The rumour mill

[fishtank]

The one fundamental part of the whole TQM/WCM philosophy that Royal Mail continue to ignore is the "fully engaged and motivated" staff idea.
They simply do not have the quality of managers or management structure to deliver this and as far as i can see have absolutely no idea how to go about improving either.
This business is full of Autocrats,Blame fixers,Control freaks and Fire fighters and the fire fighters are too stupid to realise it was they who likely started the fire in the first place.

[Big Daz]

Out of interest: - where can I read up on the "world class mail" concept? I would be intrigued to know what this holds in store for the industry as a whole and for us as the workforce. I'd be grateful if you could point me to some sources. Thanks.

By the way, human resource planning is not some bastard offspring of TQM it is a completely different animal.

Moderator Andy is the man to see about WCM

[post_bitch]

rumour or fact? rm is for sale

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Out of interest: - where can I read up on the "world class mail" concept? I would be intrigued to know what this holds in store for the industry as a whole and for us as the workforce. I'd be grateful if you could point me to some sources. Thanks.

This is an extraction from Royal Mails Preliminary Statement (Unaudited)
for the year ended 28 March 2010 ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/publi ... 009-10.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We have also made significant progress on the World Class Mail programme to improve the efficiency of our large sorting offices, with strong input from our people at all levels being crucial. After the significant efficiency gains already seen at Gatwick mail centre where the programme began, there are now 12 centres engaged in the drive to ensure that mail centres - which typically sort several million letters a day - are not just using the most modern equipment, but are operating at world class levels of efficiency.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

rumour or fact? rm is for sale

Neither, the Coalition Government is asking Richard Hooper to update his previous report and they will make a decision based on that.

[Straight4ward]

Thanks TBT.

So is it purely about operational efficiency?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Thank TBT.

So is it purely about operational efficiency?

Well that's the official line, I bet on the ground its a different picture entirely.

[dvbuk55]

The 2010 Transformation agreement commits the CWU to world class mail and I suggust you look up this project as clearly its heart is TQM, lean production and putting worker against working in a race without a finishing line which is what TQM , or Human resouce management was all about well after demmings intial concept.

World class mail is a real threat not just to mail centres but to delivery offices hence the upper decile concept as you will never reach the upper decile as by the time you get their the other offices who are currently the upper decile would have moved on.

Which begs the question why did they accept an agreement with WCM at its heart.

Because that was what was on the table and that was the ONLY option as we kept being told.

[Big Daz]

Hooper recommends a partial sell off, the coalition belive his report is still broadly balanced but needs updating to reflect 2010 rather than 2008.

The Lib Dems offical policy is a 49 % sell off with the remainder being split in half and one of those halves being put intoa employee share trust similar to the John Lewis model.

The Tories support the introduction of private capital into RM.

If the new postal services bill due to start its parlimentary process in October gains Royal Assent then bidders will be formally invited.

[andy2007]

There's very little on the 'Net about WCM. The only thing I've had time to find so far, is this site offering training for anyone wanting to use the "World Class Method" (in this case Manufacturing, but it's the same for any industry really). http://www.eu-japan.eu/global/business- ... uring.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've got to go out now. But I'll put some better details here, either tonight, or in the morning.

[andy2007]

The biggest success story in the UK for the World Class method, is Fiat. Here's a couple of stories about it:
http://www.am-online.com/news/story/?nID=42894770" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It’s a remarkable turnaround. So how did Fiat succeed where the likes of MG Rover failed? Clearly the deep pockets of a large parent company helped. So did Government support for a business that is so important to the Italian people. But that only ensures short-term survival.

Attitudes have transformed, with senior management more willing to court the views of colleagues and those people who really know what is going on in the marketplace – the retailers. And that led to the crucial factor behind Fiat’s turnaround: product development.


http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 45950.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There's no specific mention of the greater inclusion of views of the staff, or anything about WCM in this one. Other than the fact that they've hired and fired Managers, to get a more focused team. Whether that was due to WCM, or incompetance in the old team, I don't know. But I've included it anyway, to show just how much their fortunes have turned around in just a few years.

They've really tried to hide the fact that they've used the World Class method. So they can try to take full credit for the idea of getting ideas from the people who actually DO the jobs. And of course their customers too. But they're used as an example, in much of the literature. And are named as one of World Class's success stories, when the method is explained to people.

Here's a link to an example of how RM have tried to cherry pick bits of it, and otherwise abuse WCM, instead if implimenting it properly: http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... &hilit=WCM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1) There's so much extra paperwork for some jobs, that they're having to ADD more Staff, to get the job done. I'm not just talking a few extra forms. But a mountain of paperwork for the Quality guys. Yet nothing extra is being checked. Who will get the blame for the increased cost?
US, who else!?!?

2) There's been a major drive to improve safety. Yet, the first of seven "steps", that they're implementing, was actually introduced around 2 1/2 - 3 years ago. But was abused, in order to treat accidents without injuries, as near misses. so that they could cut the accident statistics, without actually improving safety. This has been proven. Before anyone accuses me of making false accusations.

3) The main purpose of WCM, is the mechanisation of most if not all, indoor manual handling tasks. However, they intend to make specific Posties responsible for the day to day maintenance of each machine. For example: 3 Shifts = 3 Posties responsible for 1 FLT, Scud, etc.. Right down to keeping it clean, and free from scratches on the paintwork.


I'm sorry I don't have more info available at the moment. But I've had to re-install my computer from scratch, earlier this year, and lost all the "Favourites" I'd saved on the subject. If someone can remember the name of the Japanaise Consultant from WCM. Just do a search on him. That's where I originally got most of my information.

[Straight4ward]

Andy, thanks for the info that you’ve posted. If you can turn up anything more detailed I’d be very interested.

From what you’ve put up so far, it rather sounds like benchmarking yourself against the best in class and using them as a target to aspire to. As Dingo alluded to in his post, with continual improvement it’s a moving target.

None of this is new, just a new name for well established practices.

[chunk]

Hooper recommends a partial sell off, the coalition belive his report is still broadly balanced but needs updating to reflect 2010 rather than 2008.

The Lib Dems offical policy is a 49 % sell off with the remainder being split in half and one of those halves being put intoa employee share trust similar to the John Lewis model.

The Tories support the introduction of private capital into RM.

If the new postal services bill due to start its parliamentary process in October gains Royal Assent then bidders will be formally invited.

We don't want to be accused of privatizing RM based on an out of date report do we?

Dear Mr Hooper
please add another chapter.
remember to re-date it and while your at it sex it up (in favor of privatization).
Its far to balanced.!
PS: try to finish your report before we start selling off shares.