Editorial
by Jim Du Molin
Toyota revolutionized the auto industry with its “lean marketing” tactics that aim for streamlined efficiency in all processes. The idea is that by continuously analyzing and adjusting the manufacturing process, you can simplify your processes and make your car factory run more efficiently.
But lean marketing is hardly limited to the auto industry. Florida dentist Sami Bahri, dissatisfied with other management techniques, has spent 10 years applying lean principles to his dental practice – and the results have been impressive.
Patients spend less time in the waiting room, which has the added benefit of making them more likely to show up for their appointments. Rather than schedule multiple appointments, the practice aims to include as much treatment as possible into a single office visit. That means that if a cavity is discovered during a cleaning, the patient may get a filling that very same day.