Tom Culbreth, Jr

Professor Emeritus

Tom Culbreth, Jr has been a member of the Industrial Engineering faculty at North Carolina State University since 1978. In 1991 he established the Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center and served as its Director until 2005. Dr. Culbreth currently teaches courses in furniture manufacturing operations and statistical quality control and conducts research to develop computer-aided engineering/management systems for woodworking operations.

Research Interests

Furniture manufacturing processes & system design, lean manufacturing, and decision support systems for furniture manufacturing operations.

Honors and Awards

  • 1991 | Founding Director, NCSU Furniture Manufacturing & Management Center
  • 1989 | C. A. Anderson Outstanding Faculty Award
  • 1982 | C. A. Anderson Outstanding Faculty Award

Education

DegreeProgramSchoolYear
Ph.D.Doctor of PhilosophyNC State University1984
MEMaster of EngineeringNC State University1976
BSIEBachelor of ScienceNC State University1973

Publications

The lumber procurement and kiln scheduling problem: A hybrid-ga approach
Joines, J. A., Culbreth, C. T., & Schultz, S. R. (2007), Wood and Fiber Science, 39(4), 628–638.
Design and evaluation of furniture finishing systems
Melton, R. H., Culbreth, C. T., Roberts, S. D., & Joines, J. A. (2002), Forest Products Journal, 52(7-8), 27–33.
Dry kiln scheduling in furniture production
Yaghubian, A. R., Hodgson, T. J., Joines, J. A., Culbreth, C. T., & Huang, J. C. (1999), IIE Transactions, 31(8), 733–738. https://doi.org/10.1080/07408179908969872
Decision support system for lumber procurement and dry kiln scheduling
Huang, J. C. C., Culbreth, C. T., Joines, J. A., King, R. E., & Hodgson, T. J. (1998), Forest Products Journal, 48(9), 51–59.

View all publications via NC State Libraries

Tom Culbreth, Jr.