Reasonable spoilage?

[kaypaula]

What would you consider to be an acceptable level of lens breakage/spoilage/not-passing-ANSI for a small lab? A one person lab that does about 100 jobs a week, that is surface and finish.
Thanks!

P

[tmorse]

2-4%.

[other_bill_fea]

I'd agree that if you get to 5% or more there's a problem somewhere. The real answer to what is 'acceptable', however, is a combination of what the customers will put up with, and how much you can afford to throw away.

[Framebender]

In the old days it used to be 2%.

[jonathan barber]

I've always thought anything less than 3% was optimal. Anything over that are either mechanical or training issues. Luckily, with persistence, both are easily fixed.

[fjpod]

Reasonable spoilage. .. Isn't that an oxymoron? Like jumbo shrimp?

The greater the level of training and experience, the less spoilage. .. but, good people cost more money. So your cost factor gets muddied. I like to keep the stress factor low.

[Craig]

I'd agree that if you get to 5% or more there's a problem somewhere. The real answer to what is 'acceptable', however, is a combination of what the customers will put up with, and how much you can afford to throw away.

Wow, I have been using Pech for 10 years and they are pickier than I am about what is acceptable! The questions are:

1-Is the RX accurate when verified and pd/s seg ht correct and not just close.
2-Are there no visible pits or scratches of any kind.
3-Does it cut out and is the finish work designed to be perfect or just acceptable to who?

The uncut account is in control of the finished product but a finished account must trust that the lab does the best job possible on some of the more difficult jobs; sounds like I just make an excuse for bad work. If folks invested in better equipment and set a standard for what all work should look like this would not even be a discussion.

We use a checklist that ensures all aspects of the finished glasses are perfect! If not we re-do and try to figure out what went wrong in the system to prevent next time,

Craig

PS- We do not get any credit for scratched lenses or RX changes; we are in control and get an extra discount to compensate us. This makes sure my system is as good as possible.