PastorCharlie wrote:
The question is does Dell Computer manufacture their own batteries. A research will reveal that there are a limited number of batteries manufacturers and they manufacture for many other companies with their labels added...
...I often buy off brand batteries, sometimes a couple hundred at a time, for their bargain pricing.
People are often fool by what "They Want To Believe."
Answer is no, Dell does not "manufacture" their batteries.
But neither does other PC and electronic device manufacturers.
However, what Dell and other PC and electronic (or any manufacturer) manufacturers will do is something called "qualify" their parts and material suppliers.
This is done via a "QA" or Quality Assurance department.
Qualifying parts is an essential function of any business that wishes to manufacture and sell a quality product.
Manufacturers like Dell will have their design and engineering departments work up a "BOM" (Bill Of Materials) based on design parameters set by the marketing department.
Purchasing Department will now contact potential sources with the BOM specifications. Sample parts are then submitted and QA department will inspect materials to ensure they meet the require specs.
Once suppliers have been selected the parts are qualified are now approved or rejected via QA department during manufacturing life of that product.
Dell and many other manufacturers tend to track the parts used to build your device, some may be in "lots" some may be individual serial numbers. This can be very useful in the event that a hidden defect slides through the QA department and you can be contacted to have the defect corrected.
Dell is pretty topnotch for tracking their Service Numbers as they call it (Serial Numbers) and was able to react quickly to alert folks back a few years ago when it was discovered one of their battery suppliers provided them with batteries which had the potential for an internal short due to contamination..
That also was not just a "Dell" issue, it affected all laptop manufacturers and even other devices which may have used that faulty battery lot(s).
Generic aftermarket parts do not have much if any QA department let alone any means to track where the parts they made and sold went. This also means generic aftermarket manufacturers can and might use cast off or rejected, cutting room floor materials ("2nds"). So you takes your chances, toss the dice and hope you rolled a winner.
Generally, your "best" quality is OEM, but it often is more expensive and over time the OEM may discontinue replacement parts at EOL (End Of Life) and only available via third party suppliers.
Spent my last 22 yrs in a High Tech computerized electro-mechanical manufacturing company.. Was involved in cradle to grave with a lot of robotic devices my company built which had the potential to save a persons life or if it failed could kill a person(s)..
