MERLIN. Industry s Good Partner. Presented by: Bob Swick, Pitney Bowes Ray DeLacqueseaux, Special Data Processing

Transcription

1 MERLIN Great Industry s Good Partner Presented by: Bob Swick, Pitney Bowes Ray DeLacqueseaux, Special Data Processing

2 MERLIN Mail Evaluation Readability, and Lookup INstrument

3 The MERLIN Concept Improve quality of mail stream Automate acceptance Make it consistent Improve impartiality

4 MERLIN Benefits Ensures consistency Consolidates verification processes Improves the quality of mail Improves mail processing and delivery efficiency Captures business mail data

5 MERLIN Coverage 1184 machines deployed BMEUs Strategic Mailing Facilities Deployment completed November 2003 No plans to add additional equipment

6 MERLIN: Simultaneous Verification Presort/Mail Makeup Weight and Piece Count Barcode Readability Tray Label Accuracy Address and Barcode Accuracy Meter Identification and Date Mailpiece Dimensions Endorsements and Rate Markings Walk Sequence Accuracy Combined Mailings

7 BUSINESS MAIL ACCEPTANCE MERLIN Utilization Mailings Under 10,000 Pieces Goal National 17% 15.5% Mailings Over 10,000 Pieces Goal National 100% 47.6%

8 BUSINESS MAIL ACCEPTANCE Myth or Reality? Ever since the MERLIN program was implemented, mailers have cited poor communication, poor training and that needed to be fixed. By not fixing them implementation, and a general indifference to criticism as shortcomings, the Postal Service continues to frustrate customers and further enable its critics. Ever since the MERLIN program was implemented, mailers have cited poor communication, poor training and implementation and a general indifference to criticism as shortcomings that needed to be fixed. By not fixing them, the Postal Service continues to frustrate customers and further enable its critics. Industry Publication quote - July 30, 2004

9 Reality Check Poor communications True Poor training and implementation False General indifference to criticism True and False

10 Reality Check High rejections a myth More deliverable mail in to the mail stream More postage discounts earned Reduced man hours stabilizes rates

11 MERLIN Tolerances Reality Check Merlin Verifications National Threshold Barcode Readability Letter Mail Flat Mail 95.0% 94.9% 90.0% 90.0% Passing Presort 98.8% 95.0% Metered Mail 99.6% 95.0% Barcode Accuracy 99.9% 100.0% Actual 98.4% 98.4% 93.7% 93.7% 93.8% 93.8%?%?% 99.3% 99.3%?%?%

12 Industry & USPS Issues Consistency 99% of Merlin failure are due to barcodes Human factor Work flow disruptions Human factor

13 Training Train the trainers 3-5 individuals per District 4 days training Operators 12 hours of training Maintenance 72 hours of training Customers offered training Norman, OK

14 Customer Training National Center for Employee Development Norman, OK Four Days Cost Per Person - $ Registration Enrollment Forms Pre-Arrival Package Contact NCED Byron Jacobson

15 Front End Problem Solvers Perform quality control reviews during production Review window envelopes (if applicable) MERLIN does not allow for spoilage Review lists before and/or mail pieces after production Seed names should be checked for the proper ZIP+4

16 Back End Barcode readability Review pieces identified with errors Second level review Appeal decision must be made at time of mailing Chicago final RCSC

17 What s Industry Doing?

18 Industry s Past Involvement Industry designed the USPS POSTNET barcode evaluation technology ABE Technology MERLIN Technology

19 Industry s Present Involvement MLOCR in-line evaluator 100% barcode inspection Exact same MERLIN algorithms 4 vertical scan area More precise image resolution (240 DPI versus 200DPI) More accurate detection

20 Future Partnership NCOALink on-site precedence DPV Address Correction PS 3552 type form Equipment reads (sorters, printers) MERLIN reads (finest dept of code)

21 Best Practices Work Group Mailers Technical Advisory Committee: Barcode Quality Focus on: Barcode Error Reference Guide Industry Best Practices Guide Mailer s Guide to MERLIN Mailers Companion MERLIN Issue, September 2002

22 Myth or Reality Poor Communication? Industry: Yes No Poor Training? Industry: Yes No General Indifference? Industry: Yes No USPS: Yes No USPS: Yes No USPS: Yes No

23 Questions?