OEM vs Aftermarket Parts for Your Waterjet Machine: A Comprehensive Decision Guide

Complex products commonly have aftermarket parts available. Aftermarket parts sellers thrive on creating “clones” of their OEM counterparts and selling them for less than the originals. Aftermarket parts work well in specific applications like automotive. But are they suitable for water jets that rely on extreme precision and stringent quality control (QC) levels to perform at their best? Let’s look at the pros and cons of each, starting with OEM.

OEM Water Jet Parts - Advantages

The advantages of OEM parts are obvious; no one knows how to make the part better than the company that engineers and manufactures it. These companies have the technical drawings, manufacturing specifications, CAD files, materials, and tooling (if required) for the original part. Here are the advantages of replacing your parts with OEM.

• Quality – OEM manufacturers tend to have higher QC standards and practices.
• Compatibility – You know the OEM part will work with your specific water jet model.
• Warranty – OEM parts typically have better warranty coverage than their OEM equivalent and exercising warranty claims should a part fail may be easier. Make sure you read your OEM’s warranty policy carefully to make sure the equipment warranty is not voided by using aftermarket parts.
• Support – The OEM knows their equipment more intimately and has all of the technical documentation for the equipment sold to you. With the OEM, you will get both the part you need and the support required to install it. Visit our MyEquipment page at Jet Edge to see how that technical support is shared with users.
• Recommended Service Intervals – The OEM often produces service schedules that recommend when service should take place. That predictive maintenance data is based on the assumption OEM parts are used and these intervals may not apply to aftermarket parts.
• Longevity and durability – The quality of materials and manufacturing precision runs higher in OEM environments, enabling the OEM part to last longer than the aftermarket offering.
• Performance consistent with the previous part – You are replacing like for like, ensuring the performance of the part and your water jet will be the same as before the part replacement.
  
  

An uncomplicated way to summarize the benefits of an OEM part is this, “No surprises.” You know it will fit and perform just like the original that came with the water jet.

OEM Water Jet Parts - Disadvantages

It’s hard to ignore the advantages of an OEM replacement part. But, the option does have its disadvantages, which include the following:

• Higher cost – This may be the most common criticism of an OEM part; they cost more because delivering the above benefits is more expensive.
• After Market parts variety –  OEMs generally recommend a narrow product offering intended to optimize their equipment performance. After Market suppliers don’t carry the same need for providing long-term support and therefore may be willing to adapt parts or equipment with less caution or concern. 

Aftermarket Water Jet Parts - Advantages

Now, it’s time to dive into the pros and cons of aftermarket parts. What sets the aftermarket option apart?

• Lower pricing –  This is generally the primary angle aftermarket companies rely on. Since aftermarket companies generally do not have the overhead OEM’s do with engineering, R&D, production, highly experienced technical support staff, etc. they can afford to accept lower margins. They may also rely on foreign sourced components in low wage countries that use lower quality materials. For more information on this, see our blog about the importance of Made in America. 
• Broad range availability –  Many aftermarket companies sell parts for a range of brands. For customers operating systems from many different OEMs, this may represent an opportunity to buy parts for all these units from a single source. 
• Variety of Options –  As aftermarket companies don’t have the same concern for ensuring compatibility and long-term support, they may be willing to sell a broader range of offerings than what the OEM has developed and tested. For adventurous customers, this may be appealing, but it also shifts the burden of testing and confirming capability onto the customer, and in the event of incompatibility or other issue, leaves the customer in a bind.  

Aftermarket Water Jet Parts - Disadvantages

Aftermarket parts do suffer from an entrenched view they are not and never will be as good as the OEM supplied product. Some of those disadvantages, include:

• Limited product offering – The aftermarket distributor can never expect to carry the full range of components the OEM can. So, they tend to focus on a narrow range of components that are easier to source, lower in cost and turn more frequently./
• Incompatibility –  Parts change over the life of an asset as products are enhanced. In the normal course, an OEM may revise parts or assemblies to maximize performance. The aftermarket supplier does not have access to the engineering documentation and will always be slow to “copy” the new designs.
• Patents –  Many OEM technologies are patented upon release. The aftermarket part must be different enough from the OEM to avoid patent infringement legal issues. As a result, when you buy an aftermarket part, you risk it not being perfectly compatible with your water jet. 
• Quality concerns – Aftermarket companies primarily rely on pricing and must find ways to reduce the cost of producing their products. Foreign sourcing, lower-quality materials, incomplete assemblies, and other corner cutting may reduce quality.
• Warranty –  Aftermarket part warranties rarely match the protection of an OEM warranty. And, for overseas aftermarket companies, exercising and receiving satisfaction on a warranty claim can be challenging. 
• Support – Let’s face it: the OEM for your water jet is not likely to offer help when you have an issue resulting from using an aftermarket part. That means you must carefully investigate your aftermarket supplier's support capabilities and reputation before buying your part.
• Longevity and durability – A lower-quality part rarely performs as long and reliably as an OEM one. That means you face more frequent maintenance and replacement, incurring costs that erode the price savings.

A Comment of Remanufactured Assemblies

Talk to Jet Edge About Your Replacement Part Needs

We encourage you to call us first whenever you need to replace a part. One of our engineers will gladly discuss your situation and needs. Together, we’ll work to ensure you have all the information necessary to choose the option that best meets your needs.

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