Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) commonly refers to the company that manufactures, sells, or owns the design authority for equipment, products, or systems offered under its name. In industrial manufacturing, the OEM is often the organization whose drawings, specifications, quality requirements, and acceptance criteria flow down to suppliers.
In aerospace and other regulated supply chains, an OEM may be the customer, prime manufacturer, or product owner that reviews supplier submissions such as first article inspection records, nonconformance documentation, or production quality data. The term describes the role in the supply chain, not a specific software system or compliance status.
OEM should not be confused with a distributor, reseller, or aftermarket provider. A contract manufacturer may build parts or assemblies for an OEM, but the OEM typically controls the product requirements, branding, or design responsibility depending on the business arrangement.