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This episode of Digital Doers features Casey Thames sitting down with David Smith, Vice President of Innovation and Technology at Black Pearl Technology, for a conversation about a side of industrial innovation that most people never see. While many companies receive credit for the products and technologies they bring to market, there is often an engineering team working behind the scenes turning ideas into reality.

The discussion begins with Black Pearl’s unique role in the industry as a product development and technology partner for energy and industrial companies. David explains how organizations frequently come to Black Pearl with a challenge, an idea, or a concept, but lack the resources, expertise, or time needed to transform it into a field-ready solution.

Rather than focusing on a single product or technology, Casey and David explore the broader process of innovation itself. From embedded systems and industrial electronics to remote monitoring, automation, and edge computing, the conversation highlights how practical engineering helps bridge the gap between concept and execution. The discussion also touches on the challenges of introducing new technologies into industries where reliability, simplicity, and operational performance matter more than buzzwords.

The episode examines how industrial companies are using connected devices and real-time data to reduce manual field work, improve visibility into operations, and make faster decisions. David shares examples of how technology can be adapted to solve challenges across multiple industries, while also discussing the importance of designing solutions that are flexible enough to evolve alongside customer needs.

As with many conversations on Digital Doers, the discussion extends beyond technology itself and focuses on the people behind innovation. David shares lessons learned from decades of product development, the value of customer collaboration, and Black Pearl’s commitment to developing the next generation of engineers through hands-on mentorship and real-world project experience.

Whether it’s creating a new product, modernizing existing operations, or solving problems that don’t have an off-the-shelf answer, this episode offers a look behind the curtain at the engineering teams helping drive industrial innovation forward.

Host

Casey Thames
Host, Digital Doers

Guest

David Smith
Vice President of Innovation & Technology, Black Pearl Technology

Website: https://www.blackpearltechnology.com

Brought to you on OGGN, the largest and most listened-to podcast network for the oil and energy industry.