Dr. Barnhardt's research interests lie in developing a Computer Integrated Enterprise (CIE) environment for the fiber, textile, apparel, retail pipeline.  Much emphasis has been placed on reducing manufacturing response time to better serve any customer in this pipeline.  The interactions of organizations and structures, technology and people in the enterprise create an opportunity for researching appropriate components of the system and testing these concepts through technology transfer.

The second area of research interest is in improving all aspects of the manufacturing environment in the griege mill with particular emphasis on fiber-to-yarn processing.  Teaching interests parallel research interests in that manufacturing problems will be brought into the classroom in case studies of actual plants.

Ed.D., Higher Education Administration, 1974 University of Virginia

M.Ed., 1970 University of Virginia

M.S., Textile Technology, 1961 Institute of Textile Technology

B.S., Textile Engineering, 1959 Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science

Dr. Barnhardt served as Dean of the NCSU College of Textiles 1987-1999. Other work experiences in textile education include Chairman of the Department of Textiles at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and a 20-year association with the Institute of Textile Technology (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Acting President 2000-2001). He is active in many professional educational associations including the National Textile Center, the National Council for Textile Education, the International Textile Academia, and is an invited U.S. member of the GEDRT (Groupe European d'exchange d'experiences sur la Direction de la Recherch Textile). He is a Fellow of the Textile Institute (United Kingdom) and has been awarded the Institute Medal. Areas of expertise include statistical process control and yarn manufacturing.