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
