Original design manufacturer
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2012) |
An original design manufacturer[1] is a company that designs and manufactures a product, as specified, that is eventually rebranded by another firm for sale. Such companies allow the firm that owns or licenses the brand to produce products (either as a supplement or solely) without having to engage in the organization or running of a factory. Original design manufacturers have grown in size in recent years and, as of 2015[update], many have the scale to handle production in-house for the products that are branded by the buying firm. This is in contrast to a contract manufacturer.
This model is especially used in international trade, where a local original design manufacturer is used to produce goods for a foreign company that sees some advantage in the transaction, such as low labor-inputs, transport links or proximity to markets. Innovative and/or patented technologies developed/owned by the original design manufacturer are another cause for this product distribution model. original design manufacturer models are also used where local ownership-laws possibly prohibit direct ownership of assets by foreigners, allowing a local firm to produce for a brand company - either for the domestic market or for export.
This type of business is part of "outsourcing". For example: Compal Electronics makes notebook computers and monitors, and operates as a mass producer for numerous brand companies, assisted by low labor-costs, low-cost transport, and the near-commodity nature of the physical inputs (in Compal's case, computer components). As of 2011[update], Taiwanese original design manufacturers made ninety-four percent of all notebook computers.[2] Some companies such as Flex and Wistron are both original design manufacturers and providers of Electronics manufacturing services.
Post-2016 Nokia phones (HMD) is an example of a firm which relies on original design manufacturers. In late 2019, it switched from relying on only one original design manufacturer to multiple original design manufacturers.[3]
Big brands like Hewlett-Packard, Dell Computer, Sony Ericsson, Philips, Nokia and Motorola often approach ODMs for products that translate their ideas into marketable units. Celestica, Compal Electronics, Flex, Jabil, Pegatron and Quanta are some of the more prominent ODM players.[1]
Intellectual property
Original design manufacturers create their own intellectual property and are very proactive in patenting it. Most of their patents are filed in the US, China, and Taiwan.
See also
- White label product
- Product rebranding
- Electronics manufacturing services
- Original equipment manufacturer
- Contract manufacturer
References
- ^ a b "Demystifying the ecosystem of OEMs, ODMs, Aftermarkets and more". OEM NEWS. 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
- ^ "Global and China Laptop and Tablet PC Industry Report, 2011-2012". Retrieved 2012-09-10.
- ^ "Despite sales decline, Nokia phones business saw its 1st positive earnings (EBIT) in Q4 2019". 31 March 2020.