Did the mechanic tell you he replaced all the parts on your car with ‘OEM’ spares? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The acronym ‘OEM’ stands for ‘Original Equipment Manufacturer.’ An OEM provides genuine components for finished products from other companies. In the computer industry, an OEM refers to companies that purchase products and incorporate them into new products under their brand name.
Traditionally, an OEM focuses on B2B sales, while VARs target the public or other end users for sales. In the auto industry, an OEM part means an original spare from the manufacturer. For instance, if you drive a Ford, you’re using genuine Ford parts, not pirated spares from generic manufacturing brands.
An OEM is different from an ODM (original design manufacturer). ODMs focus on customizing their own products for resale by clients.
Example Usage
“Can you call the car dealer for me and ask them if they stock the OEM carbon fiber rear wing for an E40 M3? I can’t find one anywhere, and I’ve been searching for days.”
“Make sure you replace any worn components with OEM parts. I used pirate spares the other week, and it caused the entire system to meltdown.”
“I need the OEM part. The generic pirate spare won’t work. It might cost you more cash, but at least you’ll know we did a proper job.”
“I can’t afford OEM parts. They are too expensive. I find I get better value from pirate spares, and they provide the same performance as the original.”
“OEM parts are a scam. The dealers mark them up by up to 2,000%. It’s cheaper to get a pirate spare. You’ll save thousands on the costs of repairing and servicing your car.”
“The problem with buying a car direct from the dealer is that they service the vehicle with OEM parts. That’s going to cost you a fortune. Rather by used and you’ll save money.”
“We need the OEM spare for this rig if we want it to perform properly. I’ve ordered one from Taiwan, but it’s going to take three weeks to get here.”
“OEM spares are a rip-off. Why spend all that money when you can get a pirate spare that performs the same, at half the price?”
Origin
The term ‘OEM’ has unknown origins. Language experts cannot pinpoint when it first entered the English lexicon or who coined the acronym. However, some experts believe the term originates from the 1940s and the expansion of the automobile industry.
In the wake of the success of the ‘Model T’ by Ford Motor Company, car manufacturers started expanding across the globe. Along with direct car sales, spares and servicing were huge industries. By the 1950s, most vehicle manufacturers found themselves competing with ‘pirate spare’ manufacturers.
As a result, the auto industry developed the term ‘OEM’ to describe original parts produced by the manufacturing company responsible for designing the equipment.
Phrases Similar to OEM
- Genuine parts.
- Original parts.
Phrases Opposite to OEM
- Pirate parts.
- Generic parts.
What is the Correct Saying?
- OEM.
- Original Equipment Manufacturer.
Ways People May Say OEM Incorrectly
Using ‘OEM’ to describe pirate parts or parts from a non-approved manufacturer is incorrect. OEM refers to ‘Original Equipment Manufacturer,’ which doesn’t apply to spares or parts from generic manufacturers.
OEM is a well-understood term. So, most people will use the acronym in verbal conversations rather than the entire phrase.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase OEM
You can use the term ‘OEM’ when describing parts from an original manufacturer. The acronymn is common in the software and vehicle industries, describing ‘genuine parts.’
The phrase suits social and professional use. For instance, you could ask your partner to take your car to the workshop for repairs and to ensure they only use OEM parts.
Or, you could tell a work colleague you need to build a new computer using OEM parts. The term is suitable for text communications and verbal exchanges. An OEM describes the manufacturing company responsible for producing genuine parts.