Process optimization is carried out to determine process parameters which satisfy the given design requirement and constraint conditions in sheet metal forming processes. Sensitivity -based-approach is utilized for the optimum searching of process parameters in sheet metal forming precesses. The scheme incorporates an elasto-plastic finite element method with shell elements . Sensitivities of state variables are calculated from the direct differentiation of the governing equation for the finite element analysis. The algorithm developed is applied to design of the variablc blank holding force in deep drawing processes. Results show that determination of process parameters is well performed to control the major strain for preventing fracture by tearing or to decrease the amount of springback for improving the shape accuracy. Results demonstrate that design of process parameters with the present approach is applicable to real sheet metal forming processes