The results of studies of the processes of phase transformations and structural changes occurring in the space of variable states are presented. Automation of these processes allows to improve the properties of metal products. In the examples of surface hardening of die steels and laser hardening of ferrite-martensitic steels, the conditions and possibilities of formation of anomalous structures, the hardness of which significantly exceeds the values ​ ​ achieved during conventional hardening and tempering, are considered.