PR in the Philippines

Appleton, Wisconsin – June 26, 2025 – Brandon Erickson, founder of 7 Innovations LLC and CEO of North Valley Precision, is advocating for heightened attention to operational infrastructure within the startup and small-to-medium business (SMB) sectors. His clear message is that entrepreneurs should regard internal systems—especially those concerning operations, quality assurance, and data accuracy—as essential assets, not secondary considerations.

“While excitement often centers on the product or pitch,” Erickson states, “lacking a well-defined process for daily business operations—particularly in quality control or order fulfillment—can lead to stalled momentum and render growth unsustainable.”

Drawing on more than 15 years of executive and consulting roles spanning manufacturing, biotech, and e-commerce, Erickson has managed quality operations linked to over $3 billion in safeguarded manufacturing assets, engaged in significant mergers and acquisitions assessments, and generated close to $50 million in online revenue. A consistent observation he makes is that inadequate systems are a silent impediment to success.

Erickson recounts, “I was involved in a biotech acquisition that appeared robust initially. However, our audit of their quality assurance protocols revealed their lack of scalability. This single flaw caused the entire transaction to collapse.”

A 2022 U.S. Bank study supports his viewpoint, indicating that 82% of small business failures are attributed to poor cash flow management or insufficient internal systems. Erickson views this not as a technological deficiency, but rather a deficit in discipline. His straightforward counsel is to establish strong operational capabilities prior to pursuing expansion.

“Integrate structure early on—before it becomes apparent or seemingly essential. This is the foundation for achieving operational resilience.”

The Wider Business Application

Although North Valley Precision focuses on quality assurance for industrial manufacturers, Erickson stresses that implementing systems is universally applicable across industries. Regardless of whether a company operates in SaaS, logistics, healthcare, or retail, its internal procedures must be engineered for consistency and transparency.

“Systems extend beyond mere compliance; they enable precise decision-making,” Erickson clarifies. “Without clear insight into your workflows, your data becomes incoherent. And such incoherence undermines strategy.”

Erickson offers a practical comparison from his experience as a youth sports coach: “Positive habits accumulate. Success comes from consistently executing small tasks correctly. The same principle applies in business; there is no substitute for rigorous process discipline.”

From Entrepreneurial Disorder to Scalable Operations

Recalling his initial ventures as an entrepreneur, Erickson highlights the challenges of solopreneurship—handling product development, marketing channels, client interactions, and inventory independently. He states, “I was compelled to establish structure to endure. Without even fundamental standard operating procedures (SOPs), I was impeding my own progress.”

He advises founders to conduct a quarterly review of their fundamental operations, assessing aspects like customer onboarding, production timetables, logistics, invoicing systems, and communication protocols. Even minor improvements in efficiency or reductions in errors can collectively lead to substantial growth potential.

“There’s no requirement for enterprise software or a large operations team. Begin with basic tools like spreadsheets, flowcharts, or checklists—anything that ensures consistent task completion.”

Practical Steps for Founders

• Map Essential Workflows – Outline the progression of your service or product from its outset to completion.
• Identify Weaknesses – Pinpoint where mistakes, reworks, or customer grievances happen most often.
• Standardize Procedures – Create consistent systems for crucial functions (sales, service, delivery, quality assurance).
• Iterate Weekly – Select and enhance one area of operation each week.

“The majority of businesses do not fail due to a lack of effort from the founder,” Erickson asserts. “Instead, their downfall often stems from insufficient structural readiness to accommodate expansion.”

Regarding Brandon Erickson

Brandon Erickson serves as the founder of 7 Innovations LLC and the CEO of North Valley Precision, a Wisconsin-based company focused on quality operations for industrial and commercial clients. He is additionally an author, investor, and youth sports coach. Erickson incorporates belief, organization, and objective into each undertaking he directs, consistently championing operational discipline as fundamental to business achievement.