Thomas L. Read, Ph.D

1435 FULTON ROAD
SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA 95403 

Telephone: (707) 544-2374
Facsimile: (707)544-2370
E-mail: tread@sonic.net
Web: www.readconsulting.com 


Summary of Expertise

  • Over 25 years of experience as a consultant to attorneys in materials, metallurgy, accident reconstruction, OSHA worker safety, products liability, intellectual property, factory safety and other litigation. This includes numerous depositions and court appearances.
  • 30 years of manufacturing experience in processing, process and product introduction, plastic food packaging metal forming, part design, machine safety, machine design, quality control, electronics and materials engineering.

B.S. (Metallurgical Engineering), University of Pennsylvania (1961)
Graduate courses -- MS Materials Science, Stanford University 1968, and Ph. D. Materials Science and Engineering Stanford University 1972

User and Worker safety, Product Liability and equipment design (Includes device safety, factory safety and machine guards)
Failure Analysis (Includes both materials and design)

  • Glass Damage & Failures: Jars, Bottles (Wine and Champagne), Safety Glass, Windows, Windshields, Dishes etc.
  • Metallurgical Failures:  Bolts, Cables, Welds, Pipes, Gears, Prosthetics, Ladders, Implants, Cutting Blades etc
  • Polymer (Plastic)Degradation and Failures: Piping, Packaging, Chairs, Medical Devices, Bottles, Bungee Cords, 
  • Ceramic and Porcelain Failures:  Fired ceramics, Grinding Wheels, Cutoff Blades and Structural Ceramics.
  • Corrosion Failures:  Galvanic, General; this includes materials selection and electronic devices.
  • Manufacturing Defects:  Any manufactured Item.
  • Wood Failures: Chairs, Ladders, Stairs, Window Leaks etc (Includes deterioration from rot).

Manufacturing Expertise: Includes Patents, Tooling, Processing, Product Design, Factory Safety (Machine Guards), Quality Control, Quality Verification, Reverse Engineering and Factory Procedures


Education

  1. Stanford University, Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, 1972
  2. Stanford University, MS Materials Science, 1969
  3. University of Pennsylvania, BS Metallurgical Engineering, 1965
  4. Diploma, Tercer Curso Panamericano de Metalurgia Nuclear, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1968

 

Professional Experience

1975 - Present  Engineering Consultant in private practice with attorneys and insurance adjusters. 
Litigation-related practice includes plaintiff and defense clients in approximately equal numbers.  Included are numerous depositions and trial appearances.


2001- 2001 Senior Metallurgical Engineer and Safety Engineer
Rheodyne, Inc. Rohnert Park, CA

1993 - 2001 Chief Metallurgist Komag Materials Technology Inc., Santa Rosa, California


1988 - 1993 Senior Thin Film Project Engineer Deposition Sciences Inc., Santa Rosa, California


1984 - 1988 Thin Film Circuit Engineer, Safety Engineer and Reliability Engineer 
Microwave Technology Inc., Fremont, California


1975 - 1984 Project Engineer, Safety Engineer and Project Manager
Hewlett Packard Co., Santa Rosa, California


1974 - 1975 Senior Project Engineer 
Optical Coating Laboratories Inc., Santa Rosa, California


1972 - 1974 Senior Process Engineer 
Corning Glass Works, Coming, New York. Included glass finishing process development and glass failure analysis.


1969 -1972 Engineering Consultant Failure Analysis Associates, Stanford, California.  Aided engineers with failure analysis.




Professional Memberships / Registrations

Registered Professional Engineer: Certificate No. MFOO2174, State of California