This work presents the results of a Pareto analysis of critical challenges for emerging manufacturing technologies in c-Si photovoltaics. By soliciting input from members of the PV R&D community, these challenges have been prioritized for six different sub-categories, the first three associated with Processing Challenges and the following three in the area of Metrology Challenges: (1) Feedstock, Crystallization and Wafering; (2) Cell Materials and Processing; (3) Module Integration; (4) Materials and Device Characterization; (5) Reliability and Durability (Measurements); and (6) Modeling and Simulation. Some sub-categories feature a large differential in scoring from the top challenge(s) to lower scored challenges (e.g. Module Integration, Modeling and Simulation), indicating topics of high interest. Other sub-categories feature a more evenly distributed level of prioritization (e.g. Cell Materials and Processing), indicating many high priority challenges within the same area. In total, 14 top critical challenges were identified for the six sub-categories, and a brief review for each of these is provided. As industry and academia seek R&D topics to help push for higher efficiencies and lower cost c-Si modules, this Pareto analysis can hopefully provide some objective insight into areas of high interest for the general PV community. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.