NEW YORK—In today’s ultra-competitive service economy, the pressure to deliver products and services when, where and how consumers want them—the so-called “Amazon effect”—impacts all suppliers. ECPs and optical retailers are feeling the heat, and so are the labs they depend on. Owners and operators of optical laboratories are responding to this new service mandate in a variety of ways. Many have implemented modern manufacturing methods to cut turnaround time on Rx orders and reduce remakes. Some are also embracing a set of principles and procedures known in the digital tech world as “Industry 4.0.” This feature, the third in the Modern Lab series, explores some major forces affecting today’s labs, including new production and distribution strategies, the effects of automation and smart systems and new approaches to customer service. Read More.