OEM means a factory producing goods for someone else's brand. In JAKIM's system it is categorised as a sub-contract manufacturer — one of the five applicant categories.
Two kinds of factory in one category
Certification records reveal a distinction invisible from the company name. The certificate reference shows which schemes a plant holds:
- Product scheme — the plant holds certification for products in its own name, usually under its own brands;
- Contract manufacturing scheme — the plant is certified as a contract manufacturer.
A plant holding both is a manufacturer that also owns brands. A plant holding only the contract-manufacturing scheme lists no products in its own name — it produces entirely under its clients' certificates.
Why the difference matters to you
If you are looking for a production partner, a plant holding only the contract scheme works exclusively for clients' brands — that is its business model.
A plant that also owns brands may be a competitor in the same product category. That is not a blocker, but it is worth knowing before the conversation starts.
Your certificate or theirs
A common misconception: assuming that because the factory is certified, your product is automatically certified. It is not. Your product needs its own certification. The factory's status is a precondition, not a substitute.