Applied Research Activities

   The furniture industry faces a seemingly endless number of challenges as we move rapidly towards the 21st century. Demand Activated Manufacturing, world class manufacturing techniques, mass customization, environmental regulatory compliance, workplace safety, and better utilization of raw materials are among the many opportunities for research that exist in today's rapidly changing industry.

    The primary mission of the Center is to provide the furniture industry with the capability of conducting applied research. This research program focusing on generic wood working issues represents an economic pooling of resources. In summary, the Center represents a mutual academic and industry interest seeking to identify, organize, and conduct interdisciplinary research and technology transfer on behalf of furniture companies and related businesses.

   Associate Center Members can be involved directly with any of the current research projects, help select these projects, and suggest other project ideas. Research results are disseminated through research papers and technical reports, workshops and seminars, and computer software systems. If you are interested in participating with any of the research projects or have ideas and suggestions for new or follow up projects please contact the Center.

Funded Projects

   Each year, the Center Advisory Committee reviews a set of submitted proposals and selects the research projects that will be funded by the Center for that fiscal year.