IMO it is mostly guesswork anyway. I tend to trust my parts place, they know what gets the most returns or complaints and generally stock satisfactory stuff. They have a decent return policy.
OEM isn't much of a guarantee anymore. I've had some (actually a lot) of their stuff fail way quicker than the original build parts. Headlight switches as an example.
I've even gotten Spicer knockoffs. I really should have known, it just didn't look right. The U-joints and the packaging, both were a little off.
I've actually had pretty good luck with stuff made in Taiwan. My guess is they often make a better product just to compete with China. Their stuff sometimes looks clunky and a little odd but seems to last.
I buy a lot of stuff just because the supplier has a good return policy. Crown doesn't have the best name, but they do have most everything. Quadratec has mostly Crown parts with a, on again off again, crappy return policy. I buy the same stuff (Crown) from a supplier (at a slightly higher price) with a better return policy.
I've had name brand parts fail way quicker than they should have, while paying a premium price. Which kind of chaps my rear some. Modine radiators for one, either OEM or from a parts house. I can take an original build radiator and an OEM replacement and feel the weight difference. They may look identical but the OEM replacement has less copper in it (pinching penny's). Or they redesign it, use aluminum and you think because of the name brand it is a quality part, which may or may not be the outcome.
I'm a fan of junkyard parts, not because of the price saving. I enjoy the hunt and usually find some good original build parts that are generally better quality than what I sometimes get OEM at the Jeep dealers parts counter.
A lot of times simply inspecting the parts helps. You can sometimes spot junk no matter who makes it.
Many times a company starts out making good stuff, then the bean counters get involved and they start cutting corners, using inferior materials or whatever and eventually people catch on and stop buying it. It's that period between buying the "brand" that used to be good and catching on that the quality has fallen way off that makes them money. Kind of like buying the giant burger for two dollars, then they slowly cut back on the size, gradually so you won't notice and then offer a super giant burger the same size as the original giant burger for three dollars. The original giant burger may have lost them money, they eventually make it back and more. Then they do it all over again. Mostly opinion, but I'm likely pretty close to the facts. They play the consumer like a fish.
Like I said IMO it is mostly luck and guesswork. IMO it is hard to find a name brand that is consistently (for years or decades) most always good stuff.
