An original equipment manufacturer (or "OEM") is a company that first manufacturers a product that is sold directly to a customer, or is used in the creation of another product and then sold. In some cases ( automobiles, for example), the term is used to distinguish the manufacturer of the product from companies that may sell accessories or parts that compete with, or support, the product sold by the OEM. Such sales of products after the original purchase is sometimes referred to as the After market. In other industries (technology, for example), OEM can refer to companies that produce products that can be re-branded, reconfigured or used as a component in another product that is then sold to the end-user. In some industries (technology, most notably), the companies that adapt and re-market such products are called value-added resellers (VAR)
See also
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