Walk Sequencing Disaster

[pickaname]

Walk sequencing has been introduced in Portsmouth this week with disastrous consequences.

25 out of the 110 or so walk are being sequenced by 1 of the 3 LSMs. Managers predicted the mail would be processed before 6am.
Heres whats happened this week:

Tuesday - Sequenced mail processed by 730am. Staff report much of it out of sequence and upto 50% rejected.

Wednesday - Sequenced mail processed by 815am, much of it out of sequence and many rejects. Staff cut off and claim to compensate for the delay.

Thursday - Seqenced mail processing not complete until after delivery staff leave the building. All staff with sequenced walks leave office with only manual mail and packets. Staff offered OT to sort sequenced mail upon return with casuals delivering it the following morning.

Managers have now agreed to cancel the use of these machines from next week until they find a solution.
Rumours flying around that our start times could be changed to 7 or 8am via Executive action if they cant find a solution.

THESE MACHINES DO NOT WORK. I REPEAT - THESE MACHINES DO NOT WORK.

Even if they did they only save 10 or so mins per delivery so its not cost effective.

[DirtyHarry]

Brilliant!
So this is what "modernisation" is all about, going backwards.

[Pegman]

We keep getting delayed, we were supposed to get it October, but we haven't been told which October.

i wonder if these are the same machines the Germans threw out because they have a problem telling the difference between a 5 and an S, or I and 1, seems that can cock them right up

[pickaname]

We keep getting delayed, we were supposed to get it October, but we haven't been told which October.

i wonder if these are the same machines the Germans threw out because they have a problem telling the difference between a 5 and an S, or I and 1, seems that can cock them right up

Its an existing LSM thats been updated with new software. It has trouble sequencing 'complicated' addresses like bedsits and converted flats. Its like the machine needs and easy 1,3,5,7 etc but cant cope with 1 FFF, GFF Basement...you get the idea. An yes some staff have reported the machines struggle with 1s and ls etc

[Pegman]

We keep getting delayed, we were supposed to get it October, but we haven't been told which October.

i wonder if these are the same machines the Germans threw out because they have a problem telling the difference between a 5 and an S, or I and 1, seems that can cock them right up

Its an existing LSM thats been updated with new software. It has trouble sequencing 'complicated' addresses like bedsits and converted flats. Its like the machine needs and easy 1,3,5,7 etc but cant cope with 1 FFF, GFF Basement...you get the idea. An yes some staff have reported the machines struggle with 1s and ls etc

I heard it is American software and is designed for numeric Zip Codes.
Should be fun !!!

[woofwoof]

pay & mod agreement says start times will be no later then 6.00am & 6.30.am and what about the 2.00pm last letter uso agreement

and if they change your start times by more then 30 mins you have to have a re-pick on all duties

[Pegman]

pay & mod agreement says start times will be no later then 6.00am & 6.30.am and what about the 2.00pm last letter uso agreement

and if they change your start times by more then 30 mins you have to have a re-pick on all duties

I thought RM's long term plan was for even later starts so you could do collections and do away with SA collections ?

[woofwoof]

pay & mod agreement says start times will be no later then 6.00am & 6.30.am and what about the 2.00pm last letter uso agreement

and if they change your start times by more then 30 mins you have to have a re-pick on all duties

I thought RM's long term plan was for even later starts so you could do collections and do away with SA collections ?

so you start at say 10.00am delivery ( no indoor work) till 2.00pm then a break then start collection maybe

[Tman]

Its an existing LSM thats been updated with new software. It has trouble sequencing 'complicated' addresses like bedsits and converted flats. Its like the machine needs and easy 1,3,5,7 etc but cant cope with 1 FFF, GFF Basement...you get the idea. An yes some staff have reported the machines struggle with 1s and ls etc

POMC are using NP4000s to trial walk-sorting, so it's nothing to do with "these machines don't work".They're tried and tested over the last 18 years or so.
Also, NPs read RM route/tag codes or CBC, not written addresses, so it's FA to do with basements, flats, 1s, 5s or anything else written on the envelope.

If the trial's gone bad it's more like the staff can't stack corectly for the three-pass sortation.

[DirtyHarry]

Its an existing LSM thats been updated with new software. It has trouble sequencing 'complicated' addresses like bedsits and converted flats. Its like the machine needs and easy 1,3,5,7 etc but cant cope with 1 FFF, GFF Basement...you get the idea. An yes some staff have reported the machines struggle with 1s and ls etc

POMC are using NP4000s to trial walk-sorting, so it's nothing to do with "these machines don't work".They're tried and tested over the last 18 years or so.
Also, NPs read RM route/tag codes or CBC, not written addresses, so it's FA to do with basements, flats, 1s, 5s or anything else written on the envelope.

If the trial's gone bad it's more like the staff can't stack corectly for the three-pass sortation.

Yeah, right. Anyway, any port in a storm, and all that jazz.

[pickaname]

Its an existing LSM thats been updated with new software. It has trouble sequencing 'complicated' addresses like bedsits and converted flats. Its like the machine needs and easy 1,3,5,7 etc but cant cope with 1 FFF, GFF Basement...you get the idea. An yes some staff have reported the machines struggle with 1s and ls etc

POMC are using NP4000s to trial walk-sorting, so it's nothing to do with "these machines don't work".They're tried and tested over the last 18 years or so.
Also, NPs read RM route/tag codes or CBC, not written addresses, so it's FA to do with basements, flats, 1s, 5s or anything else written on the envelope.

If the trial's gone bad it's more like the staff can't stack corectly for the three-pass sortation.

If walk sequencing worked then the mail would arrive a staffs frames on time. The FACT is that it isnt and no one can hide from that FACT. Thus the machines arent working. Machines cant flex up and down like people so on a heavy day the mail is late as my post suggests.

Did i say anything about what was written on the envelope? No. All i alluded to is that the mail for flats etc isnt generally in sequence. Why are you saying that i implied otherwise?

Lets deal with facts here not just assumptions.

The FACT is walk sequencing isnt working at present and they are looking for a solution to the problem of late completion. In your opinion they should sack the processing staff for 'not stacking correctly'.

[Cut Off King]

ROYAL MAIL PROCUREMENT DEPT. : "SO, it will sort the mail and actualy deliver the mail too?

SNAKE OIL SALES MAN : "Oh Yes , you can trust us

RMPD : "Look I shouldn't be telling you this but the goverment has given us sh*t loads of cash, so how much do you want ?

SOS : " WELL how does $$$$$$$$$$ sound + sales tax + costs

RMPT : " I'm not sure what your presentation & talk was about, but hey we'll buy it anyway

SOS : "CASH only, we've got a plain to catch

[Tman]

If walk sequencing worked then the mail would arrive a staffs frames on time. The FACT is that it isnt and no one can hide from that FACT. Thus the machines arent working. Machines cant flex up and down like people so on a heavy day the mail is late as my post suggests.
Did i say anything about what was written on the envelope? No. All i alluded to is that the mail for flats etc isnt generally in sequence. Why are you saying that i implied otherwise?
Lets deal with facts here not just assumptions.
The FACT is walk sequencing isnt working at present and they are looking for a solution to the problem of late completion. In your opinion they should sack the processing staff for 'not stacking correctly'.

Funny, I don't see too many "FACTS" in that post, but lots of "assumptions" about what you think the machines can and can't do.

I think it's a poor system when they use NPs to walk sequence too, not because the "machines aren't working" (all they do is read the code and sort to a box) or because they "can't flex up and down" (whatever that is supposed to mean ) but because the sortation relies too much on the "human element" to correctly stack the mail through the passes, and is too time-consuming overall.

Still, I'm sure they'll get it working to a greater or lesser degree in time, unless you feel that POMC staff are somehow less able than other MC staff....

This is good though-

In your opinion they should sack the processing staff for 'not stacking correctly'.

See what I mean about your "FACTS" and "assumptions" (unless you can show me where I said that?)

[pickaname]

This is good though-

In your opinion they should sack the processing staff for 'not stacking correctly'.

See what I mean about your "FACTS" and "assumptions" (unless you can show me where I said that?)

You walked right into that one didnt you eh? hehe

Seriously though...you have no idea. I have accurate reports from people who work there - yes managers too! You have? Nothing but your opinions...

Game over.

[Tman]

Seriously though...you have no idea. I have accurate reports from people who work there - yes managers too! You have? Nothing but your opinions...

Game over.

Unless PO's LSMs run in some sort of parallel universe, or POMC is somehow unique in it's operation, then it's rather more than just opinion.
Equally your "accurate reports" sound anything but, so hardly -

"Game over".

Apparently this is the first week of PO's stab at this, so it'll take a while to get right.
{Unless they give up and wait for the Solystic machines, that is}