Sourcing glossary
OEM
Also known as: Original Equipment Manufacturing, Original Equipment Manufacturer
A manufacturing model in which the factory produces a product to the buyer's own design and specifications, usually sold under the buyer's brand.
In China sourcing, OEM means you bring the drawings, tech pack or prototype and the factory builds it. It usually involves new tooling, higher MOQs and longer lead times than ODM, but you can own the design and moulds — provided your contract says so.
Compare it with ODM in OEM vs ODM.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Suppliers
How to Write an RFQ Chinese Suppliers Will Actually Answer
What to put in a request for quotation so a Chinese supplier can price it: the fields, the specs by category, a copy-paste template and a WhatsApp first message.
Updated 2026-10-19 · 7 min read
Compliance
Buying Branded Goods from China: Counterfeits, Trademarks and Customs
Why Chinese sellers offer 1:1 replicas, what customs does with counterfeit imports in the US, EU and South Africa, and the legal ways to sell branded or own-brand goods.
Updated 2026-10-19 · 8 min read
Fairs
How to Plan a China Sourcing Trip: Cities, Itinerary, Visas
Plan a 5–7 day China sourcing trip: cities by product, a sample Guangzhou and Yiwu itinerary, visa-free entry rules, mobile payments and a factory checklist.
Updated 2026-09-26 · 6 min read
Private label
Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels
How to order custom packaging from China: poly bags, colour boxes, mailers and inserts, printing methods, MOQs, dielines, barcodes and origin marking.
Updated 2026-09-24 · 5 min read
Suppliers
China Manufacturing Hubs: Which City Makes What (Cluster Map)
A verified map of China's industrial clusters by product: where toys, socks, shoes, eyewear lenses, appliances, ceramics, furniture and hardware are made.
Updated 2026-09-14 · 6 min read
Platforms
1688 vs Alibaba vs Taobao: Which Platform Should You Buy From?
1688, Alibaba.com and Taobao compared for overseas buyers: who each serves, language, MOQ, prices, payment, buyer protection and shipping abroad.
Updated 2026-09-09 · 5 min read
Part of OEM & Private Label.