Process optimization is performed to calculate process parameters which satisfy the given design requirement and constraint conditions in sheet metal forming processes. The scheme incorporates with a rigid-plastic finite element method with modified membrane elements. Sensitivity based approach and response surface methodology are utilized for the optimum searching of process parameters in sheet metal forming processes. The algorithm developed is applied to design of the blank holding force and the draw bead force in deep drawing processes. The results show that the design of process parameters is applicable to complicated deformation states. It is also noted that the present algorithm enhances the stable optimum solution with small number of iterations for optimization.