The paper is a review of original results, which were obtained by mechanical spectroscopy in the development of industrial materials, such as grey cast iron (damping capacity), aluminum alloys (recrystallization), nickel alloys (grain boundary embrittlement) and gold alloys (hardening mechanisms). Moreover it is shown that the study of grain boundary sliding at high temperature has led to the development of new grades of zirconia exhibiting a high toughness and a good resistance to creep. It is also recalled that mechanical spectroscopy has been a mandatory technique in the development of light metallic materials, which exhibit simultaneously good mechanical properties and a high damping capacity, and are consequently well suited to transport means.