Episode 26

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Published on:

4th Aug 2025

Accelerating Digital Transformation in Manufacturing with David Blue

In this episode of The Manufacturer’s Network Podcast, host Lisa Ryan sits down with David Blue, founder and CEO of Saltbox Mgmt. With over a decade of experience in digital strategy, Salesforce implementation, and enterprise sales, David shares candid insights into how manufacturers can modernize operations, enhance customer engagement, and thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

What’s Inside:

- David’s Journey: How the pandemic was the catalyst for starting Saltbox Mgmt and why manufacturers still have a long road ahead in digital transformation.

- Changing Buyer Demographics: The shift in customer expectations—how younger, “born-online” buyers want more self-service and digital options.

- Blending Old & New: Why it’s not about choosing between personal relationships or automation—but creating frictionless, blended experiences across multiple channels.

- Practical Automation Wins: Real-world examples (like Shorr Packaging) of starting small—digital commerce, order intake, and ERP integration—to drive efficiency without disrupting value-added jobs.

- The Human Element: How digital tools free up sales and service teams to focus on high-value activities, rather than replacing jobs outright.

- Combatting Tariffs with Tech: Unpacking David’s Salesforce blog—how digital commerce and order management can help manufacturers defend their margins and adapt to global trade uncertainty.

- Subscription Economy for Manufacturers: What it takes to successfully offer digital subscriptions and services alongside physical products—including why good data and systems integration are essential.

- Data-Driven Decisions: The importance of clean, real-time data to enable self-service and support next-gen business models.

- Where to Start: David’s #1 tip for manufacturing leaders—talk to your customers, prioritize high-value/low-effort wins, and remember: transformation is a journey, not a sprint.

Connect with David Blue: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-blue/

- Saltbox Mgmt: https://saltboxmgmt.com

Key Quote:

“Listen to your customers. Build a roadmap around what they want and start with small, high-value wins to fuel your digital journey.”

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About the Podcast

The Manufacturers' Network
Connecting Manufacturers with Manufacturers
The Manufacturers' Podcast is THE place for manufacturers to connect with and learn from other manufacturers. Not only will listeners get to learn from their manufacturing colleagues, but they will also discover HOW they can help each other as a resource or as a source of help and inspiration.

As a manufacturer, it's easy to get pigeon-holed into only focusing on your own industry, whether it be through your industry trade association or your industry colleagues. While trade associations are an excellent source of information for their members, sometimes it's gaining a perspective from someone else in a completely different industry that gives you the solution to your dilemma.

Stay tuned for new episodes every week on "Manufacturing Monday's." This drive-time length podcast will give you the information, tips and strategies you need to get your week off to a fantastic start.

About your host

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Lisa Ryan

As a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an award-winning speaker and author of ten books, Lisa Ryan, CSP, works with her clients to develop employee and client engagement initiatives and strategies that keep their top talent and best clients from becoming someone else’s.
Lisa’s expertise includes: strengthening workplace culture, improving employee engagement, increasing customer retention, and initiating gratitude strategies (“Grategies”) for personal and professional benefit. Lisa’s participants enjoy her high energy, enthusiastic delivery and quick wit and they leave the session with ideas they are committed to acting on immediately to make positive workplace culture changes.
Lisa costars in two films with other experts including Jack Canfield of “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” She is the Past-President of the National Speakers Association, Ohio Chapter and holds an MBA from Cleveland State University.

Relevant Experience

• Keynote, breakout or workshop speaker at more than 100 national and international conferences
• Thirteen years of industrial marketing and sales experience, including seven years in the welding industry – and yes, she does weld
• Host of “Elevate Your Engagement Levels: What You Need to Know” on the Elite Expert Network and the C-Suite Network
• Creator of “The Seven Mistakes Managers Make to Crush Company Culture” video series
• Best-selling author of ten books, including “Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Your Industry’s Top Talent”
• Award-winning speaker