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RubyConf 2016 - Running Global Manufacturing on Ruby (among other things) by Lee Edwards A few miles from this convention center, Teespring prints millions of short-run custom products every year from modern direct-to-garment printers and ships them all over the world. Like most companies, Teespring's architecture is polyglot, but the core business logic is in Ruby. We'll discuss how we use large at-scale manufacturing and production systems to help anyone, anywhere turn their ideas into reality.
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In this presentation titled "Running Global Manufacturing on Ruby (among other things)", Lee Edwards, the VP of Engineering at Teespring, discusses how Ruby is integral to managing Teespring's global manufacturing processes. He begins by sharing his background in robotics and manufacturing, leading into the discussion of the manufacturing technologies used today, particularly in custom apparel production. Key points include: - **Historical Context of Screen Printing**: Edwards traces the evolution of screen printing from its origins in China to its impact on modern art, specifically mentioning artists like Warhol who utilized this technique to reproduce art en masse. - **Teespring's Business Model**: He describes Teespring as a marketplace that empowers creators to produce custom apparel without needing to understand manufacturing complexities. He shares an example of a shirt designed for Louisiana flood relief that raised significant funds. - **Manufacturing Processes**: Edwards outlines the detailed processes involved in both screen printing and digital printing, including: - Artwork separation for screen printing, where designers manually adjust designs for color separation. - The use of high-quality latex paint and the precision required in screen alignment during printing. - The technological advancements in digital printing, likening it to inkjet printing technologies and the complexity of these machines. - **Role of Ruby**: Edwards emphasizes Teespring's reliance on Ruby, particularly Rails, for developing software that supports operational processes and employee efficiency, despite the challenges posed by less-than-ideal APIs from manufacturing machines. - **Fulfillment and Order Management**: He explains how fulfillment jobs are created and managed, highlighting the campaign model Teespring employs, which draws parallels to crowdfunding models. This model influences how orders are processed, printed, and delivered, particularly in coordinating with third-party printers. - **Operational Efficiency**: The importance of constant measurement and improvement in manufacturing is underscored through the use of tools like Apollo, which monitors jobs to reduce waste and improve efficiency, tying into broader principles from lean manufacturing. The presentation concludes with a reminder that software development should be centered around people and the processes that facilitate their work. Teespring’s practices underscore a commitment to innovation in both manufacturing and employee welfare, and Edwards invites engagement from potential hires, suggesting that Teespring values collaboration and growth.
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