OEM
Build to Your Drawings

We manufacture your parts and assemblies to exact specifications with consistent quality and on-time delivery.

Get OEM Quote
ODM
From Concept
to Production

We engineer and build the right solution for your application—from concept through full-scale production.

Discuss ODM Project
ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Quality management you can trust

20+ Years Experience

Expertise across industries and applications

Advanced Manufacturing

Laser, bending, welding,
finishing & assembly

On-Time Delivery

Reliable lead times,
every time

OEM vs ODM — What's the Difference?

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing)

You Design. We Manufacture.

  • You provide drawings, BOM & specifications
  • We build to your exact requirements
  • Ideal for replacement parts, standard products, and existing designs
  • Full confidentiality & IP protection
  • Scalable from prototypes to high volume
Best for detailed, defined projects →
OEM sheet metal enclosure manufacturing
VS

ODM (Original Design Manufacturing)

We Design. You Own.

  • We help you design, engineer & optimize
  • From concept and DFM to production
  • Ideal for new product development and custom solutions
  • Design ownership transferred to you
  • End-to-end project management
Best for new ideas & complex solutions →
ODM sheet metal product development and manufacturing

Which Model Fits Your Project?

Consideration OEM (Build to Print) ODM (Design to Deliver)
You have detailed drawings ✓ Yes
Need engineering / DFM support Optional ✓ Yes
New product development ✓ Yes
You want us to improve the design Limited ✓ Yes
Design ownership You own You own
Typical lead time Shorter Longer (includes engineering)
Best for Defined, repeatable products Innovative, custom solutions
Engineers discussing OEM and ODM sheet metal product design and manufacturing
Sheet metal engineering and DFM review using CAD design software

Engineering & DFM Support

We engineer smarter solutions that are reliable, cost-effective, and built for manufacturability.

Design Review

Early feedback to improve performance and reduce manufacturing risk.

DFM Optimization

Material, process and cost optimization from the start.

Prototyping

Functional prototypes to validate form, fit and function.

Design Ownership

Full IP protection with design ownership transferred to you.

What We Manufacture

Explore More SR MFG Products

End-to-End Manufacturing Process

1
Consultation

Understand your
requirements

2
Design / DFM

Engineering &
design validation

3
Material Procurement

Sourcing quality
material

4
Fabrication

Cutting, forming,
machining

5
Welding & Assembly

Skilled welding &
mechanical assembly

6
Finishing

Surface treatment
& coating

7
Quality Inspection

In-process & final
inspection

8
Packaging & Delivery

Secure packaging &
on-time delivery

Sheet Metal Materials & Thickness Capabilities

SR MFG supports the most common sheet metal materials for OEM & ODM projects. During engineering review,
we confirm material grade, surface condition, and processable thickness to ensure performance and manufacturability.

0.3–6.0 mm Processable sheet range
6 Material Systems Cold-rolled, galvanized, stainless, aluminum, copper/brass, AHSS
JIS / EN / ASTM Cross-reference standards
Material Library Linked detailed grade pages

Material Overview & Processable Thickness Range

Material Category Common Grades Thickness (mm) Typical Parts / Applications
Cold-rolled steel SPCC / DC01 / ST12 0.4–3.2 Internal structural parts, frames, panel substrates
Galvanized steel SGCC / SECC 0.5–3.0 Cabinets, enclosures, ventilation / duct parts
High-strength steel DP / TRIP 0.8–2.0 Lightweight structures, reinforcement parts
Stainless steel SUS304 / SUS316L / SUS430 0.5–3.0 Food / medical housings, corrosion-resistant panels
Al Aluminum alloys 1060 / 5052 / 6061 / 6063 0.3–6.0 Lightweight enclosures, frames, decorative panels
Cu Copper / brass C1100 / H62 / H68 0.3–2.0 Conductive parts, busbars, decorative fittings
i

Final material selection depends on part geometry, forming method, surface finish, tolerance, and order quantity.

Explore SR MFG Material Library →

Is ODM cheaper than OEM?

Design-optimized sheet metal parts showing how ODM can reduce total manufacturing cost through DFM

Not necessarily—and assuming “ODM is cheaper” is a common misconception. You can’t compare cost in a vacuum; what matters is total cost of ownership (TCO).
Upfront cost: ODM typically includes engineering/design fees, so the initial investment can be higher than pure OEM (in an OEM model, the customer is effectively carrying the design cost on their side).
Long-term cost: The upside of ODM is that design optimization can reduce overall cost by delivering:

  • Better manufacturability (DFM): less waste and fewer rework loops
  • Shorter lead times: tighter design–process alignment improves throughput
  • Lower material cost: smarter material choices and more efficient structures
  • Fewer late-stage changes: getting it right early helps avoid costly redesigns—or even post-launch corrective actions

These benefits are widely recognized outcomes of applying DFM early in the design phase.
So ODM isn’t automatically more expensive—in many cases, it can lower the total cost and improve execution. At SR MFG, our engineers run cost and manufacturability checks during the design phase to keep the solution commercially sound—then you simply review and sign off.

FAQs OEM & ODM Sheet Metal Manufacturing

The key difference is design ownership. With OEM (build-to-print), you provide the drawings and we manufacture to spec. With ODM (design & build), we handle everything from design through production.

Speed depends on what you already have:

  • If your drawings are complete and released, OEM typically starts faster.

  • If you’re starting from scratch, ODM can be faster than designing in-house and then handing off to an OEM—because we can connect design decisions directly to manufacturing from day one.

Absolutely. We support the full path from prototype validation → low-volume pilot runs → scalable mass production.

  • Prototype stage: focus on validating design intent and process feasibility

  • Low-volume stage: lock in process parameters and key quality checkpoints

  • Production ramp: use our APS (Advanced Planning & Scheduling) approach to align capacity and lead time as volumes increase

We run this with clear stage gates so the transition stays smooth and controlled.

We support mainstream 2D and 3D formats, including DWG, DXF, STEP, IGES, STL, and more.

If you only have a 3D model or even a concept sketch, our ODM team can help convert and develop it into production-ready 2D engineering drawings, so manufacturing requirements are clear and unambiguous.

Our capability is based on common industry standards, supported by precision equipment and process controls. Typical references include:

  • Bending accuracy: ±0.1 mm (for common sheet thickness ranges)

  • Hole location accuracy: ±0.05 mm (laser cutting / punching)

  • Assembly accuracy: depends on design and process; we use fixtures and tooling to hold fit and alignment at critical interfaces

Final targets should be confirmed through engineering review based on your requirements and material behavior.

We use a standardized process to keep appearance consistent:

  1. Standard color references: Pantone or other industry-standard color charts

  2. First-article sign-off: a sample is produced before mass production for your approval of color, texture, and cosmetic criteria

  3. In-process control: batch-level checks for color and appearance, with key process parameters recorded

No—never. IP protection and commercial confidentiality are foundational at SR MFG. We sign strict NDAs with customers and enforce controls such as:

  • Physical separation: independent planning and material control by project

  • Information access control: restricted access to drawings and process documentation

  • Legal enforceability: confidentiality agreements carry legal obligations and consequences

We treat customer IP as non-negotiable and build partnerships on long-term trust.