Original equipment manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components which are purchased by a second company and retailed under the second company's brand name.[1][2][3][4][5] It is a form of outsourcing.
When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a replacement part made by the manufacturer of the original part.[6]
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Contradictory and confusing definitions
Confusingly, OEM may also refer to a company that purchases a component made by a second company for use in its own product,[7][8][9] for instance if company 'A Inc' purchases optical drives that will be used in its computers from company 'B Ltd', then 'company A' is the OEM.
An even more confusing, contradictory definition for OEM is a company that sells the product of the second company under its own brand name.[10][2]
Companies who follow the above practices are better termed value added resellers or resellers, respectively.
Economy of scale
The practice of utilizing OEMs relies on the original equipment manufacturer's ability to drive down the cost of production through economies of scale. It also allows the purchasing company to obtain the needed components or products without owning and operating a factory.
Automotive parts
An automobile part may carry the designation OEM if it is made by the same manufacturer and is the original part used when building and selling the product.[6] A replacement part specifically approved by the brand owner of the end product may also reasonably be referred to as OEM. The term "aftermarket" is often used for non-OEM replacement parts.[6]
Origin of term
The term OEM was used in the early 1960s by Digital Equipment Corporation and its vendors to refer to value-added resellers.[9]
Related
- Contract manufacturer
- Rebranding
- Brand management
- Golden sample
- Original design manufacturer
- Outsourcing
- Private label
- Value-added reseller
References
- ^ What is OEM? wisegeek.com
- ^ a b OEM searchitchannel.com's Definitions
- ^ Tracy Kidder ((C)1997). "The Soul of a New Machine - CHAPTER ONE- How to Make a Lot of Money- 16th paragrapgh, "companies known as original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs"". Random House Inc. ISBN 0-679-60261-5. Archived from the original on 2008-08-08. http://www.businessweek.com/chapter/kidder.htm#contents. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ Moving On The Economist, Jan 13th 2005
- ^ http://definitions.uslegal.com/o/original-equipment-manufacturer/
- ^ a b c Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Aftermarket Parts thepartsbin.com
- ^ OEM Definition helpwithpcs.com
- ^ OEM Definition answers.com
- ^ a b Ken Olsen economicadventure.com
- ^ OEM webopedia.com