLM Services
Inside Dental Technology delivers updates on digital workflows, materials, lab techniques, and innovation in dental technology through expert articles and videos.
January 1, 2014
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2014
Page(s):
Historically, the success of a business operating in the dental laboratory space was measured by the number of employees working at the bench. The more technicians the laboratory employed, the more products it could produce and deliver, and thus the more successful the operation. However, today that benchmark of production performance criteria and consequent financial success has largely disappeared as the industry morphed over the past decade from labor-intensive production processes to more streamlined and automated digital workflows. In this new environment, the mindset of successful business owners has shifted to increasing production efficiencies without increasing labor costs, remaining flexible and nimble in a changing market, and using all available resources to meet the demand of clients. The ability of laboratories, both small and large, to partner with a quality production center can play an important role in helping them meet their business objectives.
Until recent years there was no choice for laboratories receiving prescriptions for PFMs but to wax, cast, invest, and burnout. Always at the forefront of digital automation technology, Rob Colgin, DAL Division Manager of Implant Prosthetics (Dental Arts Laboratories, Inc. is a family owned group of laboratories based in Peoria, IL), and the DAL team eagerly welcomed the opportunity to streamline their inventory process as well as control the metal waste that is inherent in conventional manufacturing processes for PFM restorations and turn the responsibility over to a trusted SLM manufacturing partner. “Over the past several years, the cost of alloy has become extremely erratic and unpredictable, affecting our inventory control and the pricing strategies that we put into place for our customers,” explains Colgin. “The ability to outsource our metal production to Bego’s SLM manufacturing center allows us to predictably provide our customers a flat fee base and noble PFM alternative, which, in turn, ensures us a competitive advantage in the market.”
Outsourcing metal coping production has also increased the laboratory’s production capacity, as the copings are returned very close to completion, and require only a small amount of labor time to finish before layering. “Freeing up time for our technicians has increased our production capacity dramatically,” says Colgin. “We now have the potential to handle three times the production volume.”
Colgin says that scheduling cases through the 350-employee group of laboratories has also been positively impacted. The entire process of scanning, designing, and submitting STL design files has streamlined production and made the process much more predictable. Also, Bego’s 48-hour turnaround for cases submitted electronically to the production center has helped eliminate the need to extend delivery dates, positively affecting customer retention.
Both Walter and Colgin agree that at it is smart business sense for any size laboratory to partner with a production service provider supplying precise SLM metal frameworks.
Disclaimer: The preceding material was provided by the manufacturer. The statements and opinions contained therein are solely those of the manufacturer and not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of Inside Dental Technology.
The BEGO Production Center for North America is a premier laboratory sourcing center for non-precious and noble Selected-Laser-Melted (SLM) substructures, as well as CAD/cast metals, IPS e.max®, and zirconia milling. As a global pioneer in SLM technology for more than 11 years, BEGO optimizes SLM framework manufacturing for dental laboratories with tested materials, proprietary file management, and manufacturing software, all supported by fast, knowledgeable, friendly service.
For more information, contact:
BEGO USA
P 800-342-2346
W www.begousa.com
