The digitalisation of the manufacturing industry is perceived to be critical for achieving future productivity gains. As a result, programmes such as Industry 4.0 (I4.0) have received a huge amount of attention. A series of authors have identified a gap in digitalisation research in the area of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). The majority of studies and developments are focussed on larger companies, disregarding SME-specific digitalisation challenges such as knowledge, resource, and technology-awareness limitations. Based on the literature, we believe that a major reason for the disconnect is the discussion of digitalisation from a technology-centric viewpoint. Instead, we propose a problem-centric view on digitalisation as a means of addressing operational challenges through digital technologies. The aim of this paper is to identify the solution areas associated with these challenges that are relevant to a majority of manufacturing SMEs. In this study, we collate a catalogue of digitalisation priorities, conducting workshops with manufacturing SMEs (n = 128). The final catalogue comprises 59 items with a clear hierarchy. Out of all participants in the study, 86 % ranked one of the top 5 items as a key priority for their business. This contribution can help focus research, systems development, and standardisation to increase accessibility to digitalisation for manufacturing SMEs.

制造业的数字化被认为是实现未来生产力增长的关键。因此，诸如工业 4.0 (I4.0) 之类的程序受到了大量关注。一系列作者发现中小型制造企业 (SME) 领域的数字化研究存在差距。大多数研究和开发都集中在较大的公司上，不考虑中小企业特定的数字化挑战，例如知识、资源和技术意识限制。根据文献，我们认为造成脱节的一个主要原因是从以技术为中心的观点对数字化的讨论。相反，我们提出了一种以问题为中心的观点，将数字化作为通过数字技术解决运营挑战的一种手段。本文旨在确定与大多数制造业中小企业相关的这些挑战相关的解决方案领域。在这项研究中，我们整理了一份数字化优先事项目录，与制造业中小型企业 (n = 128) 举办研讨会。最终目录包括 59 个项目，具有清晰的层次结构。在研究的所有参与者中，86% 的人将前 5 项中的一项列为其业务的关键优先事项。这一贡献有助于集中研究、系统开发和标准化，以提高制造业中小企业对数字化的可及性。最终目录包括 59 个项目，具有清晰的层次结构。在研究的所有参与者中，86% 的人将前 5 项中的一项列为其业务的关键优先事项。这一贡献有助于集中研究、系统开发和标准化，以提高制造业中小企业对数字化的可及性。最终目录包括 59 个项目，具有清晰的层次结构。在研究的所有参与者中，86% 的人将前 5 项中的一项列为其业务的关键优先事项。这一贡献有助于集中研究、系统开发和标准化，以提高制造业中小企业对数字化的可及性。