# Presentation: 299803

## MTAC Workgroup 93 Streamlining VerificationDebbie CooperBob Galaher

- May 18, 2005
- Washington DC

## Streamlining VerificationMTAC Workgroup 93

- Mission Statement:
- Collectively determine how the USPS and the Industry can leverage existing, or guide future, technological solutions into the mailing life cycle that can enhance the verification and induction process.
- Workgroup Lifecycle – May 2005 through Quarter I, 2006
- Three Task Teams (Subgroups):
-  Vision Team
-  Barcode Team
-  Concept Design & Test

## Streamlining VerificationMTAC Workgroup 93

- Vision Team (Sept. 2005)
- David Steinhardt, Pritha Mehra
- Barcode Team (Oct. 2005)
- Mury Salls, Jeff Freeman
- Concept Design & Test (March 2006)
-  Debbie Cooper, Robert Galaher

## Concept Design & Testing

- Goal
- Define processes for automated verification for Standard and Periodical mailers utilizing mail asset barcodes (pallets/handling units).
- Execute a proof of concept for automated verification with pallet barcodes.
- Status – Goal achieved
- Concept Works! – Current systems can fundamentally support a streamlined mailing acceptance/induction process

**Notes:**
Develop business services to align business processes with legacy and new IT resources to support a seamless acceptance supply chain.
Re-engineer current manual and paper driven 8125 process into automated, efficient, cost-effective, and seamless acceptance process.
Develop standard business services and rules to support seamless acceptance and in-process verification processes. 
Enable businesses to integrate its end-to-end business mail processes across the company and with external customers to improve service performance.
Evaluate, implement, and manage business services in relation to the seamless acceptance vision strategies and goals.

## Design, 
Leverage USPS systems for verification/payment, scheduling, and induction (PostalOne!, FAST and Surface Visibility)
Identity – Unique mail asset identifiers (barcode Mailer placard on pallets)
Verification/Payment – PostalOne! - pallet id links postage statement / appointment id links pallet id
Scheduling – FAST; pallet id tied to appointments
Induction – e8125; pallet id sent to SV for scanning at entry point

- Leverage USPS systems for verification/payment, scheduling, and induction (*PostalOne!,* FAST and Surface Visibility)
- Identity – Unique mail asset identifiers (barcode Mailer placard on pallets)
- Verification/Payment – *PostalOne! -* pallet id links postage statement / appointment id links pallet id
- Scheduling – FAST; pallet id tied to appointments
- Induction – e8125; pallet id sent to SV for scanning at entry point

**Concept Design & Testing**

## Concept Design & Testing

**Processes**

**Scheduling**

**       ****e8125s**

**Induction Events**

**Concept Design & Testing**

** ****Presort reports**

** ****Postage payments**

** ****Appointments**
**Tracked**

**Information**

**Notes:**
The concept was to leverage USPS information managements systems and use the DATA to drive PROCESSES and supply INFORMATION
Mailer submits electronic mailing information to PostalOne!
Acceptance clerks perform presort verifications
Mailer accesses FAST through PostalOne! and performs shipment management – PostalOne! tracks appointment and shipment information
Shipping planning reports are provided
Mailer submits postage payment information to PostalOne! – PostalOne! verifies payment and entry point plan information
Acceptance clerks verify postage details and submit statements for account withdrawal
PostalOne! transmits electronic 8125 information to Surface Visibility
Shipping Reports Updated
Shipments are transported to USPS entry facilities – appointments checked in and shipment content scanned to validate entry
Container Start-the-Clock
Conflicts resolved
Conditions noted
PostalOne! receives scan induction event information and updates induction reports – ensures postage correct
Mailing quality and service information reports updated

## Test, and Results
Three mailers at Three USPS Facilities
Concept works! – Successes:
Data exchange (information sharing)
Electronic 8125 (container specific)
Entry appointments, containers and postage statements linked (verification/payment)
Scan device supports business process
Initial visibility reports

- Three mailers at Three USPS Facilities
**Concept works!** – Successes:
- Data exchange (information sharing)
- Electronic 8125 (container specific)
- Entry appointments, containers and postage statements linked (verification/payment)
- Scan device supports business process
- Initial visibility reports

**Concept Design & Testing**

## Test and Results
Challenges (being addressed)
Technical aspects
Low scan rates
Data normalization and conformance
Business aspects
Reports require enhancements
Roles and access
Contingencies

- Challenges (being addressed)
- Technical aspects
- Low scan rates
- Data normalization and conformance
- Business aspects
- Reports require enhancements
- Roles and access
- Contingencies

**Concept Design & Testing**

**Notes:**
Low scan rates
Network Connectivity Problems at Facilities with the handheld devices (SV has resolved)
Hand held Scan devices needing OS upgrades/performance issues (SV sw release June)
Scanning issues through Shrink Wrap (MTAC 87)
Dock personnel could not distinguish between e8125 and paper 8125 mailings (PostalOne! pilot group will evaluate next pilot)
Low volume of shipments at designated facilities (Pilot group will evaluate next pilot)
Technical Issues
Scanning through shrink wrap (MTAC 87)
Data Integrity/Usability (MTAC 87)
with USPS data provided through ZipCin, Labeling Lists, and Mail.dat data 
Data processing of mixed load (paper/electronic)
Business Issues
Transitioning processes (Paper & Electronic) (All groups)
Data conformance (MTAC 87)
Roles and access (All groups – business process specific))
Contingencies (All groups – business process specific)
Process timing issues i.e. payments, scheduling (PostalOne! pilot group)
Content changes i.e. Split containers (PostalOne! pilot group)
Corrective adjustments i.e postage adjustments (PostalOne! pilot group)

## Next Steps

- Recommend Sunset MTAC 93 Workgroup
- Design and Concept Testing Final Report
- MTAC Group leadership determination
- Pilot test group
- Next test cycle this summer
- Pre-Induction event reporting
- Appointment updates to SV
- Segregation of paper vs. electronic 8125 loads to SV
- Post-Induction event reporting
- Shipment discrepancies and resolution actions
- Container discount vs. correct entry
- Mail irregularity reporting (SV to PostalOne!)