LTB 808/11 - Door 2 Door Update

[brothermagrew]

LTB No. 808/2011
Ref: 230.03
Date:23rd September 2011

To: All Branches with POSTAL Members
CWU Divisional Representatives
CWU Area Delivery Representatives

Dear Colleague

Door 2 Door Update

Branches will be aware that Royal Mail carried out a study in 2009 to establish a prep rate for D2D items. This study did not involve the CWU and the values were developed synthetically but based on previous study work. The results of that study were as follows.

Items per Minute:
1 item = 22 per minute
2 items = 22 per minute
3 items = 26 per minute
4 items = 31 per minute
5 items = 34 per minute
6 items = 34 per minute

As a consequence we requested a further study with our full involvement in order to be able to verify the accuracy of the previous study work. That study took place in Lewes in August 2010 and was designed to test the previous results in a live environment and to also review the original data. The results of that study were as follows -

Items per Minute:
1 item = 23 per minute
2 items = 28 per minute
3 items = 26 per minute
4 items = 28 per minute
5 items = 31 per minute
6 items = 33 per minute

We believed that there would be little significant difference in the time taken but we needed to verify our assumptions. Branches and representatives will note that there was a loss of time at the lower end but an increase in time at the higher end. To further establish the outcome of previous studies a further study was carried out in Bromley in July 2011.


The outcome of the Bromley study was not surprising and the results differed very slightly to the original study and not enough for there to be any tangible increase or decrease in the time taken to prep these items. It more or less confirmed the previous results. As the overall effect is nullified we have to give careful consideration as to whether it is worth raising this in the JWG dealing with Measurement & Performance. The main point for consideration here is how many contracts units are receiving on average and what is in our best interests overall.

However as we anticipated it did identify some irregular issues, the first was abnormal items (charity bags, sachets, newspaper etc), although some of these items had been included in the Lewes study there appears to an overall increase in these type of items which we believe could provide a genuine case for a further study and a potential increase in time for these items to be prepped, whilst at the same time recognising that in some cases they cannot be prepped and an alternative method of handling may be required. This will of course depend on the number of contracts received at any one time and the frequency in which they are received. We have requested a further study to concentrate on these items. We have also requested via the Delivery Reference Group for any such items to be forwarded to the Outdoor dept and Branches may be able to assist with this request via your Divisional reps.

The second issue was with RM2000 frames where they had double delivery points per slot, this identified a capacity issue which will in itself require a dedicated study and also a further delivery concern whereby the delivery OPG out on delivery has to count and separate D2D items at each delivery point that have been prepped back to back as a consequence of using 2 delivery points per slot. We are attempting to arrange further discussions with Royal Mail to address these issues.
We appreciate that progress on this subject is slow but we are endeavouring to move this forward ASAP. Further updates will be issued in due course.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson's Office, quoting reference 230.03.

Email address: hnutley@cwu.org

Yours sincerely
Bob Gibson
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

[DGP1]

I'm still confused by the numbers, when they say 33 per minute does that mean that I've got to prep 33 lots of D2Ds in a minute or does that mean 5 1/2 lots in a minute????

I know that DOMs will say the former but without any definitive answer I just don't know.

[fishtank]

It's an ipm measurement DG.
Items...singular
If you have 110 dp's for that day and 6 d2d thats 660 items or 20mins prep at 33 ipm.

[not me]

It's an ipm measurement DG.
Items...singular
If you have 110 dp's for that day and 6 d2d thats 660 items or 20mins prep at 33 ipm.

I dont get it
D2Ds are not meant to be combined. so how do they work these figures out?
33 per minute means its taking 1.8 seconds per item from the flat of the frame(?) into the slots
setting sorting rates for letters/flats is one thing
however D2D cime in all shapes and sizes and many are a pain to get into the frame

[DGP1]

It's an ipm measurement DG.
Items...singular
If you have 110 dp's for that day and 6 d2d thats 660 items or 20mins prep at 33 ipm.

Or in my case..............I take as long as I take and cut off if needed

[not me]

also why is it only now issues such as double slot frames and the likes are raised?
too late now that D2D is part of the workload
like so many things this should have been addressed before

[DGP1]

also why is it only now issues such as double slot frames and the likes are raised?
too late now that D2D is part of the workload
like so many things this should have been addressed before

Did you get extra time to prep them because my office didn't, people still come in early to make them up (I'm still in my bed when people are in ).

[fishtank]

D2Ds are not meant to be combined. so how do they work these figures out?
33 per minute means its taking 1.8 seconds per item from the flat of the frame(?) into the slots
setting sorting rates for letters/flats is one thing
however D2D cime in all shapes and sizes and many are a pain to get into the frame

Not combined but collated.
You line up 6 small bundles on the frame.
You put one on top of the next until you have all 6.
Then you slot them into the frame.
It works in an empty RM2000 frame with single slots and 6 reasonably similar D2D's
Of course it's not supposed to be an empty frame,seldom single slots and never 6 similar D2D but i bet it was during the trials.

[red666bear]

blue recycle bin = job done.

[maninred]

blue recycle bin = job done.

Also equals JOB f****d.

[not me]

also why is it only now issues such as double slot frames and the likes are raised?
too late now that D2D is part of the workload
like so many things this should have been addressed before

Did you get extra time to prep them because my office didn't, people still come in early to make them up (I'm still in my bed when people are in ).

nah,but given i dont work over im happy to do my 20%
funniest day was when they made us lapse too much
I told them it was too much but they wouldnt listen
so i cut and sent back my last bag which was the part with all the D2D's

[POSTMAN]

Cheers BM,copied into downloads.

[not me]

D2Ds are not meant to be combined. so how do they work these figures out?
33 per minute means its taking 1.8 seconds per item from the flat of the frame(?) into the slots
setting sorting rates for letters/flats is one thing
however D2D cime in all shapes and sizes and many are a pain to get into the frame

Not combined but collated.
You line up 6 small bundles on the frame.
You put one on top of the next until you have all 6.
Then you slot them into the frame.
It works in an empty RM2000 frame with single slots and 6 reasonably similar D2D's
Of course it's not supposed to be an empty frame,seldom single slots and never 6 similar D2D but i bet it was during the trials.

which is exactly the problem with all of these permanence standard type things

[DGP1]

so i cut and sent back my last bag which was the part with all the D2D's

[not me]

so i cut and sent back my last bag which was the part with all the D2D's

should have seen the DIMs face when he clicked
I did warn then
they dont calculate travelling time to lapsing
the usual its only 10 minutes