In the digital era, knowledge and strategic management are crucial for organizations' competitive edge. Enterprises need to build learning and innovation ecosystems. Digital tools help optimize workflows and knowledge spread, key to exploring operational and structural changes via knowledge transfer and strategic management. SMEs in manufacturing, important for employment and market, face digital transformation hurdles from capital, tech, talent, and management limits. Studying their transformation trends, determinants, and paths is theoretically and practically significant. Using mixed - methods with SPSS, this study analyzes factors affecting manufacturing SMEs' operational management from survey data. Empirical results show digital transformation (in production, management, service) is driven by tech, talent, business model innovation, and flexible production. Process management stands out: it boosts adaptive production, broadens customer reach, and builds data - driven resilience, aligning strategy with market demands.