Or Approved Equal...Comparison is the Thief of Joy

In this engaging episode of Coatings Decoded, host Jack Walker sits down with Drayton Adkins, a Coatings Specialist from Black & Veatch, to tackle one of the most debated topics in the industrial coatings world: performance and equivalency. Drayton shares his expertise on navigating the ever-expanding landscape of product options, the importance of clear design intent, and why specifying minimum standards might not cut it for long-term asset protection. The duo dives into critical industry challenges, from innovation and regulatory shifts to supply chain disruptions, exploring how these factors complicate "apples-to-apples" comparisons. They discuss the delicate balance engineers and specifiers must strike between cost, performance, and sustainability, all while keeping long-term asset lifecycle goals in focus. Packed with relatable analogies (think guitars and coatings) and practical insights, this episode emphasizes while coatings are the last step in a project—they're the first line of defense. Whether you're an engineer, specifier, or coatings enthusiast, this episode will leave you with valuable food for thought about making informed decisions that prioritize performance, collaboration, and the bigger picture. Tune in to discover why performance is the key to protecting assets, delighting clients, and—most importantly—finding joy in the process