LENS
PROCESSING Advancements in technology have allowed in-office laboratory equipment to become more compact, and have increased the number of functions that one machine can perform. And computerization has played a part as well, allowing for faster, more precise job processing. When it's time to install new lab equipment, all these improvements make choosing the right items a snap. Decisions become more complex when other variables, such as office configuration and the need for computer equipment, are considered.
To hold the brainwork to a minimum, keep the following 10 factors in mind: 1. MINIMUM SPACE. An in-office lab requires linear counter space for comfortable working conditions. Where space is at a premium, or where the pre-existing configuration of the office does not allow for this much square footage to be devoted to the lab, you can get by with as little as 10'x10', according to Jay Lake, director of technical services at Briot Edgers Inc. "Using an L-shaped countertop, 10'x10' is the minimum needed for two people working together in the lab," he says. "Be sure to factor in about a foot on either side of each piece of equipment for elbow room and to stack job trays." Bill Galindo, president of ODI, has helped squeeze labs into some pretty tight spaces, especially in areas such as New York City, where expanding the overall space the dispensary occupies isn't feasible. Galindo says the bathroom serves as a lab for more than one urban dispenser. 2. PLAN AHEAD. A common "uh-oh" is that dispensers often overlook the placement of the sink and utility lines when planning the lab. "Think about the placement of the plumbing lines and electrical outlets before you install the equipment," recommends Tony Spallacci, technical services manager for Gerber Coburn. "Make sure they're located conveniently to the equipment they will serve." John Fried, LOH Optical's director of sales and marketing, agrees. "Arrange for the installation of the proper utilities ahead of time," he says.
Don't forget to plan for the future when designing the lab, cautions Linda Little, executive vice president of WECO International. "When you build your lab and select your equipment, factor in the number of jobs you currently process as well as the number you anticipate handling in the future," she says. "If you handle more jobs later on, you may need to have more than one of a particular piece of equipment. Also, don't forget to factor in enough space for an extra tech to work in the lab." 3. WATER. The placement of the sink and other plumbing lines comes into play when choosing the kind of edger that will be used. "Whether you use fresh water or a recirculating system will depend upon local ordinances and EPA requirements," Gerber Coburn's Spallacci points out. Be sure to allow enough room for a bucket to be placed beneath a wet-cut edger that uses a recirculating system. You don't always have the luxury of placing the sink in an ideal location, but when you can choose where it goes, take into consideration the fact that the sink will dictate where the dye pot, finers, and polishers will go," recommends Stuart Watson, director of training for National Optronics. 4. GOOD WORK FLOW. "I see a lot of labs where the edger is in one place, the tint unit is next to it, then the lensometer, followed by the blocker--there's no natural flow," comments Rick Norwood, national accounts sales manager for Santinelli International. Instead, he suggests the lab equipment be placed in order of use, so that, for example, the lensometer is followed by the blocker, then the tracer, the handstone, and the groover. Watson adds, "Make sure that the job flows around so the final inspection is performed near the entrance to the dispensary. You don't want the dispensers to have to come deep into the lab when they're checking on a job," he adds. 5. LAB PROXIMITY. Part of an orderly plan involves placing the lab close to the dispensing area. "Keep the lab easily accessible," stresses Galindo. "You don't want the lab techs to have to run up and down a flight of stairs, for example." 6. SHELVE SELDOM-USED EQUIPMENT. "The 'not everyday' stuff can be placed on shelving above the edger and other day-to-day machinery, and taken down when appropriate," suggests Matt Vulich, vice president of sales at A.I.T. Industries. The lab flow will go more smoothly when jobs that need certain lens treatments, such as grooving, are grouped together for processing. The groover can be taken down and used for those jobs, then snuggle back in its hiding place until its services are needed again. 7. COMPRESSOR CONSIDERATIONS. If your lab equipment requires the use of a compressor, consider where it will be placed before installing it. Spallacci recommends you keep in mind the fact that compressors tend to get hot during use, so you may not want to stash it in a small enclosed nook. "If air compressors are overworked, condensation can form in the air lines," he cautions. "You don't want them to get wet." 8. VENTILATION. Proper ventilation is important for compressors as well as for other equipment that can generate particles in the air, according to Jay Little, vice president of sales at DAC Vision. "Make sure the air conditioning system doesn't pick up dust from the grinding system and blow it all over the building," he cautions. 9. NOISE. Compressors, edgers, and other large pieces of optical machinery can generate noise as well as dust. "The average doctor or dispenser puts the lab in a little room at the back of the office," Little notes. "There has to be extra insulation in place to protect patients from the sound. Loud noises aren't conducive to the soothing atmosphere of a doctor's or professional office," he adds. 10. IMAGE. What can add to the professional ambience of a dispensary is a window placed so that patients can observe the action taking place in the lab. "Allow-ing visual access to the lab adds a level of prestige and a technological look to the dispensary'" says LOH's Fried. He adds that this image requires the lab be kept clean and neat at all times. EB
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Article
Ten Tips for Designing an In-office Lab
Eyecare Business
May 1, 1999