What Codie Sanchez Can Teach Us About Quality Management

When you think of Codie A. Sanchez , you probably think of buying boring businesses, cash flow, and unconventional entrepreneurship. But what if I told you her principles apply just as much to quality management as they do to business investing?

Codie’s approach to business is focused on systems, efficiency, and repeatability—all of which are at the core of a strong quality management system (QMS).

Here’s how Codie’s philosophy aligns with quality management best practices—and what we can learn from her success.

1. “Boring is Profitable” = Process Control is Profitable

Codie is famous for saying that boring businesses make the most money. She focuses on buying laundromats, car washes, storage units, and other unsexy businesses—because they have predictable cash flow and scalable systems.

?? How This Relates to Quality Management: The best quality systems aren’t flashy—they’re consistent, repeatable, and scalable.

? Standardized processes lead to consistent product quality. ? Well-defined work instructions reduce variability and lower defect rates. ? Documented quality procedures create predictable, repeatable success.

?? Example: Toyota’s legendary Lean Manufacturing System thrives because of process stability, not innovation for the sake of it.

?? Lesson: In quality management, boring processes = profitable, efficient operations.

2. “Systems > Hustle” = QMS > Heroic Efforts

Codie warns against hustle culture, arguing that systems should do the work, not you. If you’re constantly putting out fires in your business, you don’t have a business—you have a job.

?? How This Relates to Quality Management: If your quality system relies on people catching mistakes, your system is broken.

? Quality should be built into the process, not dependent on employees catching defects. ? Statistical Process Control (SPC) should flag deviations before they become defects. ? Automated inspection systems should detect issues at the source, not downstream.

?? Example: A medical device manufacturer eliminated 80% of rework costs by implementing automated process controls instead of relying on final inspection.

?? Lesson: A strong QMS prevents problems—it doesn’t just react to them.

3. “Buy Problems and Fix Them” = Find Process Gaps and Improve Them

Codie doesn’t buy perfect businesses—she buys imperfect businesses with solvable problems. She looks for inefficiencies that can be fixed to increase profitability.

?? How This Relates to Quality Management: A great quality manager isn’t just enforcing rules—they’re constantly looking for process gaps and fixing them.

? Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams) should uncover hidden inefficiencies. ? Process Audits (ISO 9001, IATF 16949) should reveal areas for improvement. ? Continuous Improvement (Kaizen, Six Sigma) should make quality a competitive advantage.

?? Example: A food packaging company reduced customer complaints by 40% after using Lean tools to eliminate inefficiencies in sealing and labeling.

?? Lesson: Every process has problems. The best quality teams find and fix them.

4. “Numbers Don’t Lie” = Data-Driven Quality Management

Codie makes business decisions based on numbers, not emotion. If a business isn’t making money, it’s not a good investment—no matter how exciting it seems.

?? How This Relates to Quality Management: Quality professionals must use data, not gut feelings, to drive improvement.

? Process capability metrics (Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk) show if a process is stable. ? Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) helps predict failures before they happen. ? Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) reveals the financial impact of defects and waste.

?? Example: A supplier reduced scrap by 50% by analyzing Cp/Cpk data and adjusting process parameters instead of guessing at solutions.

?? Lesson: The best quality decisions are based on numbers, not assumptions.

5. “Cash Flow is King” = Quality Saves Money

Codie focuses on businesses with strong cash flow because they survive economic downturns and grow sustainably. A profitable business isn’t just about revenue—it’s about efficient operations.

?? How This Relates to Quality Management: A strong quality system reduces waste, lowers costs, and directly improves profitability.

? Defects, rework, and scrap waste resources and eat into margins. ? Supplier quality issues cause production delays and increase costs. ? Warranty claims and recalls damage both profits and reputation.

?? Example: A Tier 1 automotive supplier saved $3.2M annually by implementing error-proofing (poka-yoke) techniques, reducing defects by 80%.

?? Lesson: A great quality system isn’t a cost—it’s a profit booster.

Final Thoughts: What Quality Leaders Can Learn from Codie Sanchez

?? The best businesses aren’t the flashiest—they’re the most efficient.

? Boring = Profitable – Stable processes lead to sustainable success. ? Systems > Hustle – A good QMS prevents problems, not just reacts to them. ? Find and Fix Problems – Every process has waste—great quality teams eliminate it. ? Numbers Don’t Lie – Data should drive every quality decision. ? Quality Saves Money – A strong QMS directly improves profitability.

?? Want to build a high-quality, efficient, and profitable operation? Start thinking like Codie Sanchez—focus on systems, eliminate inefficiencies, and let data drive success.