Abstract: Over more than two decades of development, the ultrasonic total focusing method (TFM), which evolved from phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT), has been widely applied in key industrial fields such as aviation, aerospace, and nuclear power. Building upon a review of the historical development and technical principles of TFM, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in derived TFM methods, including multi-mode TFM, oblique incidence TFM, dual-crystal TFM, plane wave imaging, divergent wave imaging, and phase coherence imaging. The technical advantages of TFM over conventional PAUT are discussed, and the alignment of TFM with the requirements of “Intelligent Manufacturing in China” is highlighted. Future technical demands and development trends of TFM in the context of intelligent manufacturing are analyzed, and key derived TFM detection technologies requiring urgent breakthroughs for intelligent industrial applications are prospected. This review aims to serve as a reference for further research and engineering application of TFM technology.