Adrián Casares Costa Rica | Engineering, quality and technical leadership in medical device manufacturing – Episode 27 – Keru Podcast – Cadence Costa Rica
Precision engineering, technical culture and leadership in medical manufacturing
Adrián Casares is Operations Director (General Manager) at Cadence Costa Rica, with more than 20 years of experience in engineering, medical device manufacturing and operations management at leading companies in the healthcare sector.
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His career includes strategic positions at Hologic, ArthroCare, Utitec Medical and Creganna Medical, standing out for leading high-performance teams, implementing continuous improvements and transforming critical industrial processes in technically demanding contexts.
- 🧠 Technical management of quality and efficiency at Cadence Costa Rica
- 🔩 Advanced manufacturing and laser technology in medical devices
- 📈 Results-based leadership and continuous learning
- 🌱 Sustainable operations in regulated environments
A conversation about how to lead in industries where precision saves lives and strategy is played out in microns.
Adrian Casares · Costa Rica
Adrián Casares of Costa Rica was Operations Director (General Manager) at Cadence Costa Rica, a company specialized in the manufacturing of high-precision medical devices. With more than 20 years of experience in engineering, operations and technical leadership, he built a solid career heading high-performance teams in critical industrial environments where quality and efficiency save lives.
At Cadence Costa Rica, quality is not a requirement, it is a responsibility to life.
He earned a Master's in Medical Device Engineering from the Tecnológico de Costa Rica and complemented his profile with international certifications in Laser Cutting and Drilling, Laser Welding Technology and SolidWorks. He also took part in executive programs at Harvard Business School, including a certification in Financial Accounting, which consolidated a strategic and financial vision for leading complex operations.
Every micron counts when you are manufacturing medical devices.
He began his professional journey as a precision technician and plant supervisor, which gave him a deep understanding of production processes from the ground up. He worked at companies such as Ryan Manufacturing and ArthroCare Corporation, where he led machining teams and line supervision. At Hologic, he worked as a machined parts engineer and precision mechanical technician for almost seven years, consolidating his specialization in medical manufacturing.
Engineering applied to medical devices demands thinking like a surgeon from the plant floor.
His career continued at Creganna Medical, where he led technology transfer, process engineering and new product launch projects. He later joined Utitec Medical as Engineering Director, and later as Engineering, Maintenance and Facilities Manager, where he transformed key processes in efficiency, automation and technical control.
What I learned at Hologic taught me that efficiency without precision is irrelevant.
At Cadence Inc., he reached the position of Operations Director, managing manufacturing strategies, technical leadership and P&L management. His focus on innovation, talent development, industrial automation and regulatory compliance made him a benchmark within Costa Rica's medical-industrial ecosystem.
Operational transformation begins when the team understands the ‘why’ behind the process.
Adrián is recognized for his ability to align technology, strategy and people in demanding environments, combining a long-term vision with operational execution. His leadership promotes organizational cultures centered on data, results and continuous improvement. In addition, his experience has helped position Costa Rica as a strategic hub for world-class medical device manufacturing.
General Manager
Episode 27 · Keru Podcast
Articles by Adrian Casares
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