Spedley wrote:I still don't know what bench merging is? Can someone explain it really slowly to me.
Putting non-sequenced mail for the streets into their correct boxes.
Then sorting that box into delivery order.
Then take that sorted mail and add it into the sequenced boxes at the correct delivery point. This is where they get the name bench merging because you won't be putting the sequenced into the frame, you'll be merging it in either the perstop it came in, or the table your frame sits on.
Thanks, I think I may understand now. It didn't make sense to me before because I couldn't understand how that could be quicker than using an RM2000. I think the intention is that each box would contain a bundle of sequenced mail, 5 or 10 un-sequenced letters and a couple of small packets. You take out the bundle, feed in the few letters into order and put it with d2d in your bag, several boxes per loop etc.
Admittedly, that does sound pretty fast assuming there is very little un-sequenced mail which I have my doubts about. Perhaps in a few years time it will make more sense. It will however mean later starts because it all has to be sequenced and there won't be much IPS to do. It also means that if something goes wrong somewhere we won't be delivering anything until it is fixed.
Spedley wrote:I still don't know what bench merging is? Can someone explain it really slowly to me.
Putting non-sequenced mail for the streets into their correct boxes.
Then sorting that box into delivery order.
Then take that sorted mail and add it into the sequenced boxes at the correct delivery point. This is where they get the name bench merging because you won't be putting the sequenced into the frame, you'll be merging it in either the perstop it came in, or the table your frame sits on.
Thanks, I think I may understand now. It didn't make sense to me before because I couldn't understand how that could be quicker than using an RM2000. I think the intention is that each box would contain a bundle of sequenced mail, 5 or 10 un-sequenced letters and a couple of small packets. You take out the bundle, feed in the few letters into order and put it with d2d in your bag, several boxes per loop etc.
Admittedly, that does sound pretty fast assuming there is very little un-sequenced mail which I have my doubts about. Perhaps in a few years time it will make more sense. It will however mean later starts because it all has to be sequenced and there won't be much IPS to do. It also means that if something goes wrong somewhere we won't be delivering anything until it is fixed.
You're probably going to get later starts anyway as a result of Network 18 as the stuff arrives in MCs later, with less time to process it in, some early runs from MCs to DOs might even get axed where there's no longer enough mail to take to the DO to justify the cost of sending it early. The chances of having very little un-sequenced mail are not a chance in hell, with a combination of the mail coming in later (Network 18) and later starts (SWW), there will be less time in which to sequence the mail and the sequencing can't start any later because of firms walks. Realistically you're going to have to get used to getting more mail unsequeneced where there just isn't the time to run it. Get used to the idea of potentially 6+ boxes going manual instead of being sequenced, with wave 2 there's only enough time allowed per batch to sequence a max of 8 boxes, anything over that will have to go manual
SpacePhoenix wrote:
You're probably going to get later starts anyway as a result of Network 18 as the stuff arrives in MCs later, with less time to process it in, some early runs from MCs to DOs might even get axed where there's no longer enough mail to take to the DO to justify the cost of sending it early. The chances of having very little un-sequenced mail are not a chance in hell, with a combination of the mail coming in later (Network 18) and later starts (SWW), there will be less time in which to sequence the mail and the sequencing can't start any later because of firms walks. Realistically you're going to have to get used to getting more mail unsequeneced where there just isn't the time to run it. Get used to the idea of potentially 6+ boxes going manual instead of being sequenced, with wave 2 there's only enough time allowed per batch to sequence a max of 8 boxes, anything over that will have to go manual
It's almost impossible to believe that RM have invested fortunes on machinery to sequence mail only to send out more unsequenced mail?
The SWW is based on there being less indoor work not more, if there isn;t a solution in the background to your perceived problems then i;ll be astounded
A2B wrote:It's almost impossible to believe that RM have invested fortunes on machinery to sequence mail only to send out more unsequenced mail?
The SWW is based on there being less indoor work not more, if there isn;t a solution in the background to your perceived problems then i;ll be astounded
My personal opinion is that the Mail Centres are going to get the same sort of things as we have been for the last 10 years or so. Ok they have had mail centres merge and some streamlining of the system, but as they approach 100% saturation in Delivery I think they will be looking at ways to improve local efficiency for all MCs, rather than the Gross inefficiencies they've have been tackling.
Just one anecdotal experience from me, but when I worked in a Mail Centre I was told to slow down as I was sorting too fast. If that still happens then I can see that as an easy target for improvement and one that the CWU will need to watch out for.
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A2B wrote:It's almost impossible to believe that RM have invested fortunes on machinery to sequence mail only to send out more unsequenced mail?
The SWW is based on there being less indoor work not more, if there isn;t a solution in the background to your perceived problems then i;ll be astounded
My personal opinion is that the Mail Centres are going to get the same sort of things as we have been for the last 10 years or so. Ok they have had mail centres merge and some streamlining of the system, but as they approach 100% saturation in Delivery I think they will be looking at ways to improve local efficiency for all MCs, rather than the Gross inefficiencies they've have been tackling.
Just one anecdotal experience from me, but when I worked in a Mail Centre I was told to slow down as I was sorting too fast. If that still happens then I can see that as an easy target for improvement and one that the CWU will need to watch out for.
i totally agree with your opinion , i worded my reply to try an avoid to same old "there's no room for savings at my MC"
I can't see how this won't have a significant effect on quality, missorts missed, redirections missed, keepsafes missed, any D2D control gone, dog alerts missed, if there is any problems at the MC stage there will be no scope to rectify anything so there will be more failures, it really is a retrograde step for the business purely on the basis of what will in reality be a small saving if any.
What I want to know is why the union appears to be so supportive, there's absolutely nothing in this for us apart from more job losses and a more difficult delivery role with potential health issues. I would like to think my union would fight this with all the resources at their disposal. It's an attack on jobs and terms and conditions. I wouldn't expect them to enable it.
fishtank wrote:I can't see how this won't have a significant effect on quality, missorts missed, redirections missed, keepsafes missed, any D2D control gone, dog alerts missed.
Having had the misfortune to be on the receiving end of some very poor double preppers in my time all those concerns apply to that method of working as well.
Yet we persist with it.
Bench merging is simply different way of working. I don't see it as being any better or any worse. It is workable, probably.
Quality of service has to be paid for. Clearly RM are not too concerned with a poorer service as long as they can keep the costs down.
The CWU? I really do not understand what their priorities are, except to keep a seat at the table (and a snout in the trough?)
The societies of consumption and squandering of material resources are incompatible with the idea of economic growth and a clean planet.
Royal Mail are obviously mad keen to push this as it represents saving time indoors. On a personal note I do hate putting the sequenced mail in the frames as mine are all double slots.
There are a few issues. First, there are always mis-sorts in the first wave and they are just random as to where they are. Now and again, there is also the odd special letter knocking around too! Putting mail from the second wave into the first doesn't seem to be too much of a problem but putting mis-sorts from walk-sorting always is. Even if there are only a dozen mis-sorts, just try putting them in when you have already bundled up!! What about all the large letters?? Are they to be in the same trays as the small letters?
I think there will be a loss in quality of service if this ever gets implemented. A couple of letters not being delivered next day, one or two redirections missed, parcels not being delivered as they are not being marked up etc etc. On the face of it, it might not make a lot of sense in taking sequenced mail out of trays just to put them into the frame in sequence order, but unless we can get a 99.9% perfect one wave sequenced batch, then it really wouldn't be worth doing because it would probably create too much chaos and confusion.
On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.
A2B wrote:It's almost impossible to believe that RM have invested fortunes on machinery to sequence mail only to send out more unsequenced mail?
The SWW is based on there being less indoor work not more, if there isn;t a solution in the background to your perceived problems then i;ll be astounded
My personal opinion is that the Mail Centres are going to get the same sort of things as we have been for the last 10 years or so. Ok they have had mail centres merge and some streamlining of the system, but as they approach 100% saturation in Delivery I think they will be looking at ways to improve local efficiency for all MCs, rather than the Gross inefficiencies they've have been tackling.
Just one anecdotal experience from me, but when I worked in a Mail Centre I was told to slow down as I was sorting too fast. If that still happens then I can see that as an easy target for improvement and one that the CWU will need to watch out for.
It must be a while since you worked in an MC, managers are always monitoring performance. Some days now it seems like there's more casuals than RM staff and it seems to be the norm now for managers to be doing postmans work on any shift. The use of converyor belts slows things down as a normal crash you can have 4 people sorting at a time where as with a conveyor you can only have 2 people sorting at a time.
The sending of less sequenced mail to DOs, is just down to time. You can only do it as fast as the machines allow and with batches getting bigger, the longer it takes to run it. Once the SWW kicks in, with wave 1 we're likely to have to limit the batches to a max of 18-20 boxes where as now we often run around 28 on a busy day. There's only enough time to run about a max of 8 boxes per batch on wave 2 so that's going to result in more going manual. With the work coming in later, all IMPs/iLSMs will be running their breakdown plan (the sort plans that sort them mail into batches) later so more mail will go manual from that as well where the early batches have already been run.
A2B wrote:It's almost impossible to believe that RM have invested fortunes on machinery to sequence mail only to send out more unsequenced mail?
The SWW is based on there being less indoor work not more, if there isn;t a solution in the background to your perceived problems then i;ll be astounded
My personal opinion is that the Mail Centres are going to get the same sort of things as we have been for the last 10 years or so. Ok they have had mail centres merge and some streamlining of the system, but as they approach 100% saturation in Delivery I think they will be looking at ways to improve local efficiency for all MCs, rather than the Gross inefficiencies they've have been tackling.
Just one anecdotal experience from me, but when I worked in a Mail Centre I was told to slow down as I was sorting too fast. If that still happens then I can see that as an easy target for improvement and one that the CWU will need to watch out for.
It must be a while since you worked in an MC, managers are always monitoring performance. Some days now it seems like there's more casuals than RM staff and it seems to be the norm now for managers to be doing postmans work on any shift. The use of converyor belts slows things down as a normal crash you can have 4 people sorting at a time where as with a conveyor you can only have 2 people sorting at a time.
The sending of less sequenced mail to DOs, is just down to time. You can only do it as fast as the machines allow and with batches getting bigger, the longer it takes to run it. Once the SWW kicks in, with wave 1 we're likely to have to limit the batches to a max of 18-20 boxes where as now we often run around 28 on a busy day. There's only enough time to run about a max of 8 boxes per batch on wave 2 so that's going to result in more going manual. With the work coming in later, all IMPs/iLSMs will be running their breakdown plan (the sort plans that sort them mail into batches) later so more mail will go manual from that as well where the early batches have already been run.
A2B wrote:It's almost impossible to believe that RM have invested fortunes on machinery to sequence mail only to send out more unsequenced mail?
The SWW is based on there being less indoor work not more, if there isn;t a solution in the background to your perceived problems then i;ll be astounded
My personal opinion is that the Mail Centres are going to get the same sort of things as we have been for the last 10 years or so. Ok they have had mail centres merge and some streamlining of the system, but as they approach 100% saturation in Delivery I think they will be looking at ways to improve local efficiency for all MCs, rather than the Gross inefficiencies they've have been tackling.
Just one anecdotal experience from me, but when I worked in a Mail Centre I was told to slow down as I was sorting too fast. If that still happens then I can see that as an easy target for improvement and one that the CWU will need to watch out for.
It must be a while since you worked in an MC, managers are always monitoring performance. Some days now it seems like there's more casuals than RM staff and it seems to be the norm now for managers to be doing postmans work on any shift. The use of converyor belts slows things down as a normal crash you can have 4 people sorting at a time where as with a conveyor you can only have 2 people sorting at a time.
The sending of less sequenced mail to DOs, is just down to time. You can only do it as fast as the machines allow and with batches getting bigger, the longer it takes to run it. Once the SWW kicks in, with wave 1 we're likely to have to limit the batches to a max of 18-20 boxes where as now we often run around 28 on a busy day. There's only enough time to run about a max of 8 boxes per batch on wave 2 so that's going to result in more going manual. With the work coming in later, all IMPs/iLSMs will be running their breakdown plan (the sort plans that sort them mail into batches) later so more mail will go manual from that as well where the early batches have already been run.
To be fair if youre right it sounds like good news for us in deliveries. We will be getting out later after being on inward sorting longer, so instead of longer deliveries outside they will have to be smaller! They might have to put more duties in, so people displaced from the inevitable cull in distribution etc. Will have somewhere to go
A2B wrote:It's almost impossible to believe that RM have invested fortunes on machinery to sequence mail only to send out more unsequenced mail?
The SWW is based on there being less indoor work not more, if there isn;t a solution in the background to your perceived problems then i;ll be astounded
My personal opinion is that the Mail Centres are going to get the same sort of things as we have been for the last 10 years or so. Ok they have had mail centres merge and some streamlining of the system, but as they approach 100% saturation in Delivery I think they will be looking at ways to improve local efficiency for all MCs, rather than the Gross inefficiencies they've have been tackling.
Just one anecdotal experience from me, but when I worked in a Mail Centre I was told to slow down as I was sorting too fast. If that still happens then I can see that as an easy target for improvement and one that the CWU will need to watch out for.
It must be a while since you worked in an MC, managers are always monitoring performance. Some days now it seems like there's more casuals than RM staff and it seems to be the norm now for managers to be doing postmans work on any shift. The use of converyor belts slows things down as a normal crash you can have 4 people sorting at a time where as with a conveyor you can only have 2 people sorting at a time.
The sending of less sequenced mail to DOs, is just down to time. You can only do it as fast as the machines allow and with batches getting bigger, the longer it takes to run it. Once the SWW kicks in, with wave 1 we're likely to have to limit the batches to a max of 18-20 boxes where as now we often run around 28 on a busy day. There's only enough time to run about a max of 8 boxes per batch on wave 2 so that's going to result in more going manual. With the work coming in later, all IMPs/iLSMs will be running their breakdown plan (the sort plans that sort them mail into batches) later so more mail will go manual from that as well where the early batches have already been run.
To be fair if youre right it sounds like good news for us in deliveries. We will be getting out later after being on inward sorting longer, so instead of longer deliveries outside they will have to be smaller! They might have to put more duties in, so people displaced from the inevitable cull in distribution etc. Will have somewhere to go
It could well end up with an increase in part-time duties on night and early shifts in MC
citypostie wrote:
To be fair if youre right it sounds like good news for us in deliveries. We will be getting out later after being on inward sorting longer, so instead of longer deliveries outside they will have to be smaller! They might have to put more duties in, so people displaced from the inevitable cull in distribution etc. Will have somewhere to go