By Brandon Erickson, CEO of North Valley Precision
When I launched North Valley Precision, I didn’t set out to build just another shop. I wanted to build a company people could trust—one where quality wasn’t a phase or a function, but the foundation. That mindset has carried us through every stage of growth, and it’s how we continue to compete (and win) in demanding, fast-paced markets.
If you’re serious about building a quality-driven organization that stands out, here’s the checklist I follow and recommend:
✅ 1. Hire for Ownership, Not Just Experience
- 🔲 Prioritize mindset over résumé—look for people who take pride in their work.
- 🔲 Seek candidates who ask thoughtful questions, not just the “right” answers.
- 🔲 Watch for signs of personal accountability: do they double-check, follow through, and raise issues unprompted?
- 🔲 Invest in less-experienced candidates who show hunger, humility, and grit.
- 🔲 Build a culture where caring is contagious—ownership sets the tone for quality.
✅ 2. Build Systems That Scale (Without Slowing You Down)
- 🔲 Eliminate tribal knowledge—document your processes early.
- 🔲 Standardize workflows with clear handoffs and checkpoints.
- 🔲 Review systems regularly to prevent stagnation.
- 🔲 Encourage the team to flag friction points and process gaps.
- 🔲 Run postmortems after mistakes—not to assign blame, but to learn fast.
- 🔲 Balance structure with speed: make the system serve the people, not vice versa.
✅ 3. Treat Training as a Strategic Advantage
- 🔲 Invest in onboarding—teach not just the what, but the why.
- 🔲 Reframe training as R&D: your people are your product.
- 🔲 Make mentorship part of the culture—pair veterans with new hires.
- 🔲 Update training materials regularly to reflect evolving standards and tools.
- 🔲 Use training to reinforce culture, not just compliance.
✅ 4. Lead from the Front—and Know When to Step Aside
- 🔲 Stay visible: walk the floor, ask questions, stay connected to the work.
- 🔲 Model the quality-first mindset—your team will follow your example.
- 🔲 Step back when needed: trust your team to execute without micromanagement.
- 🔲 Support publicly, coach privately.
- 🔲 Celebrate small wins that reflect your values—not just big outcomes.
✅ 5. Align Quality with What Clients Actually Care About
- 🔲 Connect QA efforts directly to client outcomes: speed, reliability, innovation.
- 🔲 Make it clear to your team that they’re not just protecting specs—they’re protecting reputations.
- 🔲 Use quality as a positioning tool: make it your competitive edge, not just an internal metric.
- 🔲 Build client education into your process—show them what “great” really looks like.
✅ 6. Say No to Work That Doesn’t Fit
- 🔲 Avoid deals that require compromising standards.
- 🔲 Pass on clients who don’t respect the process.
- 🔲 Price according to the value you deliver—not to undercut competitors.
- 🔲 Stick to your lane—even if it means slower growth up front.
- 🔲 Build a client base that shares your values and respects your team.
✅ 7. Play the Long Game
- 🔲 Make decisions that protect your team, not just the bottom line.
- 🔲 Prioritize consistency over volume.
- 🔲 Foster long-term partnerships, not transactional relationships.
- 🔲 Let integrity be your differentiator—clients notice.
- 🔲 Reinforce your reputation daily: through your work, your people, and your word.
Final Word
Building a QA powerhouse isn’t about volume—it’s about values. If you make quality the core of your culture, not just a line on a checklist, it becomes your brand. At North Valley Precision, we’re not done growing. But we grow with intention, knowing that how we scale is just as important as how fast.
If you’re building something of your own, start with your standards. Everything else will follow.