July
27, 2010 - OIG Report (PDF):
This report discusses the Flats Sequencing System (FSS) program
status and its projected financial impact and addresses both
operational and financial risks
USPS OIG Audit Report – Flats Sequencing
System: Production First Article Testing Readiness and Quality
"To enhance FSS program success, the
Postal Service needs to focus greater attention on several areas to
better prepare for production FAT and improve production quality.
Specifically: • Workload – Mail volumes and the number of mail zones
processed at the FSS test site are below the assumptions made in the
Decision Analysis Report (DAR). This prevents vigorous system testing,
and increases the risk of system performance problems and financial
returns lower than expected. • FAT Schedule – The FSS program schedule
does not allow time for the results of the in-plant FAT to be evaluated
before field FAT begins. • Critical Deliverables – Delays in the following
SOW deliverables may affect system maintainability and performance.
o Preliminary Production Baseline Technical Data Package (PPBTDP)
o Maintenance Diagnostic and Support System (MDSS) o Program Control
System (PCS) • Production Quality Control – The supplier’s production
quality control needs improvement to ensure that systems are built
to provide reliable and consistent performance."
FSS (Flat
Sequencing System) (Posted August 13, 2007) • Will reduce city
carrier work load by 85%.
• 3/4 of city carrier
volume is flats, most City Carriers spend 2 hours in office and
6 hours on street with
30 minute fixed office time break.
FSS will reduce office
time and increase street time. source: NAPUS
Flat
Sequencing System Information Published Nov. 14, 2007
FSS
Street Tray
New
Equipment Dolly
Dulles FSS Installed
& Running Test Decks
Dulles
Stand Alone Mail Prep (SAMP)
APWU MOU (Posted November 4, 2007)
Memorandum
of Due Consideration of Article 32 Factors Related to Contracting Out
the Installation of the Phase 1 Flats Sequencing Systems (FSS)
The USPS plans to use contract construction
firms to build facility expansions, install utilities, and perform demolition/construction
site preparation to accommodate this large system. Once the facility expansions
are constructed and released for occupancy, the local USPS Plant Manager
will perform an analysis to decide whether to perform the general equipment
site preparation activities, as described in the site preparation guidelines,
with postal personnel or to outsource such work. The local USPS Plant
Manager will be responsible for issuing local Article 32 memorandums addressing
such considerations.
FSS (Flat Sequencing System) 'Takin'
It to the Street'
FLAT SEQUENCING SYSTEM (FSS) PRE-ARBITRATION
SETTLEMENT AND MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING NALC -
This involves three documents. The first is a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) that establishes a Joint Task Force to explore alternative work
methods for handling mail in an FSS environment, as well as implementation
and operating procedures. The parties recognize that their interests are
best served through a cooperative effort. They also agree to jointly examine
the methods and procedures related to handling DPS flats.
The second document is a Memorandum of Understanding on FSS Implementation
that stipulates that once FSS is fully implemented in a delivery unit,
management will determine the methods to estimate the impact of FSS and
adjust routes accordingly. Sixty days after implementing those route adjustments,
the local parties will review the adjustments to make sure each route
is as near eight hours as possible. If either party determines a route
is not properly adjusted, it will be adjusted consistent with the M-39
handbook, or by any adjustment formula locally agreed to by the parties.
The third document withdraws the national-level grievance on the method
of determining FSS impact and the associated employment of transitional
employees.
Under the 2006-2011 tentative accord, the USPS will be granted the right
to employ up to 8,000 TEs during all phases of its implementation of the
Flat Sequencing System. Although these FSS TEs may be used in any of the
Postal Service’s 80 districts that could be affected by FSS, there will
be a TE limit of 8 percent of carrier employment in any individual district.
MOU - Re: FSS
Implementation
The United States Postal Service and National Association of Letter Carriers,
AFL-CIO mutually recognize that the delivery point sequencing of flat
mail will change the delivery environment, ultimately producing better
service for postal customers. The Postal Service experienced significant
benefits in 1993 by automating the processing and sequencing of letter
mail, as the parties worked together to implement that technology. In
the interest of working jointly on this technology the parties agree to
the following:
1. Once FSS is fully implemented in a delivery unit, management will determine
the methods to estimate impact in a delivery unit and make route adjustments
accordingly.
2. Sixty days after implementing route adjustments for FSS, the local
parties will review the adjustments to ensure that routes are as near
8 hours as possible. This sixty day period will not count toward the special
route inspection process (Section 271, Handbook M-39; Section 918, Handbook
M-41). If either party determines that the route(s) is not properly adjusted,
then the
route(s) will be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of Handbook
M-39 or, if applicable, a locally agreed upon adjustment formula.
The terms of this Memorandum are effective immediately and continue through
all phases of Flats Sequencing System (FSS) implementation.
July 26, 2007
Multi-phase / Development Deployment
Prototype – Indianapolis IN
Apr 2006
BOG Approval / 100 FSS Machines
Dec 2006
Pre-production Install – Dulles P & DC
Jun 2007
Pre-production – Live Operations
Oct 2007
Production First Article
Jul 2008
Phase 1 Deployment Begin
Oct 2008
Phase 1 Deployment End
Oct 2010
