The Taguchi method, a robust experimental design, was used to optimize manufacturing parameters of a brake lining during hot pressing and heat treatment. A friction material containing 15 ingredients was employed fur this experiment and friction and wear tests were carried out by using a pad-on-disk type tribotester. Sixteen brake linings with different manufacturing conditions were examined according to a parameter design. From the results of the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the cause and effect of the manufacturing parameters on physical properties (hardness and porosity) and friction and wear characteristics of brake linings was obtained