Two Bolton-based businesses, Bindatex and Clean Air, have signed up along with 25 Greater Manchester firms to receive funding from Made Smarter.
The scheme, based in the North West introduces small and medium-sized manufacturers to digital tools and technology to help boost productivity and growth.
Bindatex specialises in precision cutting of advanced materials for the aerospace and other manufacturing industries.
Chris Lever, managing director, said: "Support from Made Smarter will catapult our business on to a new level and enable us to compete globally.
"Our project to capture valuable data from the shop floor to find efficiencies and productivity gains is the first step on a digital journey towards an entire digital factory.
"While also ensuring that the high value manufacturing capability remains and is also further developed here in the North West of England."
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