5 Technical Intelligence Approach: Determining Patent Trends in Open Die Forging Marisela Rodriguez 1, Alejandro Palacios 1 and Dante Cortez 2 1 National Graduate and Research School, Tec de Monterrey, Mexico 2 Innovation Senior Manager, Steel Company X, Mexico Email: marisrod@itesm.mx, alejandropalaciosmata@gmail.com and dante.cortez@gmail.com Received January 10, accepted 5 May 2014 ABSTRACT: Open die forging is an important process for alloys and steels present in a variety of industries, such as in the aerospace industry, construction, mining and general machinery. During the forging process several wear mechanisms occur: thermal fatigue, plastic deformation, mechanical fatigue, etc. causing quality damage and economic losses. Academy and industry are devoting significant efforts to confront this situation where research acquires a key role. Under this context the objective of our research is to apply patent analyses as part of a Competitive Technical Intelligence methodology on open die forging. In particular, a keyword-based patent analysis and a patent citation analysis were developed to identify the organisations, countries, inventors, and technological trends more important for this area. KEYWORDS: Open die forging; Competitive Technical Intelligence; Patent Analysis; Citation Analysis. 1.0 Introduction Forging is a manufacturing process where metal is pressed, hit or compressed under great pressure to create high-strength parts (Forging Industry Association, 2013). The open die forging process involves the formation of preheated metal pieces placed between an upper and lower die attached to a press (ScotForge 2014). This process can be used for a wide range of alloys and steels in a variety of industries, such as in the aerospace industry, construction, mining, general machinery, etc. Available for free online at https://ojs.hh.se/ Journal of Intelligence Studies in Business Vol 4, No 1 (2014) 5-15