troubleshooting tips
Managing Stock Lenses
by Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC
Edging lenses in-house means that you must keep a sensible-for-your-practice inventory of uncut lenses in stock. Having the right number and the right mix of lenses for your patient demographics is essential. Here are some tips for more effectively managing stock lenses in your lab's inventory.
Q What's the best way to handle stock lenses and initially plan for a start-up in-house finishing lab?
A First, assess your needs. Determine where you are with lens sales and profits and where you want to be. Inventory accordingly with reference to lens materials, indices, and coatings. Power ranges are typically +2.00 to -5.00 up to -1.50 cylinder.
Create a plan, including the amount of your budget and turnaround time. Train staff on the features and benefits of an in-house finishing lab. Offer incentives to promote higher index, AR, photochromics, two pairs, etc. Upgrade your lenses. Poly is the new CR39, photochromics upgrade from clear lenses, and high index needs to be offered and put on your price list. This shows that your practice has the newest and best lens technologies, and it will also increase 1.67 sales as it is the next highest index.
Assess your results: Begin monthly at first, then every six weeks, ultimately going to a quarterly assessment. Then reassess needs by adjusting for increases or decreases of SKUs as needed, always with an ‘eye’ toward the future.
— Dave "Lenny" Lehnhausen, vice president of field sales, Shore Lens Company, Northvale, N.J.
Note: Before ordering stock lenses from any company, obtain and read the company's service agreement and return policy. Some online companies sell uncut lenses directly to consumers, advising them to "have your own optician cut and fit [the lenses] into your own frame." Others notify consumers that they sell only to ECPs.
Several companies offer nocharge inventory management, which can help you track, order, and restock inventory efficiently. Additionally, usage reports help you pinpoint fastand slow-moving stock lens inventory to adjust your buying habits. EB
| Preventing Ordering Errors |
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| Q What are some of the possible errors or glitches when ordering stock lenses and how can they be avoided? A In order to avoid stock lens ordering and fulfillment problems, it's best to use a computerized ordering system linked into a lab management software system, which is the most accurate way to order stock lenses. Next best would be faxing in your order. If faxing, make sure to write clearly and concisely. Don't write over lines or in too small a print, since that makes faxes hard to read. If you're calling in the stock lens order, be sure to speak clearly, and listen carefully to the read-back to detect and remedy any miscommunications. Our lab system uses barcoding and can track purchase orders throughout the transaction—from order-in to shipping—so there are very few errors involved. If there are no back-orders and we have the lens on the shelf, it's out today. — Kathy Baldauf, lab operations manager, Optical Dynamics Corporation, Louisville, Ky. |
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