# Presentation: 800203

##  MERLIN 

** ****Mailers Technical Advisory Committee**
*** *****John Sadler**
** ****Manager,  Business Mail Acceptance**
** ****August 2001**

** *****MERLIN ***
***Mailing Evaluation Readability and Lookup INstrument***

##  Comprehensive
 Consistent
 Objective
 Reliable
 Simultaneous verification
 Fast 
   - 15 to 20 minutes for each verification       

** ****Consistent**
** ****Objective**
** ****Reliable**
** ****Simultaneous verification**
** ****Fast **
**   ****- 15 to 20 minutes for each verification       **

**MERLIN**

**Business Mail Entry**

##  Simultaneous Verification

**   ****Presort/Mail Makeup**
**   ****Weight and Piece Count**
**   ****Barcode Readability**
**  ****Tray Label Accuracy**
**  ****Address and Barcode **
**     ****Accuracy**

**Business Mail Entry**

**  ****Walk Sequence accuracy**
**   ****Mailpiece dimensions**
**   ****Endorsements and rate**
**     ****markings**
**   ****Combined mailings**
**   ****Meter identification and  **
**    ****date**

## MERLIN Benefits

**Speeds-up the verification process**
**Makes it easier to do business with us**
**Improves the quality of mail**
**Improves mail processing and delivery efficiency  **
**Captures business mail data**
**Ensures accurate postage collection**
**      **

**Business Mail Entry**

## Schedule

**Business Mail Entry**

**               ****Phase 1            **
** ****BOG Approval  August 2000**
**   **
** ****200 Machines**
** ****Southeast/Southwest Areas**
** ****Deployment began:  May 2001**
**         **
** ****Deployment ends:  March 2002  **
**         **

**               ****Phase II**
**  ****CIC Approval     July 2001**
**    **
** ****BOG Approval   October 2001**
** ****1003 Machines**
** ****Contract Award   October 2001**
** ****Deployment begins:  March 2002**
** ****Deployment ends:    August  2003**

##    43 machines deployed as of July 20th   

**   ****43 ****machines deployed as of July 20th   **
**   ****Mail test results for the week ending July 20:**
**        **
**    ****-  29% of mailings found with barcode errors**
**    ****-  7.9% of mailings found with presort problems**
**     ****- .6% of mail mailings found with shortpaid postage**
**     **

**Current Information**

**Business Mail Entry **

## Training

**Training**
**    ****Train-the-trainer conducted by Bell & Howell**
**    ****Trainers instruct Business Mail Entry Staff  **
**                   ****8 Hours Local Training**
**      ****Includes:  Machine operation**
**	****	****        ****Reports analysis**
**                              ****Mail selection process**
**    ****Electronic Technician (ET9) - 7 Days**
** ****Norman, OK**

**Business Mail Entry**

## Process Changes

**  ****Permit System Upgrade - notification when**
**     ****MERLIN verifications are due**
**   ****Criteria for Verifications**
**         ****Under 10,000 pieces   -  1 in 6   -  500 pieces **
**         ****Over 10,000 pieces     -   every mailing - 1800 pieces**
**    ****MERLIN generates sampling plan for tray, bundle and**
**      ****sack selection**
**  **

**Business Mail Entry**

## Policy Changes 

**   **
**     **
**   ****60 Day grace period for barcode readability**
**   ****60 Day grace period for carrier route **
**     ****walk-sequence mailings**
**   **
**   **
**    **

**Business Mail Entry**

## Communications Plan

**  ****Notification letters sent to customers before installation**
**   ****Internal Publications**
**   ****Mailer Association Articles**
**   ****Lobby and Business Mail Entry Unit Posters**

**Business Mail Entry**

## MERLIN

- Business Mail Entry

**Questions**