The servitization process from OEM/ODM to OBM: The customer perspective

從顧客觀點探討製造業服務化:從OEM/ODM到OBMIf we look back at the history of Taiwan’s industry, the main characteristic of its development over the past 60 years has been the appearance of OEM / ODMs. However, due to the shrinking profits of OEM / ODMs, manufacturers are seeking new ways to transform themselves. Therefore further research into the increasingly blurred boundaries between manufacturing and services and the concept of “servitization” is essential. Some companies in Taiwan have successfully transformed from a low-profit path by following a value-added path and transforming themselves from OEM/ODM to OBM. This paper focuses on a study of three OBM companies who were once OEM/ODM manufacturers, but expanded into the role of “customer-oriented services” and explored their capability to transition between OEM/ODM and OBM. This paper uses a case study methodology and research on these three OBM companies. It will investigate two findings. Firstly, when transforming from OEM/ODM into OBM the process of servitization, is made up of four stages that represent the different roles of the end customers in the process of servitization. Roles like imitation, exploration, inspiration, and aspiration. Secondly, when transforming from OEM/ODM into OBM in the process of servitization, there are four main capabilities needed to develop; customization capability, new value proposition, organization redesign, and new trading norms. This thesis seeks to make two specific contributions to the discussion of servitization. Firstly, this research will concentrate on consumer goods, rather then capital goods like with previous literature concerning servitization and focusing less on the changes from products to “Back-end services”. Secondly, it will seek to give manufacturers with a desire to develop into an OBM company clear paths to follow. So manufacturers can adjust their own strategies to the specific situation and environment they face