Which OEM is best....

[nmanoles3]

For products: Woods, irons, wedges, ball; I'd say titleist. However, Ping has an unmatched customer service system.

[john37]

Titleist!!!!
Ping is a close 2nd especially because they cater towards lefty

[Night train]

[quote name='nmanoles3' timestamp='1339515219' post='5075288']
For products: Woods, irons, wedges, ball; I'd say titleist. However, Ping has an unmatched customer service system.
[/quote]

I'm a huge Ping fan and love how they do business and treat their employees and customers.........but I think Callaway's customer service is still the gold standard.

[RAGING BULL]

[quote name='GooseHook' timestamp='1339512674' post='5074586']
[quote name='RAGING BULL' timestamp='1339511458' post='5074328']
[quote name='shanker128' timestamp='1339448821' post='5069344']
Whatever is found in peoples' bags is my guess. Ping players will say Ping. TM players will say TM. Titleist, Cleveland, Mizzy, etc... Too hard for people to remain objective on a topic like this, but it should be an interesting one to say the least.

That said, I'll toss my vote Ping's way.
[/quote]

I have to agree with you. Ping has a quality system(ISO Certification) that when followed, works very well. I am not a Ping fanboy but when I have ordered from them in the past, the specs were "spot on". I am currently looking at the I20 17* degree hybrid and feel very confident that the custom specs will be accurate when it arrives.
[/quote]

Based on a quick search, I found that it's not just PING. Mizuno, TMAG,and Titleist all hold ISO 9001 (quality) certiifications in some form. It goes deeper than just that, because PING assembles their clubs in the states and can exhibit greater control over the process.

[color=#0000CD]I agree with you. The U.S. is considered the gold key standard for quality assurance programs and parts of Europe as well.[/color]


[u]Maintaining that certification means[/u] you have procedures to ensure quality, and have accounted for your possible errors. It also means that you have an established process in place to correct errors once they've been identified.
[color=#0000CD]Again you are correct but it is more detailed than Corrective Action Procedures and general quality concerns/assurance. Traceability for incoming raw materials(resins, metals. etc), Lot or Batch numbers, production dates, employee training schedules, employee/assembler accountability, ordering processing/customer service accuracy, QC checkpoints during the manufacturing process, final release of goods and shipment tracking. I work in management for a medical manufacturing company that has a quality assurance plan and it can be a major pain, but very necessary to ensure quality.[/color]




[u]What it doesn't mean[/u]: there will never be errors.
[/quote]
[color=#0000CD]Yes!! There will be errors because there is a human factor that will always be present. Corrective Action Procedures will be put into play to document the mistakes and to eliminate the chances of the error repeating. Yearly internal and external quality audits are performed to make sure management has control over the company.[/color][color=#FF0000] Wow...that was too much like real work...I need to leave early and have a beer!!!!! [/color]

[ShortSticks]

P I N G

[lukesmurf59]

From driver to putter and ball, I'd say Callaway. They have the best performing total line I think. In terms of retail being closest to tour I would say Titleist but their putters are very far off so I'll say Ping.

[naths]

Titleist, 910s, 712 CBs, vokeys, scottys...etc etc....

[GooseHook]

[quote name='RAGING BULL' timestamp='1339516953' post='5075660']
[
[color=#0000CD]Yes!! There will be errors because there is a human factor that will always be present. Corrective Action Procedures will be put into play to document the mistakes and to eliminate the chances of the error repeating. Yearly internal and external quality audits are performed to make sure management has control over the company.[/color][color=#FF0000] Wow...that was too much like real work...I need to leave early and have a beer!!!!! [/color]
[/quote]

Exactly, and usually the hiccups people are speaking of are the result of assembly errors, which are done by.... humans! When the end user sees a screw up, they usually blame the whole company, not a simple error in the assembly process. Things just get missed sometimes. Ensuring batch consistency makes for a consistent product, but all processes still have their tolerances. Like everyone agrees, good customer service is the best way to correct these actions. But I can guarantee you that a company like PING is probably documenting issues with builds at a detailed level...because they have to.

The big kicker for attaining such a certification (and folks should know that sometimes it's just one facility of process that's certified, not always the entire company) is [b]control over contractors and vendors[/b]. If parts are manufactured in a foundry outside of headquarters, there need to be checks in place to account for what that 2nd party is doing. These standards have the advantage of being international, after all.

[i]And then you do your yearly management review, review said corrective actions, determine necessary changes to procedures/training, etc. [/i]
**ISO 14001 certified Lead Auditor (and Mgmt Systems auditing)**

[gxDD]

If you are judging, "classic clubs and consistency"...you'd have to go with Titleist. PING is great, but they've come out with some god awful designs over the years, where as Titleist has stayed true to classic designs that stand the test of time. In my opinion the only thing different between "Tour" Titleist equipment and "OTR" Titleist equipment has been a "T" stamp.

[Smash Factors]

This thread should be turned into a poll.

Is this possible?

[RAGING BULL]

[quote name='GooseHook' timestamp='1339540438' post='5079560']
[quote name='RAGING BULL' timestamp='1339516953' post='5075660']
[
[color=#0000CD]Yes!! There will be errors because there is a human factor that will always be present. Corrective Action Procedures will be put into play to document the mistakes and to eliminate the chances of the error repeating. Yearly internal and external quality audits are performed to make sure management has control over the company.[/color][color=#FF0000] Wow...that was too much like real work...I need to leave early and have a beer!!!!! [/color]
[/quote]

Exactly, and usually the hiccups people are speaking of are the result of assembly errors, which are done by.... humans! When the end user sees a screw up, they usually blame the whole company, not a simple error in the assembly process. Things just get missed sometimes. Ensuring batch consistency makes for a consistent product, but all processes still have their tolerances. Like everyone agrees, good customer service is the best way to correct these actions. But I can guarantee you that a company like PING is probably documenting issues with builds at a detailed level...because they have to.

The big kicker for attaining such a certification (and folks should know that sometimes it's just one facility of process that's certified, not always the entire company) is [b]control over contractors and vendors[/b]. If parts are manufactured in a foundry outside of headquarters, there need to be checks in place to account for what that 2nd party is doing. These standards have the advantage of being international, after all.

[i]And then you do your yearly management review, review said corrective actions, determine necessary changes to procedures/training, etc. [/i]
**ISO 14001 certified Lead Auditor (and Mgmt Systems auditing)**
[/quote]

Agreed. Control is the key. We have to do yearly audits for all primary/level 1 subcontractors. This includes an inspection of their facility as well as all paperwork pertaining to our products. Level 1 vendors or providers must have a quality system in place to be an approved vendor. After all, if the head falls off a new driver after a few swings, what caused it? Faulty epoxy, improper assembly, cure times, etc.. Ping, as well as other ISO certified manufacturers, have a full schedule just managing the quality system. Loads of fun!!!

[chm11]

For all 14 clubs in the bag, driver to putter, I’d have to go with Titleist, only because in my opinion their stuff is nicer to look at than PING, which would be a very close second. To me, they are the only two companies without a single weak spot in their lineups.

[HoosierHacker89]

[quote name='chm11' timestamp='1339557819' post='5081884']
For all 14 clubs in the bag, driver to putter, I’d have to go with Titleist, only because in my opinion their stuff is nicer to look at than PING, which would be a very close second. To me, they are the only two companies without a single weak spot in their lineups.
[/quote]

Agreed 100%

[BlkNGld]

For irons, Ping.

For woods/hybrids, Titleist.

Customer service, Callaway.