The equipment found in most restaurant kitchens sees a lot of use each day. No matter how well you maintain your equipment, it's inevitable that something will break down at some point in the future.
You will have to make a choice between OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and generic replacement parts when repairing your faulty restaurant equipment.
Here are some simple factors that you can use to help make the decision between OEM and generic parts a little easier.
Part Rarity
It's possible for a piece of your restaurant equipment to malfunction because a relatively rare part fails. Replacing the rare part can prove challenging. It's best to go with an OEM part when you are trying to replace a rare component.
Many of the companies that produce generic restaurant equipment parts deal only with parts that commonly go out on large pieces of equipment. There may not be a generic equivalent to your part available on the market.
A repair technician will be able to coordinate with the manufacturer to source an OEM part and get your equipment working once again.
Market Availability
Anytime a piece of restaurant equipment goes down, it can cost your business a lot of money. You want to make repairs as quickly as possible so that your staff can continue to prepare all of the items offered on your restaurant's menu.
The availability of replacement parts varies based on the geographic location in which your restaurant is located. If you need repairs to be completed as quickly as possible, you will want to go with the first available replacement part you find.
This part could be OEM or generic, depending on the availability in your market.
Equipment Warranty
You should always consider whether or not the piece of equipment you need to repair is under warranty when choosing between OEM and generic replacement parts.
Most manufacturers require that repairs be completed by certified technicians using OEM parts in order to retain the integrity of the warranty. Using a generic replacement part could void the warranty and cause you to forfeit any future protection for the piece of equipment.
If the manufacturer warranty on your piece of equipment has already expired, you are free to use either OEM or generic parts during the repair process without interfering with protective coverage.
Both OEM and generic parts have a place when it comes to restaurant equipment repair. Work with your technician to determine which type of part will best meet your repair needs.
For more information about restaurant equipment repair, contact an equipment repair technician in your area.
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