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Professional Courtesy Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director Dentaltown Magazine

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How it's Made, Live


Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD
Editorial Director,
Dentaltown Magazine
 I recently enjoyed a VIP tour of a major dental manufacturing company based in Newberg, Oregon. This company was started more than 40 years ago by Ken and Jean Austin, a husband and wife team. They began with approximately 10 employees toiling in a Quonset hut that measures a meager 500 square feet or so. The culture that they created over these last 40 years is just as marvelous as the equipment they manufacture. By now, you should have guessed the name of the company: A-dec. The origin of this name is an interesting story. Legend has it that the "A" in "A-dec" is in dispute – it stands for either "American" or the founders' surname, "Austin." The remaining letters simply stand for "dental equipment company."

The culture that I referred to is evident from the moment you arrive at their sizable campus in the country. Everyone we encountered offered a greeting and throughout the tour we were encouraged to ask questions of anyone. Any person at A-dec is ready and willing to answer questions or offer testimony to the terrific working environment that exists in this Portland suburb. The campus is understated, with multiple buildings that indicate years of steady and thoughtful growth.

A state-of-the-art system for managing a vast inventory of parts. The racks are brought to the technician automatically based on the orders entered in the computer.		 I walked from building to building where I was treated to a glimpse of each step of the A-dec manufacturing processes: small parts fabrication, tubing extrusion, the furniture shop, upholstery application and final assembly. A-dec is certified in Lean Manufacturing, a unique designation that took many years to earn, and they have become a resource to other manufacturers on the road to Lean Manufacturing. If you are not familiar with this term, it is something that Toyota has made famous; it's a buzzword for processes that eliminate wasteful steps and adhere to strict quality standards. One of the key ingredients in this process is the use of very advanced machines that can rapidly produce precision parts with minimal waste. At A-dec a new piece of technology is not brought "online" until the people replaced are reassigned within the company. A-dec will not sacrifice employees in the name of progress.

A sophisticated machine makes precise cuts to minimize wasted fabric.		 The collective values of this company are outlined in their corporate philosophy pamphlet titled, The A-dec Way. In this document the founders have outlined 15 principles of concern and six questions of test. I would like to share a couple of highlights that you can apply to your dental practice. Principle #4 Encourage Team Effort: an exchange of ideas usually brings a better decision, provide a mutually supportive and cooperative atmosphere, #7 Encourage Public Service: be a good citizen and neighbor to the public we serve, #10 Maintain Consistency: Use standard policies and procedures and preserve corporate image, #11 Dedication to Improvement: Change for needed improvement, not for change itself, appreciate and encourage improvement efforts by others. My favorite question of test: #5 Can I be proud of what we are doing?

Take some time to reflect on these important points and think about the many opportunities there are that can make your dental practice operate more "lean" while you simultaneously maintain a nurturing environment for your team. After all, if A-dec could do it with hundreds of employees during the last 40-plus years, you can certainly accomplish this with your small dental team. Have a comment to share, send me an e-mail: tom@dentaltown.com.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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