New guide offers practical guidance for assessing needs, selecting digital tools, and implementing improvements across textile manufacturing operations.

BEDFORD, Mass., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a Manufacturing USA Institute, today released its Digital Manufacturing Playbook, a practical resource to help U.S. textile manufacturers identify opportunities for improvement and take actionable steps toward digital manufacturing. The Playbook is available for download Here.

At many textile manufacturers, production information lives in paper records and spreadsheets, equipment has limited connectivity, and critical process knowledge rests with a few experienced employees. Digital tools can help. Often, the hardest part is not the lack of tool availability, it is knowing where to start and which investments are worth making.

"We spoke with dozens of manufacturers while developing this Playbook: small businesses and larger operations, yarn spinners, fabric mills, and end-item manufacturers. Some build custom digital tools for every bottleneck they see and others still operate predominantly analog, relying on deep employee expertise," said Caitlin Knowles, Ph.D., Senior Textile Engineer and Product Group Leader at AFFOA. "Adopting digital manufacturing isn't one size fits all. We built the Playbook with many entry points, so manufacturers can find a practical path forward based on how they operate today and the challenges they want to solve."

The Playbook connects digital manufacturing concepts to everyday needs such as production visibility, quality documentation, product development, and preserving workforce knowledge. It provides guidance to help manufacturers:

• Understand their starting point by mapping current workflows, information sources, equipment, and responsibilities
• Prioritize opportunities by linking business objectives to the processes where better digital capabilities would add the most value
• Evaluate relevant tools by learning how technologies support different functions and how information best moves between them
• Plan focused implementations by setting a baseline, running a manageable pilot, and measuring results before expanding
• Support lasting adoption by planning for and implementing curated workforce skills, tailored ownership, and personalized day-to-day use alongside technology requirements

Download the Digital Manufacturing Playbook: Here

Upcoming Webinar with CESMII

AFFOA and fellow Manufacturing USA Institute CESMII will host "Your Next Move in Textiles: An Accessible Introduction to Smart Manufacturing" on November 19^th, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. The free session is a plain-language introduction to practical, affordable smart manufacturing for textile operations. Drawing on findings from AFFOA's workforce and industry needs assessment, speakers will discuss how smart manufacturing can help address an aging workforce, paper-based tracking, legacy equipment, and supply chain risk. They will also share low-cost first steps that work with existing equipment. Attendees will receive access to a free readiness self-assessment. The webinar is designed for plant managers and operations, quality, and workforce leaders at U.S. fiber, yarn, fabric, and finishing companies, especially small and mid-sized manufacturers.

Register: Here

About AFFOA

Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) is a nonprofit innovation organization and a Manufacturing USA Institute accelerating textile technology and manufacturing breakthroughs that safeguard the nation, advance industry, and improve quality of life. AFFOA fulfills its mission by (1) advancing transformative technologies, (2) connecting a dynamic domestic advanced Fabric Innovation Network, and (3) inspiring and educating the workforce of the future. Through its role as a trusted convener, engineering collaborator, and technology development partner, AFFOA brings together industry, academia, startups, and government to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of advanced fiber fabric-enabled solutions. Discover more at affoa.org.

Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, communications@affoa.org • 617-446-6738

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SOURCE AFFOA