
<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 11 (a)

             APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             ------------------------------------------------------
                       Computation of Net Income Per Share
                      (Thousands, except per share amounts)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Year Ended June 30,                
                                                                                  
                                         1996         1995         1994           
                                        -------      -------      -------         
<S>                                     <C>          <C>          <C>             
   Average Shares Outstanding                                                     
                                                                                  
1. Average common shares                                                          
   outstanding                           12,303(A)    11,551(A)    11,319(A)     
                                                                                  
2. Net additional shares                                                          
   outstanding assuming stock                                                     
   options exercised and                                                          
   proceeds used to purchase                                                      
   treasury stock                           264          197          231         
                                        -------      -------      -------         
                                                                                  
3. Adjusted average common                                                        
   shares outstanding for                                                         
   fully diluted computation             12,567       11,748       11,550         
                                        =======      =======      =======         
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
   Net Income                                                                     
                                                                                  
4. Net income as reported in                                                      
   statements of consolidated                                                     
   income                               $23,334      $16,909      $12,687         
                                        =======      =======      =======         
                                                                                  
   Net Income Per Share                                                           
                                                                                  
5. Net income per average                                                         
   common share outstanding                                                       
   (4/1)                                $  1.90      $  1.46      $  1.12         
                                        =======      =======      =======         
                                                                                  
6. Net income per common                                                          
   share on a fully                                                               
   dilutive basis (4/3)                 $  1.86(B)   $  1.44(B)   $  1.10(B)      
                                        =======      =======      =======         
                                        
<FN>
(A) All per share data have been restated to reflect a three for two stock
    split effective December 4, 1995.

(B) Amount is not presented in the statements as the dilutive effect is
    less than 3%.

</TABLE>


<PAGE>   2


                                                                  EXHIBIT 11 (a)

             APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             ------------------------------------------------------
                       Computation of Net Income Per Share
                                   (Unaudited)
                      (Thousands, except per share amounts)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Nine Months Ended
                                                             March 31
                                                     1997              1996
                                                    -------           -------
<S>                                                 <C>               <C>    
   Average Shares Outstanding

1. Average common shares
   outstanding                                       12,390            12,285

2. Net additional shares
   outstanding assuming stock
   options exercised and
   proceeds used to purchase
   treasury stock                                       337               274
                                                    -------           -------

3. Adjusted average common
   shares outstanding for
   fully diluted computation                         12,727            12,559
                                                    =======           =======


   Net Income

4. Net income as reported in
   statements of consolidated
   income                                           $18,163           $15,826
                                                    =======           =======

   Net Income Per Share

5. Net income per average
   common share outstanding
   (4/1)                                            $  1.47           $  1.29
                                                    =======           =======

6. Net income per common
   share on a fully
   dilutive basis (4/3)                             $  1.43(A)        $  1.26(A)
                                                    =======           =======

<FN>
(A) Fully diluted net income per share is not presented as the dilutive
    effect is less than 3%.
</TABLE>





