A pad comprising at least one sheet of material having a thermoplastic resinous composition and a heater actuable to heat and soften the sheet, the pad being for use in alignment of machine equipment, rails, beams, girders, or other constructional elements relative to a horizontal base, vertical or inclined line, or to other constructional elements. In use the pad is placed between the equipment, rail or the like and a support or abutment therefor, and the heater is actuated so as to soften the pad just sufficiently that the weight of object or a force thereon reduces the thickness of the pad an amount equal to the desired movement of the object necessary to achieve the desired alignment.