The paper under consideration presents the review of the research results of different scientific schools on applying ultrasonic vibration energy. The effect of ultrasonic vibration energy on changes in the structure of surface layer material, surface topography and other characteristics are presented. A wide range of possibilities of using ultrasonic surface hardening in preparing surfaces before the chemical-thermal processing, for coating and as a finishing processing is presented. The possibilities of applying the method in the combination with other methods of affecting the material are considered. The possibilities of reducing the price of the machine part manufacturing because of implementing the operation of ultrasonic surface hardening in the technological process are shown.