Walk sorting machines

[bendover]

Yeah thats 8 batches per machine.

[Boy May]

Yeah thats 8 batches per machine.

How big are the batches ? Were averaging around 6500 items a batch - Makes hitting dispatch times very tight as they reckon each batch should take 45mins !

[Boy May]

At our place its 3 machines doing 8 batches a night.This is run by 1 operator on each and one floating between them to help double batch. 10 till 8 on sunday and 11.30 till 9.30 mon to fri.we work for about 3 hours then take in turns for 15 min break.then about 4.30 or 5 ish we have a meal break together for half hour then get sorted for 2nd wave.That turns up bout 6.15 and we finish about 7.30-8 then clean machines and finish.

Are you just walk sorting second wave as you say it only takes 1hr 15mins ? 8 Batches at around 20-30 mins per batch on a second wave = 1hr 40 - 4hrs sequencing
7 batches at our MPU is taking 3hr 30min on the second wave - and 45 mins + on first !

[russ0r]

We're running 3 machines with 6 staff at the moment.
We have 1 guy on each machine until wave 2 hits, then 2 to a machine after that.

No idea about Bolton or crewe,
but theres so many different factors that impact on your figures,
if u get many incorrectly batched box's of mail, like we did (until recently) rejects seem to have quite a severe impact on the perfomance percentage,
not sure how true it is, but i was told by one driver who was dropping mail off at our place, that one of the leading offices only runs one wave ?!
sequencing mail will give u a higher score than walksorting it, so if they aren't doing a 2nd wave, they aren't walksorting anything.

If that's true then it's a pisstake :/
We were told our OEE figures aren't even taken into consideration on wave 2 because we walksort some of the batches. We only seem to be monitored on wave 1 because it's all sequenced.

[Boy May]

We're running 3 machines with 6 staff at the moment.
We have 1 guy on each machine until wave 2 hits, then 2 to a machine after that.

No idea about Bolton or crewe,
but theres so many different factors that impact on your figures,
if u get many incorrectly batched box's of mail, like we did (until recently) rejects seem to have quite a severe impact on the perfomance percentage,
not sure how true it is, but i was told by one driver who was dropping mail off at our place, that one of the leading offices only runs one wave ?!
sequencing mail will give u a higher score than walksorting it, so if they aren't doing a 2nd wave, they aren't walksorting anything.

If that's true then it's a pisstake :/
We were told our OEE figures aren't even taken into consideration on wave 2 because we walksort some of the batches. We only seem to be monitored on wave 1 because it's all sequenced.

This is true - Anyone sequenceing both waves will score higher than those that are only doing so on one !

Our OEE has shot up after ditching walsort to sequencing on wave 2

Still neither crew getting a break between waves though ! So our availability is always at a high percentage

False figures that give scores that are favourable to RM = No quick action taken !

[BettySwollocks]

This is true - Anyone sequenceing both waves will score higher than those that are only doing so on one !

Our OEE has shot up after ditching walsort to sequencing on wave 2

Still neither crew getting a break between waves though ! So our availability is always at a high percentage

False figures that give scores that are favourable to RM = No quick action taken !

We were told recently that we were one of the highest performers nationwide on the 2nd wave,
that is purely because we sequence where we possibly can, if we don't have time to sequence, we walksort it.
i'm not sequencing where i can to make myself the golden boy in my gaffers eyes, i'm doing it because i prefer it walksorting,
walksorting is a lot quicker i know, but i find sequencing less rushed, and more so, do u think our gaffer is gonna let us go home early anyway ?
she'd have us doing ips, throwing walks off, or if there was any mail ready to be delivered, she'd have us out the door with a bag on our shoulder,
and we take (at least ) all our entitled breaks, including half an hour between waves.

[Boy May]

This is true - Anyone sequenceing both waves will score higher than those that are only doing so on one !

Our OEE has shot up after ditching walsort to sequencing on wave 2

Still neither crew getting a break between waves though ! So our availability is always at a high percentage

False figures that give scores that are favourable to RM = No quick action taken !

We were told recently that we were one of the highest performers nationwide on the 2nd wave,
that is purely because we sequence where we possibly can, if we don't have time to sequence, we walksort it.
i'm not sequencing where i can to make myself the golden boy in my gaffers eyes, i'm doing it because i prefer it walksorting,
walksorting is a lot quicker i know, but i find sequencing less rushed, and more so, do u think our gaffer is gonna let us go home early anyway ?
she'd have us doing ips, throwing walks off, or if there was any mail ready to be delivered, she'd have us out the door with a bag on our shoulder,
and we take (at least ) all our entitled breaks, including half an hour between waves.

Lucky you !
How long have you been operating ?
Guess were just the new kids on the block learning the trade !
With all batches on first wave rarely short of 45 min run time - we are always looking at running late !
Trying to find solutions to ease for everyone on crew - But can't see it going down well if I start giving the o.k to walk sort first wave mail just because were a bit behind getting our break !
We will find a way once we've truely found our feet i'm sure !
Just concerned some are close to quiting before that has happened !

[greavsey]

Why do RM use lenght of service for these positions instead of using people who are more qualified experience wise?

[POSTMAN]

Why do RM use lenght of service for these positions instead of using people who are more qualified experience wise?

They don't,not for WSM's anyway,you go through an interview process.

[BettySwollocks]

One of the most senior guys in our office (2nd in office - approx 35 years service) initially got his full time spot on nights working on the CSS machines,
but then he was told he wasn't good enough to keep as a full time machine operator, he's now a reserve,
he reverts back to postman when not required.
so ability is taken into account.

[boymay]

Looks like our position regarding operators is to be made easier as we will know be working a 4 on 2 off roation which will allow enough hours to be able for a 4th member to be present !

[Tman]

One of the most senior guys in our office (2nd in office - approx 35 years service) initially got his full time spot on nights working on the CSS machines,
but then he was told he wasn't good enough to keep as a full time machine operator, he's now a reserve,
he reverts back to postman when not required.
so ability is taken into account.

Not before time. It's only been 40+ years of "jobs for the old boys" thanks to the CWU(UCW) and it's archaic practices.
What other company would ever select staff by start date rather than ability?

[hampshireman]

Trying to work out if were getting a good deal or not reading this !

Started CSS just 3 weeks ago

2 crews - 3 operators in each - rotating 4 day shift

2 Machines

1 operator per machine with one floating between machines

4 offices covered total of 14 batches per wave - 2 waves sequencing both

Wave 1 averaging 29 trays a batch - Wave 2 - 10/14 a batch

Shift hours are 11pm - 9am - 4 days on 4 days off (being reviewed shortly)

Were attempting to double batch the whole shift to make dispatch times and on both waves - At the mo (being new) struggling to get break at all Tuesday onwards !

I know it goes against SOP and H&S but that aside do we seem well off to others or not ?

Also could others please enlighten me as to how their shift patterns work ?

Cheers

Hello;

I thought that you boys were doing just famously.. Easy nights , feet up and eating cake!!! I must have been mistaken!!

Take Care