Working on tribological process optimization, it is important to realize friction conditions between tool and workpiece. It is crucial to have them as homogeneous, constant and well-defined as possible. Furthermore, it is necessary to minimize the tool wear. A major precondition is the basic comprehension of appearing friction and wear mechanisms. Based on this, optimization methods can be derived, taking the whole tribological system, ranging from the semi finished part over the lubricant to the tool, into consideration. In addition, active and local modifications of the contact zone are important parts, too. Finally, detected dependencies can be described in friction and wear models, providing a valuable input for more precise numerical simulations.