AbstractThe computerisation of industry in China is rather limited. However, as part of the post-Mao policy of economic modernisation, the Chinese Government gives high priority to the development and diffusion of new technologies. In the textiles and garments industries, it would appear that China can expand its share of the market with a selective use of new, microelectronics-based technologies such as CAD/CAM, which enable an improvement in product quality and flexibility in responding to demand fluctuations.