As　a　novel　energy　source,　picosecond　laser　has　attracted　more　and　more　attention　because　of　its　ultra-short　pulse　width　(≤　10　ps　=　10-11s),　wide　repetition　frequency　range　(a　few　tens　of　Hz-MHz)　and　high　pulse　energy.　It　is　expected　to　achieve　high　precise　and　efficient　laser　processing　of　materials,　particularly　the　hard　and　brittle　materials,　which　has　been　gradually　promising　in　manufacturing　industry.　The　principle　and　characteristics　of　picosecond　laser　interaction　with　materials　which　are　different　from　other　kinds　of　laser　are　introduced.　The　latest　research　on　picosecond　laser　cutting,　surface　selective　removal,　drilling　and　milling　which　are　the　most　promising　techniques　for　industrial　application　are　presented　and　analyzed.　The　challenges　and　future　trends　of　the　development　of　picosecond　laser　application　in　industry　are　also　presented　and　predicted.　Industrial　application　of　picosecond　laser　can　be　widely　used　in　the　high　efficient　and　precise　mechanical　manufacturing　field　as　one　of　the　advanced　laser　processing　techniques.　©　2014　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.