Industrial intelligence is the main direction of building a manufacturing power. How to improve the innovation strength of the manufacturing industry through digital intelligence transformation is of great significance for promoting the construction of an innovation power and realizing Chinese path to modernization. Based on the tax survey data of Chinese manufacturing enterprises from 2009 to 2016, this paper empirically analyzes the impact, heterogeneity characteristics, and mechanism of the import of intelligent equipment on the innovation quality of enterprises. The results showed that the import of intelligent equipment significantly promoted the improvement of innovation quality in manufacturing enterprises; The main mechanism is to empower enterprises to enhance their R&D cooperation and operational capabilities, thereby promoting the improvement of innovation quality. Heterogeneity analysis found that compared to state-owned, non expanded service businesses, and western enterprises, private, foreign-funded, expanded service businesses, as well as enterprises located in the eastern and central regions, the promotion effect of intelligent equipment imports on innovation quality is more significant. The import of industrial intelligent production equipment and intelligent control equipment has a significant positive promoting effect on innovation quality, while the import of intelligent information equipment and virtual simulation equipment has no significant effect on improving innovation quality. The research conclusion provides policy reference for the improvement of innovation quality in Chinese manufacturing enterprises from the perspective of technology introduction and innovation cooperation.