SMC(Sheet molding compound) is a thermosetting material reinforced with chopped fiberglass. The compression molding of SMC was analyzed based on a rigid thermo-viscoplastic approach using a three dimensional finite element program coupled with temperatures. Only the temperature analysis part was tested in this paper by solving one-dimensional heat transfer problem and comparing with the exact solutions available in the literature. Based on this comparison the program was proved to be valid and was further applied in solving compression molding of SMC between flat dies. To investigate the usefulness of a rigid thermo-viscoplastic approach in the compression molding analysis of SMC charge, compression of rectangular shaped SMC charge at plane strain and three dimensionalde formation condition was analyzed under the same condition as given in the literature. From this comparison it was found out that the rigid thermo-viscoplastic approach was useful in analyzing SMC compression molding between flat dies.