editor’s letter

Redo… a Four-Letter Word

Stephanie K. De Long

Redos and remakes are big issues with labs and lens manufacturers alike. And, with good reason. They cost you, them, and the consumer a lot of money. I was invited to speak on this topic to The Optical Lab Division of The Vision Council at Vision Expo West. The session focused on the results of two surveys conducted this year by The Vision Council that dealt with redos, remakes, and warranties—one survey of labs, another of ECPs. We think the results of this research are definitely worth sharing.

ECPs who participated report that they dispense an average of 220 jobs per month—of which 39 percent are single vision, 38 percent are PALs, and 15 percent are multifocals.

REASONS FOR REDOS

According to the research, the average redo rate for all practices surveyed is 7.6 percent per month. Warranty remakes and Rx errors account for nearly seven out of 10 of those redos. More specifically, results by error were reported as follows:

■ 36 percent, warranty remakes

■ 30 percent, Rx errors

■ 13 percent, measurement errors

■ 6 percent, finishing errors

■ 5 percent, surfacing errors

■ 3 percent, order errors

■ 1 percent, input errors

Of the 36 percent of remakes that ECPs report are jobs being redone on a warranty basis, more than one out of five (22 percent) are reported to be due to scratching, followed by 17 percent for failed AR and non-adapts.

It’s that time of year when everyone makes new year’s resolutions. At EB, we wish two things. One, that optical would make a collective resolution to cut down on redos. And, two, that you and yours have a healthy and prosperous new year.

Happy holidays from all of us to all of you.

Steph De Long

P.S. Look to the left for more on redos, remakes, and warranties.