Sequencing machine news (or not)

24601 · Post by **24601** » 18 Sep 2008, 17:17

I know we don't get many rumours in Royal Mail (?!?!?!??) but there's one going round at the moment which sounds interesting.

Has anyone else heard that the Walk Sequencing Machine roll-out has been put back or on hold because of financial reasons ??

Or is it just a rumour ?

redhand · Post by **redhand** » 18 Sep 2008, 17:22

Had heard they had been put back 8 months, which would tie in with the new financial year. Only a rumour though. It's all gone very quiet.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 18 Sep 2008, 17:27

Maybe they cannot find a bank willing to lend them the thick end of 2 billion pound's when they have pension debt of anything between 3 to 7 billion pound's!.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 18 Sep 2008, 18:19

linkinpark wrote:Or maybe they realise they just aint worth wasting all that huge amount of cash on when the machines they have are ok, not brill but ok after beating BH & DW with the stick of sequencing machines they got what they wanted and so with the expanding flexi part time workforce they now have what they really wanted workers that do docket as and when required at minimal expense to RM to get a basic job done then why bother to buy new machines?

Depends what is a minaimal expence part-time+new-starter's!. Or full time staff makeing more money doing the job incorrectly!.

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 18 Sep 2008, 19:43

maybe they realise they just aint worth wasting all that huge amount of cash on when the machines they have are ok, not bril[Or l but ok after beating BH & DW with the stick of sequencing machines they got what they wanted and so with the expanding flexi part time workforce they now have what they really wanted workers that do docket as and when required at minimal expense to RM to get a basic job done then why bother to buy new machines?

The legacy machines don't do walk sequencing very well (if at all), and these same machines are used for I/W sort and Plan Breakdown all night in MCs, so there's no time to sequence sort for the DOs.
As to "why" they want new machines, that's simply answered- progress, nothing to do with part-time or flexi staff, but everything to do with cost reduction.

theflyingpostman · Post by **theflyingpostman** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:08

24601 wrote:I know we don't get many rumours in Royal Mail (?!?!?!??) but there's one going round at the moment which sounds interesting.

Has anyone else heard that the Walk Sequencing Machine roll-out has been put back or on hold because of financial reasons ??

Or is it just a rumour ?

Well if it's true I'd say it's good news as well as (un)common sense.

As I said in another thread what's the point in spending millions on these "WSM"s just to save at best 10 minutes.

When the same money would be better spend on flats & packets automation which would save much more money/man hours.

There is also the issue that most D.O.s and Mail Centres do not have any room for them. So there would have to be investment in new buildings as well.

On a side note we recently told that our mail centre would be getting "i-LSMs" to replace our worn out and elderly LSMs. Does anyone know what these i-LSMs do that a bog standard LSM can't?

Post by **kingtubby** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:31

theflyingpostman wrote: On a side note we recently told that our mail centre would be getting "i-LSMs" to replace our worn out and elderly LSMs. Does anyone know what these i-LSMs do that a bog standard LSM can't?

As I understand it, the iLSM is equivalent to a combined MTT/LSM but only has two tiers, with spaces for trays under each stacker. Supposedly, they only require two operators. Oh, and they apparently process up to 50k per hour.

theflyingpostman · Post by **theflyingpostman** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:34

kingtubby wrote:As I understand it, the iLSM is equivalent to a combined MTT/LSM but only has two tiers, with spaces for trays under each stacker. Supposedly, they only require two operators. Oh, and they apparently process up to 50k per hour.

Mart.

50K per hour! that is a rumour.

Post by **kingtubby** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:43

theflyingpostman wrote: 50K per hour! that is a rumour.

It was less than a year ago that we were told our MC was to be kitted out with 3 of these iLSMs, hence we saw all the glossy sales stuff, videos etc...three months later we find out that our office is to be culled as part of the mail centre 'rationalization' process

NWpostie · Post by **NWpostie** » 18 Sep 2008, 21:05

I wouldn't mind just going in a carry off, sort and deliver ready prepped mail, no more IPS, that was shte and boring, back to the way the job used to be

Tman · Post by **Tman** » 19 Sep 2008, 08:28

On a side note we recently told that our mail centre would be getting "i-LSMs" to replace our worn out and elderly LSMs. Does anyone know what these i-LSMs do that a bog standard LSM can't? [/quote]
As I understand it, the iLSM is equivalent to a combined MTT/LSM but only has two tiers, with spaces for trays under each stacker. Supposedly, they only require two operators. Oh, and they apparently process up to 50k per hour.
The iLSM has greater capacity and is AI scanner enabled as standard (unlike LSMs and Walk Sequencers) so it's more flexible in use.
The staffing agreement is only two operators per LSM currently.

Post by **kingtubby** » 19 Sep 2008, 14:00

Tman wrote:The staffing agreement is only two operators per LSM currently.

pickaname · Post by **pickaname** » 19 Sep 2008, 15:04

Walk sequencing is crap...I cant sort unsequenced mail just as quickly. Total waste of money for a 20 minute prep saving on newies...add the PDA scam and I bet its one of AL's companies that are producing all this 'new' technology.

Post by **kingtubby** » 19 Sep 2008, 16:12

pickaname wrote:Walk sequencing is crap...I can sort unsequenced mail just as quickly...

It's possible that RM are planning on greatly increasing the number of part-time delivery staff and walk sequenced mail is an aid to that end; Y'know, mums after the school run and so on...then again, considering the current preoccupation with meeting targets while using less and less staff, the idea that they have any firm long term plans is doubtful. It's more and more like fire-fighting every day.

hooniebagoonie · Post by **hooniebagoonie** » 19 Sep 2008, 16:20

i have been told by a very reliable source that walk sequencing is on hold because to make it financially viable 50% of staff need to be part time......the idea of walks being sequenced is for 1 postman to prep 2 walks with the 2nd being delivered by part time staff....at this time approx 7% of royal mail staff are part time
but it is only on hold till the indoor work load can be sorted out then its back on as to much money has been spent on the machines
:lfo :cfo