An original design manufacturer, or ODM, designs and produces a product that another company sells, often under the buyer’s brand. The supplier generally contributes more of the underlying design than an build-to-print manufacturer.
How Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) works in a sourcing process
Determine which parts of the design are standard, customized or owned by another party. The buyer needs clear rights to use, modify, register and continue supplying the product.
| Area | What to record |
|---|---|
| Decision | Determine which parts of the design are standard, customized or owned by another party. The buyer needs clear rights to use, modify, register and continue supplying the product. |
| Evidence | Check design ownership, tooling, exclusivity, component lifecycle, certifications, change control, warranty and access to technical files. |
| Watch point | ODM sourcing can shorten development time, but dependence on the supplier’s platform can make switching difficult. |
What buyers should verify
Check design ownership, tooling, exclusivity, component lifecycle, certifications, change control, warranty and access to technical files.
ODM sourcing can shorten development time, but dependence on the supplier’s platform can make switching difficult.
