Do you know the meaning of OEM? This guide will give you all of the information you need on the acronym OEM, like its definition, usage, and more!
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Kevin
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January 25, 2022
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Common Questions
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The abbreviation OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer or original equipment manufacturing, according to Investopedia. This refers to a company whose goods are used in the production and products of another company, in which the second company is referred to as the VAR or value-added reseller.
This is not the same as an aftermarket part or a replacement part, in which someone might need to buy a repair part that was not made by the original manufacturer. This refers to two companies working together, one of whom will purchase parts from other companies.
How is OEM Used in Business?
OEMs are used in many industries, including the computer, auto, and manufacturing industries.
The Computer Industry
The OEM parts for PC hardware might get sold to Dell, HP, Microsoft, Lenovo, and more in the computer industry. This might include a type of hard drive, pieces used in an operating system, motherboard, cables, adapters, graphics cards, fans, and other extras that can make their computers better.
The Auto Industry
In the auto industry, a company like Ford might buy parts or technologies from other original design manufacturers (ODM) instead of creating one on their own brand. This could include a turn-key system or other elements that make top performance parts for end customers.
While the IP (intellectual property) still lies with the original company, this can be a cost-effective strategy for many companies on both the OEM and VAR sides. Relying on another company’s expertise instead of spending years developing a product can save a company time and money in their bottom line.
Technology Companies
A tech company might decide to develop their own computer software or operating system utilities but use OEM computer processors faster than anything they could build in-house.
Manufacturing Companies
The term OEM is most common in the manufacturing industry and business sales. A new product might come to retail counterparts or retail versions and be sold as an OEM, like certain OEM software.
OEMs work in various ways when it comes to installation. For example, the OEM’s parts might have purchases shipped directly to an auto manufacturer, or they might have a separate OEM division that deals with these outside purchases from numerous companies.
What Else Can OEM Stand For?
According to The Free Dictionary, OEM has other meanings besides original equipment manufacturer. This is often the case with acronyms, since letters can represent many different words.
To figure out which acronym a person might be intending to use, you need to look at the context of the conversation. If you are in a conversation discussing manufacturing, there is a good chance it might stand for the original equipment manufacturer.
Otherwise, you might need to clarify which of the below acronyms a person means by OEM:
- Onde Electro-Magnétique (French: Electromagnetic Wave)
- Organización Editorial Mexicana (Spanish)
- Open-Ended Market
- Open-Ended Mathematics
- Oregon Emergency Management
- Orange Engineering & Machine Company, Inc.
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Oracle Enterprise Manager
- Overtime Eligible Manager
- Order Entry Module
- One-Eyed Monster (Television)
- Overseas Export Market
- Old Economy Model
- Office of Enrollment Management
- Ontology Engineering & Management
- One Europe Magazine (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe)
- Outboard Exhaust Manifold
- Operations, Engineering & Maintenance
- On-Equipment Material
- Ohio Electric Motors (est. 1917)
- Original Harley Panhead
- Office of Emergency Management
- Object Exchange Model
- Order Every Month
- Optical Equipment Manufacturer
- Optical Emission Spectroscopy
- Operating Expenses & Maintenance
- Office Emergency Management
- Operational Exposure Monitoring
- Outdoor Environment Media Ltd.
- Other Equipment Manufacturer
What Are Synonyms for the Word Original?
Power Thesaurus lists numerous words that we can use in place of the word original, which are called synonyms. These can also be used in place of OEM in certain contexts. These words have the same definition as the word original.Â
If you are trying to vary the words you use in conversation or writing, you can always say a synonym instead of repeating yourself. Make sure that you double-check the meaning of the word before using it, as some words have different connotations or nuances:
- revolutionary
- Â individual
- Â primordial
- Â unusual
- Â maverick
- Â prime
- Â radical
- Â starting
- Â unorthodox
- Â precursor
- Â ingenious
- Â early
- Â authentic
- Â initial
- Â oddball
- Â primary
- Â unique
- Â innovative
- Â innovatory
- Â native
- Â novel
- Â fundamental
- Â autochthonous
- Â pilot
- Â newfangled
- Â inventive
- Â model
- Â unprecedented
- Â resourceful
- Â individualist
- Â first
- Â aboriginal
- Â master
- Â source
- Â pioneering
- Â new
- Â primal
- Â creative
- Â archetype
- Â avant-garde
- Â genuine
- Â different
- Â pristine
- Â fertile
- Â inspired
- Â imaginative
- Â character
- Â fresh
- Â eccentric
- Â unconventional
- Â earliest
- Â nonconformist
- Â actual
- Â prototype
- Â experimental
- Â indigenous
- Â primeval
- Â primitive
- Â pattern
- Â unfamiliar
What Are Antonyms for the Word Original?
Antonyms are a fantastic way to grow your vocabulary quickly. If you know the definition of one word and learn many words that are its opposites, you now know all of the definitions for those other words, too. This list from Power Thesaurus can get you started:
- excerpted
- Â common
- Â ready-made
- Â bromidic
- Â dusty
- Â bogus
- Â amassed
- Â cliched
- Â created by machine
- Â derivative
- Â carbon copy
- Â duplication
- Â pandemic
- Â uncreative
- Â cited
- Â old
- Â duplicate
- Â ensuing
- Â drawing card
- Â decaying
- Â latest
- Â traditional
- Â automatic
- Â classical
- Â fake
- Â corny
- Â final
- Â counterfeit
- Â as old as the hills
- Â abstract
- Â canned
- Â consequent
- Â imitative
- Â antiquated
- Â copied
- Â derived
- Â unoriginal
- Â cold
- Â bought
- Â borrowed
- Â echoed
- Â all bark and no bite
- Â creation
- Â generally accepted
- Â commonplace
- Â copy
- Â counterpart
- Â culpable
Conclusion
Overall, the term OEM stands for an original equipment manufacturer. This term is often used in the manufacturing and business sales industries to refer to a company that creates equipment or software to sell as retail and to sell to other companies for implementation in their end-user products.
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