Success for US Postal Service’s small parcel sorting systems pilot

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been testing new small parcel sorting systems (SPSS) at five sites across the country – with encouraging results. Since the tests began earlier this year, the teams at the test sites have demonstrated that they can use the equipment to sort more than 6,00o small parcels an hour, which is significantly more than USPS had expected.

The top-performing site has been Royal Palm P&DC in South Florida District. In a notice posted on 15 July on the South Florida Postal Blog, Joanna Borger, A/Manager, reported: “Since Outgoing processing began in April 2015, a very proud and driven team of mail handlers have demonstrated continuous improvement. In fact, they are being recognized as the best in the country of the sites piloting the machine. The thruput goal is currently 5,500 pieces per hour. The Superstars are consistently hitting productivity of over 6,000 pieces per hour.”

The results in South Florida District will now be used to determine the expectations and throughput performance goals for the next set of 26 machines being installed throughout the United States.

The other SPSS test sites include: West Valley, AZ, L&DC; Los Angeles International Service Center; North Houston P&DC; and Queens, NY, P&DC.