Compact sorters targets

[yodsaenklaikoba]

A CSS machine will sequence mail to a postmans round, it organises mail in delivery order; High Street 1,3,5,7,9, 2,4,6,8, etc,
this enables posties to prep' their rounds a wee bit quicker,
the machine reads the faint barcodes u see on letters, usually in the bottom right corner, if theres no barcode, it's rejected.
they will accept "pop" and C5 letters, but nothing bigger than that.
CSS machines can also walksort mail (in random/unsequenced order) for delivery, although it's obviously preferred that we sequence).

Thanks for the response how does a CSS machine differ from a LSM then, apart from it being operated from one person as opposed to two?

[BettySwollocks]

No probs ..

Never operated an LSM, wouldn't know one if it got dropped on my lap.

[hubbahubba]

No probs ..

Never operated an LSM, wouldn't know one if it got dropped on my lap.

LSM sorted mail to walk,not sequenced,also could run outward plans on em.Most being phased out now,for either iLSM or CSS and IMPs tho...

[blue1873]

No probs ..

Never operated an LSM, wouldn't know one if it got dropped on my lap.

Oh! yes you would they are big,long heavy Fuggers

[Budfrog]

Each CSS Operator should be verified by either a member of the automation team or his line manager within 4 weeks of going live. To be verified an operator should either be at or be able of achieve an OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) of 66 and follow SSOW (Safe Systems of Work) SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and be able to perform TPM. OEE is affected by a number of factors, some within and some outside the operators control but a key skill is the ability to double batch (start batch 2 whilst still clearing batch 1).

[thelastpostie]

I'm a Css operator and there are so many factors that are taken into account (and that can be manipulated) to achieve an average 66% OEE and above.
There are three components that determine OEE, namely performance/throughput, batch quality and availability, the last two being out of your control.
The only criterion for an operator should be that they're able to operate the machine on their own and be able to double batch, because that is the only thing that you can be held directly accountable for. If the Mail Centre mix up the batches or theres no work available, whats that got to do with you even though its counted toward OEE?

Royal Mail delibarately made OEE vague and open ended as it allows them to continually move the goalposts, and get people to work harder with the threat of being removed from duty because of poor performance.

My advice to any operator or potential operator, is just run the machine and don't get caught up in all the other BS and don't allow Royal Mail to turn you into half man/woman half machine.

[hubbahubba]

WGAF?
Turn up on time,take your break when you should,go home.
Its a job,not a way of life.Don't get caught up in all the "figure chasing" crap!

[Budfrog]

OEE is not an exact science.

Most MPUs run at night and provided the workplan is achieved and everything is despatched on time the operators are petty much left alone. Early Life Support Managers will focus on units with poor OEE figures but this focus is supposed to be supportive ... and as the ELS roles finish and RM focuses on other initiatives OEE will just be another measure that is circulated with scatter gun precision on multiple eMails.

My main concern is on the small (2 machine) units who lose 50% of their throughput when a machine breaks down as no amount of contingency planning can cope with this. Operators, by and large, prefer working the machines to other DO jobs as it is financially rewarding (NDA/TPM .. TL Allow) and the duty structues offer in many cases a 4 day week. It is not a job for anyone who is not reasonably fit.

[fishtank]

Early Life Support Managers
I love that one Budfrog.
If you don't mind I'll add it to my list of ridiculous job titles....next to Burger Assembly Technician.

[thegeyser]

Planning values for CSS machines are based on a 9000 iph throughput with good operators acheiving 11000. The figure of 16000 is probably not acheivable and definately not sustainable.

The tie down time is a big factor on the OEE score. Bringing this down pushes the OEE up dramatically so I can understand why this is being pushed.

Offices are recording 1-2 minute clear down time but I'm guessing that more than one person is clearing down on these machines or the information is being incorrectly entered! IMHO there is no way one operator on his own could obtain these scores.

[fishtank]

Offices are recording 1-2 minute clear down time but I'm guessing that more than one person is clearing down on these machines or the information is being incorrectly entered! IMHO there is no way one operator on his own could obtain these scores.

They will have to get used to one person per machine....

bau4.jpg

[BettySwollocks]

IMHO there is no way one operator on his own could obtain these scores.

Totally agree ....and thats even if there are no stoppages/breakdowns, and how often does that happen ?
theres also a lot of variation in how offices operate and utilise their machine operators,
in ours, we work with 2 CSS machines, with 2 staff on a sunday and monday night, tuesday night onwards we have a third who assists,
so sunday night can and usually is a bit chaotic, although last night to be honest wasn't too bad - 300 trays (17 batches),
we had one sunday night where the 2 night staff (luckily i wasn't on) came in to be greeted by the sight of approx 550
then the manager questions as to why the staff split the batches in 2 rather than run the 12,000 plus letters for each batch in one go !!!
wouldn't accept that it can't be done and that anything over 7,000 is extremely difficult to deal with.

[hubbahubba]

Offices are recording 1-2 minute clear down time but I'm guessing that more than one person is clearing down on these machines or the information is being incorrectly entered! IMHO there is no way one operator on his own could obtain these scores.

They will have to get used to one person per machine....

bau4.jpg

not quite ft,1 person runs it,but then you could get a couple of bods to help tie down at the end,happens all the time on IMPs and other sorting machinery come dispatch time........

[Budfrog]

The 9k per hour is what is used for planning purposes and includes cleardown and ancillary work.

Having 2 people to cleardown will clearly increase OEE and that is how some of the better performing offices achieve their results. SOPs clearly state that CSS machines should be run by one operator.

[curlybap]

IMHO there is no way one operator on his own could obtain these scores.

Totally agree ....and thats even if there are no stoppages/breakdowns, and how often does that happen ?
theres also a lot of variation in how offices operate and utilise their machine operators,
in ours, we work with 2 CSS machines, with 2 staff on a sunday and monday night, tuesday night onwards we have a third who assists,
so sunday night can and usually is a bit chaotic, although last night to be honest wasn't too bad - 300 trays (17 batches),
we had one sunday night where the 2 night staff (luckily i wasn't on) came in to be greeted by the sight of approx 550
then the manager questions as to why the staff split the batches in 2 rather than run the 12,000 plus letters for each batch in one go !!!
wouldn't accept that it can't be done and that anything over 7,000 is extremely difficult to deal with.

should have got the boss to show them how it is done,i ran 7,500 on one batch bit of nightmare trying to control it.