Tom Culbreth, Jr.
Bio
Tom Culbreth, Jr. has served on the Industrial Engineering faculty at NC State University since 1978. In 1991, he established the Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center. Moreover, he served as the Center’s Director until 2005. He taught courses in furniture manufacturing operations and statistical quality control. In addition, he conducts research on computer-aided engineering and management systems for woodworking operations. His work bridges manufacturing practice and academic innovation in the furniture industry.
Education
Ph.D. NC State University 1984
M.S. NC State University 1976
B.S. NC State University 1973
Area(s) of Expertise
Culbreth, Jr.'s research focused on furniture manufacturing processes and system design, lean manufacturing and decision support systems for furniture manufacturing operations.
Publications
- The lumber procurement and kiln scheduling problem: A hybrid-ga approach , Wood and Fiber Science (2007)
- Design and evaluation of furniture finishing systems , Forest Products Journal (2002)
- Dry kiln scheduling in furniture production , IIE Transactions (1999)
- Decision support system for lumber procurement and dry kiln scheduling , Forest Products Journal (1998)
Grants
Furniture producers in the Far East and South America are increasingly becoming contract suppliers of product distributed by domestic furniture companies. Imported products must be manufactured, packaged, shipped, and received into a domestic warehouse, then staged along with domestic product for shipment to customers. Potential quality problems are associated with each stage of the supply chain including production, transportation, storage, up-fitting, and distribution. This research will develop formal methods for monitoring product/component quality throughout the furniture manufacturing supply chain. These methods should prove useful in evaluating the performance of individual suppliers, in identifying and estimating relevant quality costs, and in formulating supply chain management policies.
Honors and Awards
- C. A. Anderson Outstanding Faculty Award
- C. A. Anderson Outstanding Faculty Award
- Founding Director, NCSU Furniture Manufacturing & Management Center