Production Workflow

Case Stages

Every case moves through a configurable set of production stages. Odento ships with a default workflow that covers most dental lab work:

1. Model preparation: Pouring models from impressions or printing from digital files
2. Design: CAD design of the restoration (crown, bridge, denture, etc.)
3. Milling / Printing: Manufacturing the physical restoration
4. Finishing: Trimming, polishing, and adjusting fit
5. Staining & Glazing: Aesthetic layering for ceramic restorations
6. Quality Check: Final inspection before dispatch (see Quality Control)
7. Dispatch: Packaging and shipping to the dentist

Technician Assignment

Assign each stage of a case to a specific technician. Odento tracks each technician's current workload so you can balance assignments and avoid bottlenecks. When you assign a technician, they receive a notification and the case appears in their personal queue.

Each technician's queue shows:

• Cases assigned to them, sorted by due date
• The specific stage they're responsible for
• Time spent so far on each case
• Any notes or instructions from the previous stage

Production Scheduling

The production board gives you a Kanban-style view of all active cases, organized by stage. Drag cases between columns to move them through the workflow. Each card shows the case type, due date, assigned technician, and a color-coded urgency indicator.

Use the board to:

• Spot bottlenecks — if cases pile up at one stage, you may need to reallocate technicians
• Prioritize rush cases by dragging them to the top of each column
• See at a glance how many cases are in each stage and who's working on what

Completion Tracking

As technicians complete their assigned stage, they mark it done and add any notes for the next stage. Odento automatically:

• Moves the case to the next stage in the workflow
• Notifies the technician assigned to the next stage
• Updates the order status visible to the dentist
• Logs the completion time for throughput analytics

Case #LAB-2025-0089
  Stage:      Milling → Finishing
  Technician: Rajesh K. → Assigned to: Priya M.
  Time in Milling: 2h 15m
  Notes: "Margin on distal of #36 needs adjustment.
          Verify fit on model before staining."

Capacity Planning

The capacity view shows your lab's throughput over time — how many cases you complete per day, average time per stage, and which stages are your slowest. Use this data to:

• Set realistic turnaround times for dentists
• Identify stages where additional technicians or equipment would help
• Plan hiring and training based on actual demand patterns