We analyzed a sequence of multi-stage automatic cold forging processes composed of four axisymmetric processes followed by a non-axisymmetric process using rigid-plastic finite element based forging simulators. The forging sequence selected for an example involves a piercing process and a heading process accompanying folding or overlapping, which all make it difficult to simulate the processes. To reduce computational time and to enhance the solution reliability, only the non-symmetric process was analyzed by the three-dimensional approach after the axisymmetric processes were analyzed by the two-dimensional approach. It has been emphsized that this capability is very helpful in simulating the multi-stage automatic forging processes which are next to axisymmetric or involve several axisymmetric processes.