Wholesale Custom Hoodies Supplier in Bangladesh for Chicago, United States | Reliable Bulk Manufacturer

Custom Hoodie Manufacturer in Bangladesh

If you’re searching for a dependable custom hoodie manufacturer in Bangladesh to support your apparel brand in Chicago, United States, Siatex Bangladesh is your trusted production partner. We specialize in manufacturing premium-quality hoodies for fashion labels, streetwear brands, retailers, wholesalers, corporate buyers, promotional apparel companies, and e-commerce businesses worldwide. With decades of experience in knit garment manufacturing, we help businesses transform creative ideas into market-ready products through reliable OEM, ODM, and private label manufacturing services.

Bangladesh has become one of the world’s leading garment manufacturing destinations thanks to its skilled workforce, advanced textile infrastructure, competitive production costs, and strong export capabilities. Buyers from Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, and other international markets increasingly choose Bangladesh for high-quality hoodie production that balances affordability with exceptional craftsmanship. At Siatex Bangladesh, we combine these industry advantages with modern manufacturing techniques, strict quality control, and transparent communication to ensure every order meets international standards.

Whether you’re launching a new streetwear collection, expanding your private label business, or sourcing wholesale hoodies for seasonal promotions, our experienced team works closely with you throughout every stage of production. From fabric selection and pattern development to sampling, bulk production, quality inspections, packaging, and worldwide shipping, we provide a seamless manufacturing experience tailored to your brand’s requirements.

Our flexible production capabilities allow us to manufacture a wide range of hoodie styles, including pullover hoodies, zip-up hoodies, oversized hoodies, heavyweight fleece hoodies, French terry hoodies, athletic hoodies, organic cotton hoodies, recycled fabric hoodies, children’s hoodies, women’s fashion hoodies, and premium streetwear collections. Every garment can be fully customized with your preferred fabric, color, fit, trim, artwork, branding, labels, and packaging.

For brands in Chicago, United States, working directly with an experienced Bangladesh hoodie manufacturer offers significant advantages. You gain access to factory-direct pricing, scalable production capacity, ethical manufacturing practices, shorter lead times, and dedicated export support—all while maintaining consistent product quality. Our team understands the expectations of international buyers and strives to build long-term partnerships based on reliability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Whether your order consists of a few hundred pieces for a new collection or large-volume production for established retail distribution, Siatex Bangladesh delivers dependable manufacturing solutions that help your business grow with confidence.

Leading Hoodie Manufacturer in Bangladesh

Siatex Bangladesh has established itself as one of the leading hoodie manufacturers serving apparel brands across global markets. Our manufacturing expertise extends beyond simple garment production—we help businesses create distinctive hoodie collections that reflect their brand identity while meeting the quality expectations of today’s consumers. By combining modern production technology, experienced technicians, premium raw materials, and rigorous quality assurance systems, we consistently deliver products that perform in competitive retail environments.

We manufacture hoodies using a wide selection of fabrics, including brushed fleece, French terry, heavyweight cotton fleece, cotton-polyester blends, organic cotton, recycled materials, and performance fabrics. Every production order is customized according to your design specifications, ensuring consistency across sizing, colors, trims, branding, and finishing details.

Whether your business targets premium fashion, casual wear, sportswear, workwear, or promotional apparel, our flexible manufacturing capabilities allow us to accommodate diverse product requirements while maintaining competitive lead times and factory-direct pricing.

✔️ Save up to 30%

Manufacturing your hoodies directly in Bangladesh can significantly reduce sourcing costs compared to many alternative production locations. Thanks to Bangladesh’s well-developed textile industry, integrated supply chain, and efficient manufacturing ecosystem, brands can often achieve substantial cost savings without sacrificing product quality.

At Siatex Bangladesh, we optimize every stage of production—from material sourcing and cutting efficiency to sewing operations and finishing processes—to maximize productivity. These operational efficiencies enable us to offer highly competitive FOB pricing while maintaining premium manufacturing standards.

Lower production costs allow brands in Chicago, United States to improve profit margins, remain competitive in their target markets, or reinvest savings into product development, marketing, and business growth.

✔️ Low MOQ

Not every business requires large production volumes. Many emerging clothing brands, online retailers, and independent designers prefer to test new designs before committing to mass production. Our low minimum order quantity (MOQ) policy provides greater flexibility, making professional manufacturing accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Whether you’re introducing your first hoodie collection or expanding an existing product line, we support smaller production runs while maintaining the same attention to quality and detail. As your business grows, we can seamlessly scale production to accommodate increasing demand without compromising consistency.

This flexibility makes Siatex Bangladesh an ideal manufacturing partner for startups, boutique fashion labels, crowdfunding campaigns, and growing international brands.

✔️ Alternative to China

Many international apparel brands are actively diversifying their supply chains to reduce sourcing risks and improve resilience. Bangladesh has emerged as one of the most reliable alternatives to traditional manufacturing hubs, offering competitive pricing, experienced garment workers, advanced production facilities, and strong export infrastructure.

Siatex Bangladesh provides a dependable sourcing solution for brands seeking greater supply chain flexibility while maintaining consistent quality standards. Our experienced export team works with customers across Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, and other global markets, ensuring smooth communication, efficient documentation, and timely shipments.

Choosing Bangladesh as your hoodie manufacturing destination allows your business to diversify sourcing, reduce dependence on a single production region, and build a more resilient global supply chain for long-term growth.

Why Our Hoodie Manufacturing Stands Out

Choosing the right manufacturing partner is about more than finding a factory with competitive pricing. It requires working with a company that understands your brand vision, consistently delivers quality, communicates clearly, and supports your business as it grows. At Siatex Bangladesh, we combine years of garment manufacturing expertise with modern production facilities and customer-focused service to help apparel brands bring premium hoodies to market efficiently and cost-effectively.

We manufacture hoodies for fashion labels, streetwear brands, sportswear companies, corporate apparel suppliers, promotional merchandise providers, retailers, wholesalers, and e-commerce businesses worldwide. Every project is managed by an experienced team that oversees product development, raw material sourcing, sampling, production planning, quality assurance, packaging, and export logistics.

Our goal is to become an extension of your sourcing team rather than simply producing garments. We believe long-term partnerships are built through transparency, consistent quality, competitive pricing, and dependable delivery schedules.

Low MOQ

Launching a new clothing brand or expanding a product line often involves uncertainty. Ordering thousands of garments before validating market demand can create unnecessary financial risk. That’s why Siatex Bangladesh offers flexible minimum order quantities designed to support businesses at every stage of growth.

Our low MOQ manufacturing model allows startups, boutique fashion labels, online sellers, influencers, and independent designers to introduce new hoodie collections with greater confidence. Instead of committing to excessive inventory, brands can test colors, graphics, fits, and seasonal collections while maintaining manageable investment levels.

As your sales increase, our production capacity scales alongside your business. Whether your next order requires hundreds or tens of thousands of hoodies, we maintain consistent quality standards across every production run.

• Ideal for startup clothing brands
• Perfect for seasonal collections
• Supports product testing before large-scale production
• Easy scaling for growing businesses
• Consistent quality across all order volumes

2–3 Weeks Lead Time

Speed is increasingly important in today’s fashion industry. Consumer trends evolve rapidly, and brands must respond quickly to remain competitive. Our streamlined production planning and experienced manufacturing team help reduce lead times while maintaining strict quality standards.

Most standard hoodie orders can be completed within approximately 2–3 weeks after sample approval and fabric availability. Our production planning team carefully schedules knitting, dyeing, cutting, sewing, finishing, inspection, and packing to minimize unnecessary delays.

For urgent projects, we work closely with customers to develop realistic production schedules and recommend the most efficient manufacturing solutions based on available materials and production capacity.

Fast production enables brands in Chicago, United States to replenish inventory, launch seasonal collections, respond to market demand, and reduce stock shortages without sacrificing quality.

Customizable Options & Colors

Every successful clothing brand has its own identity. Our fully customized manufacturing service ensures your hoodies reflect your unique vision rather than relying on standard catalog products. From fabric construction to finishing details, nearly every element can be tailored to your specifications.

We offer a wide selection of premium fabrics suitable for different climates, customer preferences, and retail price points.

• 100% Cotton
• Organic Cotton
• Recycled Cotton
• Cotton Polyester Blends
• French Terry
• Brushed Fleece
• Heavyweight Fleece
• Lightweight Jersey
• Performance Knit Fabrics

Fabric weights can be customized according to your collection requirements, including lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight options ranging from approximately 240 GSM to over 450 GSM.

We also provide extensive customization for garment construction and finishing.

• Pullover hoodies
• Zip-up hoodies
• Oversized fits
• Relaxed fits
• Athletic fits
• Drop shoulder designs
• Raglan sleeves
• Kangaroo pockets
• Side pockets
• Metal or plastic zippers
• Custom drawcords
• Metal eyelets
• Rib cuffs and waistbands

Branding options include:

• Screen Printing
• High-density Printing
• Puff Printing
• Silicone Printing
• Heat Transfer Printing
• Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
• Embroidery
• Chenille Embroidery
• Woven Labels
• Printed Neck Labels
• Care Labels
• Hang Tags
• Custom Packaging

With thousands of Pantone color possibilities, garment washing techniques, and finishing options available, we help brands create distinctive hoodie collections that stand out in competitive retail markets.

Flexible Logistics Solutions

Reliable logistics are just as important as quality manufacturing. Our experienced export team coordinates shipments to customers worldwide using the transportation method that best matches your budget, timeline, and destination.

We support multiple international shipping terms, including:

• FOB (Free on Board)
• CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight)
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid, where available)
• EXW (Ex Works)

Depending on order size and delivery urgency, shipments can be arranged through:

• Sea Freight
• Air Freight
• Courier Services
• Consolidated Shipments

Our logistics team manages export documentation, commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates where applicable, customs documentation, and shipment tracking to ensure a smooth delivery process for customers in United States.

Whether you import containers regularly or are sourcing from Bangladesh for the first time, our specialists guide you through each stage of the shipping process, helping minimize delays and simplify international procurement.

Why Bangladesh?

Bangladesh has established itself as one of the world’s largest and most respected apparel manufacturing hubs. The country’s garment industry supplies millions of high-quality products to internationally recognized fashion brands, retailers, wholesalers, and private label companies across Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East.

The success of Bangladesh’s apparel sector is built on decades of manufacturing expertise, a highly skilled workforce, advanced textile infrastructure, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement. Buyers benefit from competitive production costs without compromising quality, making Bangladesh an attractive sourcing destination for businesses seeking reliable long-term manufacturing partners.

One of Bangladesh’s greatest strengths is its vertically integrated textile ecosystem. From yarn spinning and fabric knitting to dyeing, finishing, garment assembly, printing, embroidery, washing, and packaging, many production processes are completed within the country. This integrated supply chain helps reduce production timelines, improve quality control, and simplify sourcing management.

Bangladesh is particularly recognized for its expertise in knitwear manufacturing. Hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers, T-shirts, polo shirts, and other knitted garments are produced using modern machinery operated by experienced technicians who understand international quality expectations.

Another key advantage is the country’s highly trained workforce. Millions of professionals contribute to the garment industry, bringing specialized skills in pattern making, cutting, sewing, embroidery, printing, quality inspection, finishing, and production management. Continuous investment in workforce development has helped Bangladesh become a trusted supplier for global apparel brands.

International buyers also appreciate Bangladesh’s commitment to responsible manufacturing. Many export-oriented factories invest heavily in workplace safety, environmental improvements, social compliance, and internationally recognized management systems. Buyers seeking ethical sourcing partners can work with manufacturers that align with their specific compliance and sustainability requirements.

Bangladesh’s strategic geographic location and well-developed export infrastructure support efficient shipping to major international markets. Manufacturers routinely export garments to the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and numerous other countries, making global logistics a routine part of daily operations.

For brands in Chicago, United States, sourcing hoodies from Bangladesh offers an excellent balance of affordability, production capacity, technical expertise, product quality, and dependable export experience. Whether you’re launching a new fashion label or expanding an established apparel business, Bangladesh provides the manufacturing capabilities needed to support sustainable growth in competitive global markets.

The Siatex Bangladesh Factory: A Testament to Excellence in Knit Manufacturing

Siatex Bangladesh has earned the trust of international apparel brands by consistently delivering high-quality knitwear backed by professional manufacturing practices, skilled craftsmanship, and reliable customer service. Our factory is equipped to manufacture a diverse range of knitted garments, including premium hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers, T-shirts, polo shirts, and other casual wear for brands across Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East, and beyond.

Our manufacturing philosophy centers on producing garments that meet our customers’ technical specifications while maintaining consistency in quality, fit, color, and finishing. Every production order follows carefully planned workflows that help maximize efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure on-time delivery without compromising workmanship.

We continuously invest in modern machinery, production planning systems, and employee training to improve productivity and maintain the high standards expected by international buyers. By combining experienced personnel with advanced manufacturing technology, we are able to support both small private label collections and large-volume wholesale orders.

Our integrated manufacturing capabilities enable us to oversee every stage of hoodie production with close attention to detail. This coordinated approach minimizes production delays, improves quality control, and provides customers with greater confidence throughout the manufacturing process.

Modern Knitting & Fabric Development

Quality hoodies begin with quality fabric. We source and develop knit fabrics that meet each customer’s desired weight, texture, durability, and performance requirements. Our fabric options include single jersey, French terry, brushed fleece, heavyweight fleece, interlock, rib fabrics, organic cotton blends, recycled fibers, and cotton-polyester constructions.

Fabric selection is based on the intended end use, ensuring every hoodie delivers the desired balance of comfort, durability, breathability, and appearance.

Precision Cutting & Skilled Sewing

Accurate cutting is essential for achieving consistent garment sizing and minimizing fabric waste. Production patterns are carefully prepared before cutting begins, ensuring each component aligns with approved specifications.

Our experienced sewing operators assemble hoodies using standardized construction methods and established quality checkpoints. Every garment is produced with careful attention to seam strength, stitch consistency, fit accuracy, and overall appearance.

Quality Control at Every Stage

Quality assurance is integrated throughout the manufacturing process rather than being limited to final inspection. Incoming materials are checked before production, garments are monitored during sewing, and finished products undergo comprehensive inspections before packing.

Our quality team evaluates measurements, stitching quality, print placement, embroidery accuracy, fabric appearance, labeling, accessories, packaging, and overall workmanship to ensure products meet agreed specifications.

Finishing & Packaging

After final inspection, garments are pressed, folded, tagged, packed, and prepared according to customer instructions. We offer customized retail-ready packaging solutions, including branded polybags, barcode stickers, size stickers, custom cartons, and hangtag applications to simplify distribution upon arrival.

Continuous Improvement

We believe manufacturing excellence is an ongoing process. Through regular process evaluation, employee training, production monitoring, and customer feedback, we continuously improve our operations to deliver greater efficiency, product consistency, and customer satisfaction.

Our Manufacturing Process

We have developed a straightforward manufacturing process that keeps customers informed from the initial inquiry through final delivery. Every project is managed by experienced professionals who coordinate production activities, monitor progress, and ensure your requirements are accurately implemented throughout manufacturing.

#1. Request a Quote

Your manufacturing journey begins with a consultation. Simply share your hoodie design, technical specifications, reference images, tech pack, fabric preferences, estimated quantities, target pricing, and delivery requirements.

Our merchandising team carefully reviews your project and provides a detailed quotation based on your product specifications. During this stage, we also discuss recommended fabrics, trims, decoration techniques, packaging options, production timelines, and shipping methods to help you make informed sourcing decisions.

Clear communication during the quotation phase helps establish realistic expectations and ensures a smooth transition into product development.

#2. Sampling

Sampling plays an essential role in successful apparel manufacturing. Before bulk production begins, we prepare samples for review and approval, allowing customers to evaluate fit, construction, fabric quality, color, and branding details.

Depending on project requirements, the sampling process may include:

• Development Samples
• Prototype Samples
• Fit Samples
• Size Set Samples
• Pre-Production (PP) Samples
• Lab Dips for Color Approval
• Print & Embroidery Strike-Offs

Customer feedback is incorporated before production proceeds, helping reduce costly revisions during manufacturing.

#3. Quality Production

Once samples receive final approval, bulk production begins according to an organized manufacturing schedule. Every production stage is monitored by experienced supervisors and quality inspectors to maintain consistency across the entire order.

Our production workflow generally includes:

• Raw material inspection
• Fabric quality verification
• Fabric relaxation
• Pattern preparation
• Precision cutting
• Sewing line inspections
• Inline quality checks
• Printing and embroidery verification
• Measurement inspections
• Final quality inspection
• Packing approval

Inspection procedures are performed using internationally recognized quality control practices, with final evaluations conducted according to mutually agreed quality requirements before shipment.

#4. Logistics & Delivery

After production is completed and quality inspections have been finalized, our logistics team coordinates export preparation and shipment scheduling. We work with experienced freight partners to deliver orders safely and efficiently to customers around the world.

Our export support includes:

• Commercial invoices
• Packing lists
• Shipping documentation
• Export documentation
• Container loading coordination
• Freight booking
• Shipment tracking assistance
• Customer communication throughout transit

Whether your order ships by sea, air freight, or courier, we strive to ensure a smooth logistics experience from our factory in Bangladesh to your warehouse in United States.

Facilitating Your Move

Finding the right manufacturing partner should simplify your sourcing process rather than complicate it. At Siatex Bangladesh, we provide comprehensive apparel manufacturing services that allow brands to focus on product development, marketing, and business growth while we manage production with professionalism and transparency.

From initial concept discussions to final shipment, our dedicated team supports customers throughout every stage of the manufacturing journey. We believe successful partnerships are built through clear communication, dependable execution, and long-term collaboration.

Apparel

In addition to custom hoodies, we manufacture a wide variety of knitted garments for fashion brands and private label businesses. Our product range includes sweatshirts, T-shirts, polo shirts, joggers, shorts, leggings, children’s apparel, sportswear, workwear, promotional garments, and casual fashion collections.

Working with a single manufacturing partner for multiple product categories can simplify sourcing, improve consistency, and reduce overall procurement complexity.

Fully Certified & Best Safety Standards

Many international buyers require manufacturing partners that operate in accordance with recognized quality, social responsibility, and product safety standards. Siatex Bangladesh supports customers by working in line with buyer requirements and applicable industry expectations.

Depending on project needs and factory arrangements, buyers may request production aligned with standards or programs such as:

• BSCI
• SEDEX
• WRAP
• OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 (for applicable materials)
• ISO management systems
• Better Cotton sourcing programs
• Organic cotton options where available

Note: Certifications and compliance programs should always be confirmed based on the specific production facility and order requirements.

100% Replacement Commitment for Manufacturing Defects

Customer satisfaction is central to our business philosophy. If a verified manufacturing defect attributable to our production process is identified and agreed upon under the terms of the purchase agreement, we work promptly with our customers to determine an appropriate corrective solution, which may include replacement or other mutually agreed remedies.

Our objective is to build long-term relationships based on trust, accountability, and responsive customer service rather than simply completing individual orders.

Custom Private Label Hoodie Manufacturing

Building a successful clothing brand requires more than high-quality garments—it requires products that reflect your unique identity. At Siatex Bangladesh, we offer comprehensive private label hoodie manufacturing services that enable brands in Chicago, United States to launch collections with complete creative control. Whether you’re introducing your first streetwear line or expanding an established apparel business, our team works closely with you to create hoodies that align with your brand vision and target market.

Our private label manufacturing service covers every detail of your product, from fabric selection and garment construction to branding, packaging, and retail presentation. We manufacture hoodies exclusively according to your specifications, ensuring consistency across every production run while helping your products stand out in competitive retail environments.

We understand that every brand has different positioning, customer preferences, and pricing strategies. That’s why we provide flexible manufacturing solutions that accommodate startups, growing fashion labels, established retailers, promotional merchandise companies, and global apparel brands.

Complete Private Label Solutions

Our experienced product development team can assist with a wide range of customization options, including:

• Custom woven neck labels
• Printed neck labels
• Heat transfer labels
• Care labels with multilingual instructions
• Custom size labels
• Branded woven patches
• Rubber and silicone logo patches
• Embroidered logos
• Screen printed graphics
• Puff print and high-density print
• DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing
• Heat transfer printing
• Custom hangtags
• Branded polybags
• Barcode labels
• UPC and QR code stickers
• Custom carton markings
• Retail-ready packaging

Our goal is to ensure your hoodies arrive ready for retail shelves, online fulfillment, or direct distribution without requiring additional processing.

Design Support & Product Development

If you already have detailed tech packs and production specifications, our merchandising team can efficiently prepare your project for sampling and production. If you’re still developing your collection, we can provide guidance on fabric selection, construction methods, decoration techniques, sizing, trims, and finishing options to help transform your ideas into production-ready garments.

From heavyweight fleece streetwear hoodies to lightweight promotional sweatshirts, every product is manufactured according to your requirements while maintaining the quality standards expected by today’s consumers.

Work with Asia’s Leading Hoodie Manufacturer in Bangladesh

Choosing the right manufacturing partner can significantly influence your brand’s long-term success. At Siatex Bangladesh, we combine manufacturing expertise, competitive pricing, dependable communication, and customer-focused service to help brands confidently source premium-quality hoodies from Bangladesh.

Our team has extensive experience working with international buyers across a wide range of industries, including fashion, sportswear, workwear, promotional apparel, corporate clothing, school uniforms, and private label retail collections. Whether you require a limited production run for a startup or large-scale manufacturing for established retail distribution, we have the capabilities to support your business growth.

Every project is managed with careful attention to quality, scheduling, and customer communication. We believe transparency, responsiveness, and consistency are the foundation of successful manufacturing partnerships.

When you partner with Siatex Bangladesh, you benefit from:

• Factory-direct wholesale pricing
• OEM and ODM manufacturing services
• Complete private label solutions
• Low minimum order quantities
• Premium fabric sourcing
• Fast product sampling
• Efficient production scheduling
• Comprehensive quality inspections
• Experienced export documentation support
• Worldwide shipping solutions
• Responsive customer service
• Long-term manufacturing partnership

Our mission is not simply to manufacture garments—we strive to become a reliable extension of your sourcing and product development team. By understanding your objectives and maintaining open communication throughout production, we help reduce sourcing challenges and deliver products that support your business success.

If your business in Chicago, United States is looking for a dependable custom hoodie manufacturer in Bangladesh, Siatex Bangladesh is ready to help bring your next collection to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ) for custom hoodies?

Our MOQ depends on the hoodie style, fabric, and customization requirements. We offer flexible order quantities to support startups as well as established apparel brands.

2. Can you manufacture hoodies using my own design?

Yes. We manufacture hoodies according to your artwork, tech pack, measurements, fabric specifications, branding, and packaging requirements.

3. Do you provide OEM and ODM hoodie manufacturing?

Yes. We offer both OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) and ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) services depending on your project requirements.

4. Can I create my own private label hoodie brand?

Absolutely. We provide complete private label solutions, including custom labels, hangtags, packaging, printing, embroidery, and retail-ready finishing.

5. What fabrics are available for hoodie manufacturing?

We offer cotton, organic cotton, recycled cotton, cotton-polyester blends, French terry, brushed fleece, heavyweight fleece, performance knits, and other fabrics based on your specifications.

6. What printing and decoration methods do you offer?

Available decoration options include screen printing, puff printing, silicone printing, DTG printing, embroidery, chenille embroidery, heat transfer printing, and woven patches.

7. Can you export hoodies to United States?

Yes. We export garments to customers worldwide and provide documentation and logistics support for international shipments.

8. How long does production usually take?

Production lead times depend on order quantity, fabric availability, and customization requirements. Standard orders are typically completed within a few weeks after sample approval.

9. Do you provide samples before bulk production?

Yes. We recommend approving production samples before bulk manufacturing to verify fit, construction, colors, and branding.

10. Can you manufacture sustainable hoodies?

Yes. Depending on availability and project requirements, we can source organic cotton, recycled materials, and other environmentally conscious fabric options.

11. How is product quality controlled?

Quality inspections are performed throughout production, including raw material checks, inline inspections, measurement verification, and final quality assessments before shipment.

12. How do I get started?

Simply contact our team with your design files, product specifications, estimated quantities, and delivery destination. We’ll prepare a quotation and guide you through the sampling and production process.