Work/Tee Junction
Case Study

Tee
Junction

A custom t-shirt printing company processing thousands of orders weekly with 30 staff was drowning in paper dockets and manual order processing. We built a production management system that gave them complete visibility across their manufacturing floor.

95%
Reduced lost orders
100%
Order visibility

Project Details

client
Tee Junction
industry
Custom Apparel
location
Melbourne
duration
12 weeks
year
2019
team
2 engineers
Production Dashboard Interface
The Problem

Zero Visibility Across Production

Tee Junction handles thousands of custom print orders weekly—from single promotional tees to bulk corporate runs. Orders came in via email, phone, and their website, but once they hit the production floor, visibility disappeared.

Customer service couldn't tell customers where their order was without physically walking the floor. Orders occasionally got lost in the shuffle between printing, curing, and packing stations. Rush jobs were impossible to prioritize because no one could see the full queue.

The result? Missed deadlines, frustrated customers, and staff spending hours each day chasing status updates instead of doing their actual jobs.

The Solution

Real-Time Production Tracking

We designed and built a production management system that tracks every order from intake to dispatch—giving everyone from floor staff to customer service instant visibility.

Order Intake

All orders—whether from web, email, or phone—flow into a single system. Artwork files, quantities, and deadlines are captured upfront with clear job cards.

Stage Tracking

Floor staff tap to advance orders through stages: Art Approval → Printing → Curing → Quality Check → Packing → Dispatch. Every transition is timestamped.

Smart Notifications

Customers get automatic updates when their order ships. Staff get alerts for bottlenecks—like orders stuck at a stage too long or rush jobs that need priority.

Tech Stack

Built for Reliability

Next.js
Web Application
React
Frontend
Node.js
Backend API
PostgreSQL
Database
AWS Sydney
Infrastructure
Xero API
Invoicing Integration
Timeline

12 Weeks from Kickoff to Launch

012 weeks

Discovery

  • On-site observation of current production workflow
  • Interviews with print operators and customer service
  • Mapping of order stages from intake to dispatch
  • Integration requirements with existing systems
022 weeks

Design & Architecture

  • Production floor dashboard wireframes
  • Order tracking workflow design
  • Mobile-friendly interface for floor staff
  • API specification and database schema
036 weeks

Development

  • Order intake and management system
  • Production stage tracking with timestamps
  • Real-time dashboard for floor visibility
  • Customer notification system for order updates
042 weeks

Testing & Rollout

  • Parallel running with existing processes
  • Staff training across all departments
  • Fine-tuning based on operator feedback
  • Full production deployment
Results

Measurable Impact

The numbers tell the story. The production system delivered ROI within the first month of operation.

95%
Reduced lost orders
Near-complete order tracking
100%
Order visibility
Track any individual piece in real-time
0 → Full
Production visibility
From zero to complete oversight
8 hrs
Weekly time saved
Eliminated manual status checks
“We used to have no idea where orders were until someone physically checked. Now I can tell a customer exactly when their shirts will ship without leaving my desk. The team loves it too—no more hunting for lost orders.”
Sarah Chen
Operations Manager, Tee Junction

Facing Similar Challenges?

If lack of visibility, lost orders, or manual status tracking are costing your business time and customers, let's talk. We specialize in building software that solves operational problems.