How a Farm Kid and Infantryman Became a Leader in Orthopedic Manufacturing

In this episode of Rapid Fire Manufacturing, David Turner sits down with Travis Christman, a United States Army veteran and problem solver in the orthopedic manufacturing world.

Travis shares how he grew up on a small farm, studied secondary education, shifted into industry and technology, served as an infantryman, and eventually stepped into his first manufacturing role at Sony D A D C working on high speed holographic printers. That path led him into orthopedic manufacturing at Zimmer Biomet, where he has spent the last fifteen years helping build products that restore mobility and change lives.

In this conversation we cover

• How Indiana became a powerhouse in orthopedic manufacturing
• Why relationships are the strongest advantage on the shop floor
• What it is really like working in one of the most regulated industries in the world
• How Priority Medical supports research, development, quality, regulatory, and operations
• The story of a custom printed prosthetic that helped a young girl play the violin again
• What to expect at the Made Here Manufacturing Showcase on December 18
• Travis guiding advice for anyone entering manufacturing today

This episode blends leadership, real world manufacturing, and the human impact behind the products.

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