For improving product sustainability, a number of measures can be adopted during the product design stage for manufacturing. The modeling and control of the residual stresses and surface roughness generated by machining are among the major measures which have been shown to demonstrate the strongest influence on the machined component’s performance during its service life. The proper control of the residual stresses would provide increased product lifetime, reduced part distortion, reduced weight and reduced and less frequent maintenance and inspection of the product while maintaining the same safety level, or perhaps even improving it. This paper presents an analysis of the influence of machining parameters on the residual stresses generated in machining operations. This analysis was performed on several work materials, including carbon steels, stainless steels, Inconel alloys and tool steels. This allows developing a number of feasible means to control the residual stresses during manufacturing.