Description: In The Rational Factory, Lindy Biggs contends that the design of the factory was a crucial factor in the development of American mass production - one that has been overlooked by historians on industry and technology. This interdisciplinary study draws from the fields of business history, engineering, technology, and architecture, as well as on theories of modernity, in examining attempts to rationalize the factory and the system's impact on those who worked under it. Designed to address "the labor problem" and other inefficiencies, the rational factory eliminated large numbers of workers and forced those who remained to give up traditional work habits and to work systematically. At the same time, the new factories did allow for easier supervision of labor and increased worker efficiency, primarily through modern shop floor organization. Biggs focuses on Henry Ford's model factories at Highland Park and River Rouge and analyzes the various design strategies Ford and his engineers employed to maximize output. Illustrated with photographs, floor plans, and "workflow" diagrams, The Rational Factory revisits Ford's contributions to mass production and deepens our understanding of American industrial society.

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