Forty Four

“That’s what we’re looking at. From what marketing tells me, we’re already losing business because of our price, our quality, or a combination of both. Furthermore — and this is in your bailiwick — I understand that the magnitude of our sales allowances is increasing alarmingly. The reason for that is that our delivered quality — to be brutally frank — is a long way from great.”

Instead of addressing Baxter’s points, Anders retorted, “Where in hell did this cockamamie idea come from, anyway? This airhead you brought to the meeting with you? She can’t know anything about machine tools. She’s just a pretty face, for God’s sake.”

“Wait a minute!” Brad interjected. “While I agree that Miss Kane has a lovely face, it happens to be in front of the most powerful brain I’ve ever encountered. ‘Can’t know anything about machine tools’ I think you said? Well, I have a surprise for you: Miss Kane happens to have her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Cal Tech. Her dissertation deals with machin