The reliability level of tool magazine is an important indicator to show how advanced a horizontal machining center is. To more effectively promote the reliability level of tool magazine,a new method combining importance and structure optimization is introduced. Taking tool magazine of a horizontal machinging as object, the fault tree of a tool magazine is established based on 35 failure data obtained from a horizontal machining center. Important levels of elementary events are calculated by fault tree analysis,and the order of importance is determined based on importance values. An improved design of structural reliability for elementary events with great importance is made according to failure principles and tool changing process. The feasibility of the improved design is verified by the designer of the tool magazine.