A method and apparatus for the design of a robust vector quantizer is disclosed. The initial output vector set is equal to the centroid of a training sequence of input vectors. A neural-network simulation and neighborhood functions are utilized for splitting and optimizing the output vectors. In this manner, the entire output vector set is sensitive to each input vector and therefore optimal output vector locations with respect to specified distortion criteria are obtained. The resulting vector quantizer is robust for the class of signals represented by the training sequence.