The Hidden Manufacturing Behind Modern Medicine: My Conversation with Cory James
On Maintenance & Manufacturing Insights, Cory James, Plant Manager at Zeus Industrial Products, reveals the precision medical-grade tubing behind catheters and stents — and how Zeus balances growth with reliability, rebuilds equipment in-house, and trains the next generation of manufacturing talent.
One of my favorite parts of hosting Maintenance & Manufacturing Insights is learning about the industries that quietly keep our world running. During my recent conversation with Cory James, Plant Manager at Zeus Industrial Products, I was reminded that some of the most important manufacturing happens behind the scenes — often without any of us realizing it.
The Manufacturing Most People Never Think About
Cory shared how Zeus Industrial Products manufactures precision medical-grade tubing used in catheters, stents, and many other life-saving medical devices. While most people recognize the finished medical products, very few think about the companies producing the critical components that make those devices possible.
It's conversations like these that remind me just how interconnected manufacturing really is.
Balancing Growth with Reliability
One topic we explored was the challenge of maintaining equipment while production continues to grow. Cory explained how preventive maintenance is always the goal, but keeping up with scheduled maintenance becomes much more difficult when machines are running around the clock to meet customer demand.
We also discussed Zeus' in-house engineering capabilities. Their team refurbishes production equipment from the ground up — including mechanical systems, controls, PLCs, and HMIs — before requalifying each machine to ensure it continues producing the highest quality products.
Investing in the Next Generation
Another part of our conversation that stood out was Zeus' commitment to developing skilled workers. Through the Zeus Training Academy, the company partners with vocational schools to recruit students into apprenticeship programs, helping build the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
Cory also shared how his military background has shaped his leadership philosophy, emphasizing discipline, accountability, teamwork, and clear communication — qualities that serve manufacturing organizations extremely well.
A Great Reminder of Why Manufacturing Matters
Every episode reminds me that manufacturing is everywhere, even when we don't notice it. Cory's story is another great example of the incredible work happening behind the scenes to support industries that impact millions of people every day.
Watch & Listen
If you haven't listened yet, I encourage you to check out my conversation with Cory James:
Be a guest: Are you responsible for keeping machines running and production on track? If you're a maintenance manager, tool crib manager, plant manager, reliability professional, or shop leader, I'd love to hear your story. Apply to be a guest and share your expertise with manufacturing professionals around the world.
