PURPOSE: To efficiently produce a short fiber compact having a higher and more uniform volume fraction of short fibers and an oriented state of short fibers closer to a three-dimensional random state as compacted with a compact obtd. by wet suction compacting in a very high yield.

CONSTITUTION: Starting materials including short alumina fibers 16 and polyvinyl alcohol 20 as a binder are uniformly mixed in a mixing process A. The resulting mixture 30 is granulated by spray drying in a granulating process B to form granules 32 of a prescribed size. The granules 32 are compacted into a prescribed shape by isostatic pressing in a compacting process C to form a compact. This compact is dried and fired in a drying and firing process D.