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The Term ‘Industrial OEM’ Explained
Industrial OEM is a term that generates some confusion if not explained clearly. It stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, but because people use the term in multiple ways, there is lingering ambiguity about the meaning. Industrial OEMs play multiple roles and are involved in the development of everything from digital signage to healthcare technology.
OEMs as Parts Producers
One role OEMs play in technology is manufacturing parts that are used in other products. For example, a company may make a Flash memory card that is used in a different company’s device. In these cases, the end device company relies on the OEM to provide the industrial grade products that they need for their applications. This may mean that the OEM provides, for example, Flash memory that can meet certain operating and storage condition requirements and that has a controlled BOM and life cycle management, so that the parts provided by the OEM won’t fail in the field. Generally, OEM parts can be purchased outside of the devices and products in which they are included.
Multiple Roles for OEMs
OEMs often do more than simply manufacture parts. In addition to this, OEMs also engineer full products or systems. In these cases, OEMs may not necessarily manufacture all of the components that they use in the product they are engineering—they may purchase parts from other manufacturers to meet the needs of their applications.
ODMs—or Original Design Manufacturers—perform the task of designing and assembling components into a finished system that is ready to be used. The finished system is then sold with another company’s name on it. This work is similar to what OEMs do, and ODMs are frequently referred to as OEMs, which causes some confusion.
Industrial OEMs
Industrial OEMs play an important role in developing and manufacturing industrial grade products. OEMs know the standards necessary for the performance of industrial applications and have specialized knowledge and engineering know-how. Industrial grade components need to be rugged enough to be used in intense operating conditions, and ensuring that each part of an industrial application can stand up to these conditions is essential for preventing data loss and system failures.
The product team at Delkin is available to work closely with engineers and OEMs on industrial grade Flash storage solutions, with a number of options for customization. If you have questions about product specifications or the ordering process, contact a team member today.
