The area of activity of the International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering embraces these aspects of heat treatment and surface engineering:

• materials science
• materials engineering
• process development and control
• component design
• modelling and simulation

The above subjects are considered from the viewpoints of:

• advancing the science and technologies involved throughout the design, manufacturing and applications sequences
• full consideration of the related economics
• a constructive approach to the related environmental, health and safety aspects
• encouraging education and training
• influencing the harmonisation and development of standards and best practices
• fostering quality assurance
• providing intellectual leadership in the use of information resources