New Delivery Method trials

zipmeister · Post by **zipmeister** » 25 Aug 2018, 09:01

postietom wrote:Anybody got a link to these new methods so I can read it in more detail? I'm sure guidelines or whatever are on this forum somewhere.

From the rough detail above, I'm guessing it's not prepping mech and just delivering it?

The amount of missorts coming back daily is gonna be collassal as all I can think.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 25 Aug 2018, 12:50

greengiant wrote:
So how / when do you check redirections / keep safes when bench merging?

Apparently, that will be automated and the machines will do it.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 25 Aug 2018, 19:59

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
greengiant wrote:
So how / when do you check redirections / keep safes when bench merging?
Apparently, that will be automated and the machines will do it.

No chance, the machines sort to the address coded in the orange barcode that you see on the envelopes. You've also got the manual letters and flats that all have to have the redirections done manually (not every MC has got a T2K machine to sort flats, and with the amount of packets and mech letters (what would normally be put through an iLSM/IMP) in the boxes of flats, i can see RM getting rid of all their flat sorting machines as it's fairly obvious that there isn't the flats traffic to justify the running costs)

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » 25 Aug 2018, 20:18

I would imagine that the most likely outcome from these different trials and the one most likely to "work" will involve manually sorting the flats and bench merging those into the sequenced mail with the D2D as a separate bundle. The redirections will be done as they are now with eventually as the technology allows the mail for addreses with valid redirections being segregated out of the sequenced mail for manual checking by the OPG. I can't really see an automated system of redirection being accurate enough to make judgements on different variations of names so the best option would be to segregate all mail for that address and let the OPG check it.

I agree with SP that automated flat sorting is not a viable model anymore.

smileski · Post by **smileski** » 25 Aug 2018, 20:35

You really couldn't make this stuff up could you?

If I didn't have to prep my sequenced mail everyday, I agree, I would 'save' around 25 mins a day.

However what doesn't seem to have been taken into account is just how long it will take to merge unsequenced mail into a pile of loose mail on a bench! just flicking through the pile to do redirections sounds so awkward. Do they actually realise how many packets we are dealing with on a daily basis? For every packet we will have to flick through the mail on the bench to find the right place to put a card or turn a letter. Then adding flats and smaller packets will make the ever increasing line of mail so topsy turvey, bagging it up will be a nightmare, surely? I can see all these potential problems because I have been delivering mail for 18 years, this whole concept sounds absolutely ridiculous. Also, with the frames still being in place (to prep the unsequenced) surely everyone will just revert to the easier quicker way!

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 25 Aug 2018, 20:36

fishtank wrote:I agree with SP that automated flat sorting is not a viable model anymore.

I wonder if RM might in the future look into the viability (both practicalities and financially) or machines to sort and sequence flats and letters together, along with d2d. What would be a typical number of packets per walk (excluding specials) outside of xmas pressure?

DB1100 · Post by **DB1100** » 25 Aug 2018, 20:45

SpacePhoenix wrote:
fishtank wrote:I agree with SP that automated flat sorting is not a viable model anymore.
I wonder if RM might in the future look into the viability (both practicalities and financially) or machines to sort and sequence flats and letters together, along with d2d. What would be a typical number of packets per walk (excluding specials) outside of xmas pressure?

Most days it's about 4 rough bags per shared duty,that could be anything from 40 or so up to 100+ if the boat from China has docked.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 25 Aug 2018, 21:47

smileski wrote: Also, with the frames still being in place (to prep the unsequenced) surely everyone will just revert to the easier quicker way!

The frames won't be there. There will be a much smaller version.
Everyone needs to stop focusing on the time element.
The purpose of bench merging is to reduce the footprint of your office so you can have more offices under one roof.
Space is money. Real estate is money.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 25 Aug 2018, 22:10

clashcityrocker wrote:
smileski wrote: Also, with the frames still being in place (to prep the unsequenced) surely everyone will just revert to the easier quicker way!
The frames won't be there. There will be a much smaller version.
Everyone needs to stop focusing on the time element.
The purpose of bench merging is to reduce the footprint of your office so you can have more offices under one roof.
Space is money. Real estate is money.

The longer the indoor work take, the less time that there is for the outdoor work and so more staff will be needed, which will probably cost RM more in the long term than what the building costs are, it'll also mean more vans needed

Post by **Brandy** » 25 Aug 2018, 22:39

smileski wrote:You really couldn't make this stuff up could you?

If I didn't have to prep my sequenced mail everyday, I agree, I would 'save' around 25 mins a day.

However what doesn't seem to have been taken into account is just how long it will take to merge unsequenced mail into a pile of loose mail on a bench! just flicking through the pile to do redirections sounds so awkward. Do they actually realise how many packets we are dealing with on a daily basis? For every packet we will have to flick through the mail on the bench to find the right place to put a card or turn a letter. Then adding flats and smaller packets will make the ever increasing line of mail so topsy turvey, bagging it up will be a nightmare, surely? I can see all these potential problems because I have been delivering mail for 18 years, this whole concept sounds absolutely ridiculous. Also, with the frames still being in place (to prep the unsequenced) surely everyone will just revert to the easier quicker way!

If this is supposed to be the way forward( oh dear that was another saying RM used a few years ago!) then it will be going backwards! It will be so time consuming,fiddly and just a total nightmare for the poor postie.These "bright sparks" that come up with these ideas should walk in the posties shoes before they suggest these crazy ideas.

elteleltel · Post by **elteleltel** » 26 Aug 2018, 06:47

I put as many packets possible in the frame , agree it would be time consuming to do that bench merging , as for auto redirect the amount of vague / open to interpretation names on a list I don't see accuracy by a machine at all

Post by **greengiant** » 26 Aug 2018, 09:35

clashcityrocker wrote:
smileski wrote: Also, with the frames still being in place (to prep the unsequenced) surely everyone will just revert to the easier quicker way!
The frames won't be there. There will be a much smaller version.
Everyone needs to stop focusing on the time element.
The purpose of bench merging is to reduce the footprint of your office so you can have more offices under one roof.
Space is money. Real estate is money.

So double decker bunk frames to go with the hydraulic double decker bunk van parking spaces?

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 26 Aug 2018, 09:44

I know you jest but the idea of using the same frame for 2 walks (simply by turning over the road names when the first walk has been cleared) has been mooted.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 26 Aug 2018, 09:53

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
greengiant wrote:
So how / when do you check redirections / keep safes when bench merging?
Apparently, that will be automated and the machines will do it.

So the machine will pick out mail to be redirected, put them in redirection bags, and apply a sticker ??

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 26 Aug 2018, 09:58

smileski wrote:You really couldn't make this stuff up could you?

If I didn't have to prep my sequenced mail everyday, I agree, I would 'save' around 25 mins a day.

However what doesn't seem to have been taken into account is just how long it will take to merge unsequenced mail into a pile of loose mail on a bench! just flicking through the pile to do redirections sounds so awkward. Do they actually realise how many packets we are dealing with on a daily basis? For every packet we will have to flick through the mail on the bench to find the right place to put a card or turn a letter. Then adding flats and smaller packets will make the ever increasing line of mail so topsy turvey, bagging it up will be a nightmare, surely? I can see all these potential problems because I have been delivering mail for 18 years, this whole concept sounds absolutely ridiculous. Also, with the frames still being in place (to prep the unsequenced) surely everyone will just revert to the easier quicker way!

My thinking exactly. Logically speaking our current method is the optimum and has been used pretty much since RM began.