WSMs Operating Systems

[dvbuk55]

We are due to receive our WSMs in either February or March and will be sequencing mail for 2 other offices. The intention is to have two machines, so presumably each machine will sequence one office and when that is done both will sequence our mail - BUT, this is only guesswork. We don't have any offices within our area which have machines already so I'd be interested in how the system works, like how many operators, if the two hours on operation of the machine is adhered to, how long the shifts are e.g. 8 or 10 hours, who does what whilst the machines are in use and roughly how long it takes to complete a run, how accurate - in fact any information would be gratefully received.

[adb2aber]

In Swindon MC:

Mon-Sat 2 operators, 10 hour shifts, 4 days a week.
Sunday 2 operators, 6 hour shift

Not seen them in use so can't comment on anything else.

[pinstripe]

We're getting them in a couple of weeks.
Sounds like the same set up, we'll also do our neighbouring offices.
At the moment the duties are:
4 f/t shifts Monday to Thursday Nights (10 hour shifts)
Friday and Sunday Nights will be covered by reserves or SA, also 10 hour shifts.
The other offices are done first.
I've got all the info somewhere, PM me if you'd like it.

[AnnexeB]

if the two hours on operation of the machine is adhered to

Absolutely NOT. NEVER ! EVER !

And when you have your training, Royal Mail will immediately dismiss this when it goes live, and have you trying all sorts of dubious practices, to reach `targets`.

[postmanpat]

We're due to get them shortly.

The jobs have just been advertised as 5 nights with a rolling day off!

Bonkers?!

Who's going to sign for a duty pattern like that??

[CraigE]

We're due to get them shortly.

The jobs have just been advertised as 5 nights with a rolling day off!

Bonkers?!

Who's going to sign for a duty pattern like that??

That's what we got offered, 4 senior guys grabbed the posts bemoaning that the existing mech boys have it easy!
...boy are they in for a surprise,

No mech guys went in for them!

[POSTMAN]

We are due to receive our WSMs in either February or March and will be sequencing mail for 2 other offices. The intention is to have two machines, so presumably each machine will sequence one office and when that is done both will sequence our mail - BUT, this is only guesswork. We don't have any offices within our area which have machines already so I'd be interested in how the system works, like how many operators, if the two hours on operation of the machine is adhered to, how long the shifts are e.g. 8 or 10 hours, who does what whilst the machines are in use and roughly how long it takes to complete a run, how accurate - in fact any information would be gratefully received.

If you have 2 machines you should,going by what is happening down my way sequence more than 2 ofices.

[AnnexeB]

Im still perplexed that the Union have not sought a uniform way of doing this job. From what one can gather, each office has differnt shift patterns for the CSS operators, and seemingly no adherence to H&S.
We still have arguments as to the staffing levels expected. Is it one person to a machine for 8-10 hours ?? Or is it 3 peaople to two machines, thus enabling the chance to do 2 hours on, 2 hours off ??
For something that is of such importance to RMs future, the Union have been absolutely shoddy in their help in implementing basic workplace procedures for CSS operators.

[dvbuk55]

Thanks all for the info.

There won't be any more than 2 offices, that is a given - or at least as it stands at the moment

[dvbuk55]

Im still perplexed that the Union have not sought a uniform way of doing this job. From what one can gather, each office has differnt shift patterns for the CSS operators, and seemingly no adherence to H&S.
We still have arguments as to the staffing levels expected. Is it one person to a machine for 8-10 hours ?? Or is it 3 peaople to two machines, thus enabling the chance to do 2 hours on, 2 hours off ??
For something that is of such importance to RMs future, the Union have been absolutely shoddy in their help in implementing basic workplace procedures for CSS operators.

One of the reasons I was asking was to try to gauge exactly how many use the machines at once and how the changeover on 2 hour runs works - surely you would need 4 people to adhere to the proposed 2 on 2 off.

[POSTMAN]

Thanks all for the info.

There won't be any more than 2 offices, that is a given - or at least as it stands at the moment

Tbh i'm only going with a rough draft of offices having WSM's down my way and there deffo aint enough for just 2 offices plus parent office.

[dvbuk55]

Thanks all for the info.

There won't be any more than 2 offices, that is a given - or at least as it stands at the moment

Tbh i'm only going with a rough draft of offices having WSM's down my way and there deffo aint enough for just 2 offices plus parent office.

I'm not sure I know what you mean when you say there ain't enough - is that people or work or machines? - or am I being thick

[OnAFlyer]

if the two hours on operation of the machine is adhered to

Absolutely NOT. NEVER ! EVER !

And when you have your training, Royal Mail will immediately dismiss this when it goes live, and have you trying all sorts of dubious practices, to reach `targets`.

It is in our office.

We have 5 machines, duties are a 5 night rolling day off and 4 fixed nights (Tues-Fri).

The WSM operators either do IPS or prep walks on their 2 hrs off, some days we come in at 6 and all the first batch of sequencing is in the frames and some of the IPS done as well.

The problems are the MC service and machines breaking down. We regularly get 50%+ of mail on the second batch at 7am or so, and as we're last off the machines it is brought through for us to hand sort instead of waiting 2hrs+ for it. Also we get a breakdown probably once a week, usually a belt snapping and that pushes everything back.

The overall amount of IPS does NOT reduce, if anything it increases due to also doing some of the mail that should have been sequenced. The morning staff are on for a shorter time though when the WSM operators have been on through the night.

The bottom line is that in our office they are supposed to save 400hrs, when in reality it's absolutely nothing like that. We're usually waiting for the last batch of mail and actually get out later now than we did before the WSM's as it regularly comes in at 8.30-9am. I'm sure that will change when later start times come, but we still won't be saving anywhere near the amount they're supposed to. It's about 10-15 mins saving on my total prep, obviously it's significantly more on a walk you don't know but how many people are on new walks each day?


IF it worked properly, and the vast majority of mail was in and sequenced early then it would actually be a good idea. The problem is it doesn't and hasn't ever worked like that and it never will.

[POSTMAN]

Thanks all for the info.

There won't be any more than 2 offices, that is a given - or at least as it stands at the moment

Tbh i'm only going with a rough draft of offices having WSM's down my way and there deffo aint enough for just 2 offices plus parent office.

I'm not sure I know what you mean when you say there ain't enough - is that people or work or machines? - or am I being thick

Machines,what i mean is if there was one machine for 2 offices and the parent office there aint enough machines for the amount of DO's in my area.
That's why i feel that 1 machine would do more than the 3,not sure if that is possible though.

But i'm basing it from a PM i got over a year ago and can not rem the full figures tbf.
But it does sound like a lot of money spent per machine if it only does 3.

[PhilthyPhil]

Depends what size the offices are