Ralph Bowden

Anatomy of a Factory Ralph Bowden

In this novel, a documentary-like narrator introduces us to Jenner, Inc., a stove manufacturing plant in a fictional middle Tennessee town. We meet some of its roughly 100 employees, and examine the plant culture. The factory is owned by a large Chicago holding company, which has recently installed an aloof CEO and his austere and ominous executive assistant. Everybody fears and resents them, their probably exorbitant salaries, their lax work schedule, and their exclusive grip on all communications with the Chicago home office. Profits are down and budgets are very tight. Nobody feels confident in the plant's future or secure in their jobs. Ultimately, Marion, the plant manager's efficient office manager, overcomes her high personal standards and conspires with the plant network nerd and a bitter and unstable ex-salesman to try to uncover what is really going on. Can they save Jenner, Inc?