Evaluation of Digital Transformation of the Regional Manufacturing Industry Based on the Entropy Weight TOPSIS Method

Manufacturing digital transformation capability is a key factor in the orderly advancement of digital upgrading in the manufacturing sector. Effective identification and evaluation of this capability can help grasp the core aspects of manufacturing digital transformation and upgrading, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the transformation process. Based on the definition of manufacturing digital transformation capability, this study constructs an evaluation index system across three dimensions: digital transformation support, digital transformation potential, and digital transformation benefits. The entropy-weighted TOPSIS method is adopted, with empirical analysis based on digital transformation data from the manufacturing industry across 30 mainland Chinese provinces. The study finds that digital innovation capability is critical to the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, and that the benefits of digital transformation are more directly reflected in economic than in environmental outcomes. While individual provinces and cities are exceptions, the overall level of manufacturing digital transformation in China shows a pattern of eastern regions leading, central regions following, and western regions lagging. In terms of specific digital transformation dimensions, provinces and cities exhibit varying performance in digital transformation support, potential, and benefits.