For decades, disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) has been manufactured via a highly fragmented global supply chain. Advanced nonwoven fabrics are often produced in North America or Europe, shipped to low-cost manufacturing centers in Asia for labor-intensive garment assembly, and then transported back to end users around the world.

While this off-shoring has minimized conversion costs for many years, recent events—including COVID-19, geopolitical tensions, freight disruptions, and persistent labor shortages—have exposed its structural weaknesses. Long lead times, high inventory requirements, and dependence on…