What is an OEM? Understand Original Equipment Manufacturers

Why Footswitch Replacements Go Through OEMs 

Why Linemaster Sends Footswitch Replacements Through OEMs 

When a footswitch on licensed equipment needs to be replaced, Linemaster is required to send replacements only to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). 

This isn’t just a policy—it’s how we make sure every replacement meets the exact specs, safety requirements, and certifications of the original system it was built for.  

 

What Is an OEM? 

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. 

That’s the company that originally designed and built the full piece of equipment your footswitch is a part of. Linemaster makes the footswitch component, but the OEM decides how it needs to perform—mechanically, electrically, and even visually.  

So, when it comes time to replace that footswitch, it has to go through the OEM to ensure you’re getting the version that was made specifically for that machine.  

 

What OEMs Actually Do 

OEMs aren’t just middlemen—they design and build key components used in larger systems. Here’s how they typically operate: 

• Component Production: OEMs manufacture the critical parts used in end products. That could be anything from circuit boards and sensors to mechanical systems. 

 

• Customization: They often request specific features for their products—custom designs, colors, connectors, labeling, or branding.  

 

• Supply Chain Integration: OEMs coordinate with manufacturers like us to ensure their components arrive on time and ready for production.  

 

• Quality Assurance: OEM parts are built to meet strict standards for reliability and performance. They often go through detailed quality control before reaching the customer.  

 

• Cost Efficiency: By sourcing these parts from trusted manufacturers, OEMs cut down on production costs while focusing on their own core products.  

 

Where OEMs Show Up 

OEMs are behind the scenes in almost every industry. Here are a few examples: 

• Automotive: Engines, braking systems, and sensors are built by OEMs are integrated into vehicles by automakers.  

 

• Electronics: Phones, laptops, and appliances all contain internal components from OEMs—like memory chips, touchscreens, and processors. 

 

• Medical Devices: Surgical tools, diagnostic machines, and imaging systems rely on parts built by OEMs and regulated to meet strict healthcare standards.  

 

• Industrial Equipment: Motors, valves, and control systems built by OEMs keep manufacturing operations running safely and efficiently.  

 

 

Final Thoughts 

OEMs are a vital part of how complex products come together. When a footswitch needs to be replaced, sending it through the OEM  ensures that the new one is safe, compliant, and built to spec—just like the original. 

That’s why Linemaster doesn’t ship replacements directly. It’s about protecting the integrity of the system—and doing it the right way.