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AUTOMATED POSTAL CENTERS (APCS) Singulation and Scanning Induction Unit Automated Package Processing System Integrated Processing Facility USPS Automation Outlook (Lu's News) 30 page PDF with lots of pictures...well worth checking out Minutes of the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (Nov. 03)
AUTOMATED POSTAL CENTERS (APCS)
Automated kiosk takes letters, parcels 24/7 May 20, 2004 USPS Hopes Kiosks Will Shorten Long Lines US Postal Service Automated Postal Centers (Lu's News) Editorial: The case for kiosks (washingtonpost.com) 21st Century Government: (Kiosks cut red tape)
KIOSKS COME TO SOUTH JERSEY
Broward County (FLA) Area Local KIS Gets HR Kiosk Contract (Biz Ink) A Good Deal for Louisville Firm (The Daily Camera) LABOR FORCE SCHEDULE OPTIMIZER SYSTEM (SOS)
BIO-AGENT DETECTION SYSTEM (BADS)
Further Testing of BADS Postponed Northrup Grumman Team Move Forward Machine to detect anthrax preps for testing PARS (POSTAL AUTOMATION REDIRECTION SYSTEM)
What it is: Automatically identifies, intercepts, and redirects COA and UAA mail Area of impact: CFS Deployment schedule: (Phase 1) July 2003 to February 2004 CIOSS Upgrade Fuels PARS (Siemens) PARS for the course (USPS news link online) Postal Automation Redirection System PARS from LuNewsViews Montgomery Alabama Area Local-APWU CNET.com - News item: USPS Places Buy Proposed Changes--Federal Register
MERLIN (MAIL EVALUATION READABILITY LOOKUP INSTRUMENT)
What it is: Evaluates barcode readability and calculates weight and postage for Pre-sort Mail. Replaces ABE (Automated Barcode Evaluator). Area of impact: Bulk Mail Acceptance Clerks Deployment schedule: January 2001 to August 2003 (Full deployment expected as of July 2004) USPS: 95% of MERLIN Tested Mail Passing Barcode Readability (added 5/9/04) Unraveling the Mysteries of MERLIN (DMNews) MERLIN Magic Still Missing (DMNews) IPC Mail Update: MERLIN Phase II Deployment Begins Direct Mail Marketing Specialists - E-Newsletter Past Issues MERLIN from R.R. Donnelley Logistics What it is: A modification of the current DBCS which provides for more efficient sortation of super thin mail pieces, without adversely affecting the machine's ability to process "clean" mail or bulkier pieces. Area of impact: Manual Distribution sections in plants and AOs Deployment schedule: Now through 2003 Denver APWU (4th item--"045 Being Eliminated")
SMALL PARCEL & BUNDLE SORTER OCR What it is: A modification to the current SPBS, much as was previously done to the FSM 881s, that will turn a keying position into a Mail Processing position. As with the 881s, this is an interim measure to automate package sortation until the APPS (see below) is completely deployed. Other modifications are also being made to the SPBS, including voice recognition ("other modifications" link) which has been installed at several plants. Area of impact: SPBS keyers (about 1000 nationwide) Deployment schedule: Currently underway, scheduled to be more or less completed early in 2003
SINGULATION AND SCANNING INDUCTION UNITS (SSIU)
What it is: Allows for single-file presentation of packages to an automated scan/reader, thus eliminating the need for Parcel Post Distribution keyers. Area of impact: Bulk Mail Centers Deployment schedule: Deployment, projected at 2 SSIUs per BMC, is complete Press Release: ACCU-SORTŪ Systems, inc. Scanners to streamline package delivery (2000) PACKAGE SINGULATOR (Commerce Business Daily 4/22/96)
AUTOMATED PACKAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM (APPS)
What it is: Brings OCR, BCR and VCS technology to the sorting of parcels and bundles. Will likely do to the SPBS what AFSM 100 did to the 881s. Area of impact: SPBS and Manual Clerks Deployment Schedule: Approximately 80 systems scheduled for deployment beginning in 2003 through 2005 Parascript Technology from Lockheed for APPS USPS Automated Package Parcel Sorter & PARS Updates (Lu's News) Then Cometh APPS! (Alabama Rural Letter Carriers) Prototype for USPS wins Lockheed sorting system contract (GCN) Transformation Plan (Appendix M, page 16) (PDF) APPS: Automated Package Processing System (Lockheed) The Pace Report (near document's end) APPS to be deployed (PDF, page 3) Lockheed Martin gets Contract for APPS
MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY REPORTING & SCHEDULING SYSTEM (MARS)
What it is: As I understand it, MARS is, essentially, a software program that tracks and schedules maintenance and custodial activity, as well as tracking inventory and maintaining stock room control. If the program worked properly, it would likely result in job cuts among maintenance control clerks. I'm told it doesn't work properly. I am aware of one controversial aspect to the program--that being that it "rounds up," meaning that a route more than half done is recorded as completed; this, in turn, has caused many a manager to "encourage" employees to finish just a little more than half of any given route. MARS is a very popular acronym; literally hundreds of MARS programs exist on the "web", not a few of them devoted to Maintenance and Stock Room Control. I have surfed through a thousand or more web sites and must report that I could find nothing about the USPS MARS out there. It is frequently mentioned in passing in a USPS speech, but without details. Area of impact: Maintenance Control Clerks Deployment schedule: ongoing since 1995
ADVANCED FLAT SORTING MACHINE (AFSM 100) What it is: Will do for Flat Mail what the DBCS did for Letter Mail. Area of impact: FSM 881s (pictured) and Clerk Keyers
Deployment schedule: Fully deployed. Modifications expected to decrease Clerk Sweeping positions (Automatic Tray Takeaway System), eliminate Remote Keying (DCOs) and gradually increase percentage of mail sorted in Walk Sequence. USPS is looking at 2005 deployment of DPP or FSS (Delivery Point sequencing of flat mail--see top two links). USPS to use E-learning to Boost flats productivity (USPS) AFSM 100 Update (San Antonio Alamo Area Local) Federal Times Online (The Future for Flats) Mailers concerned about damaged flats Synapse TAP FS100 Speech Recognition device for AFSM 100 Flat Mail ICS Label Development Denver Local (APWU) (from 2000)
What it is: TMS is a facility wide transport system which, in theory, moves mail from one operation to the next (all the way to dispatch) automatically. Conceived in the late 80's and early 90's, TMS has been slow in coming to full USPS use. Has been found to be fragile and unreliable, thus not resulting in expected job loss to date. Has found extensive use in Private Industry. A TMS type system was attempted, then scrapped, as a transport system for luggage at the Denver Airport. The USPS has not given up on TMS and several companies (including Siemens Dematic) are working on eliminating the design flaws at this time. TMS, in some form or other, is currently employed at approximately 43 Postal facilities. Area of impact: Mail Transport (Mail handlers and Clerks in Processing Centers) Deployment schedule: Deployment underway (Phase 3), completion date unknown atonline: Trains return to the postal system? Siemens Dematic - Postal Application Stories A Weighty Problem (PMS - Newsletter: September 2002) Lockheed Martin (September, 2000) Lockheed Martin (February 1999)
AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE (AGV)
What it is: Just what it sounds like, a laser guided vehicle for the transport of mail within a facility. Currently utilized in "Lights Out" facilities. Area of impact: Mail handlers Deployment schedule: None announced AGV (PDF version of above, with more pictures) AGV Electronics AGV School (added 5/23/04) Types of AGVs (added 5/23/04) Automatic/Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS & AGV's)--links provided (added 5/23/04)
What it is: The Mail Cartridge System is a "Robotic" system that, fully deployed, automatically loads, feeds, and sweeps automation machinery such as the DBCS. It also dispatches full trays. Potentially, MCS would eliminate Letter-mail Mail Processors. Projected costs for production and deployment currently exceed projected savings, therefore there are no current plans to order or build MCS beyond those currently at "Lights Out" facilities. Area of impact: Mail Processors Deployment schedule: successfully completed testing phase, no current plans to deploy Siemens Dematic (follow site path-Letter Processing, DBCS, Options)
INTEGRATED PROCESSING FACILITY ("LIGHTS OUT")
What it is: Armageddon Area of impact: Human Beings Deployment schedule: 2020??? USPS Automation Outlook (PostalReporter.com) Private Mailer opens Fully Automated Processing Plant "You don't have to pay IT overtime." USPS BOASTS AUTOMATION AT "NPF, NEW ORLEANS" ! Introducing IPF to the world (PDF) Winter 99 - Mail Handler Express Debugging IPF (last item) (Jan. 2001) RW ONLINE:Postal Wage Slaves (2000)
Photographs are taken from the listed links; if you hold copyright to any of these photographs and wish them removed from this page, please so notify us and we will do so. The Red Bank Local, APWU, AFL-CIO, is a non-profit organization.
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