CAD/CAM in the Textile and Apparel Industry

Abstract

CAD/CAM technology is becoming increasingly apparent in the textile and apparel industries in the U.S. These applications are reviewed, and integration of CAD/CAM technology throughout the production and marketing chain is emphasized and explored. Adoption of voluntary standards of electronic data usage is central to such integration. Training of students in textiles and clothing in the importance of electronic communication, as well as in the software and hardware involved, is an important task of textile and clothing educators. Additionally, the linkages between textile and apparel production and distribution should be emphasized, and the facilitation of these linkages is suggested as an important research focus.