The Definition of Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM)

An OEM product is made according to the buyer’s product specification. For example, any product with a customized design, material, dimensions, functions or even colors can be classified as OEM.

To some, OEM means a product that is designed entirely based on the buyer specification, while others classify even the slightest modification of an existing ODM product design, as OEM.

That said, most would agree that the primary definition of an OEM product, is a product for which tooling (i.e., injection molds) must be produced before production can start.