Abstract: A shaft, which is machined at room temperature to have substantially perfect roundness in cross section is placed under working conditions so as to measure distortions relative to the perfect roundness of the shaft. Based on the measured distortions, degrees of correction or compensation are determined by which the shaft is machined at room temperature to have out-of-roundness in cross section. The shaft thus provided has substantially perfect roundness in cross section in use or under working conditions.