This study investigated the influence of the laser cladding parameters on the geometry and composition of metal-matrix composite (MMC) coatings. Composite coatings were made of a Ni-Cr-B-Si metallic matrix and of WC reinforcement powder with a volume fraction of 50 %. Optical microscopy was used to characterize the coating geometry (height, width and penetration depth) and to determine the real volumetric content of WC. Laser cladding on low carbon steel substrate was carried out using a cw Nd:YAG laser, a coaxial powder injection system and a combination of Taguchi and E.M. methods to design the experiments. This combination was used to explore efficiently the multidimensional volume of laser cladding parameters. The results, which express the interrelationship between laser cladding parameters and responses, can be used to find optimum laser parameters, to predict the responses and to increase process robustness.