The Perfect Bundle

1
The Perfect Bundle Improving Bundle Preparation
A secure bundle with a fully visible address is
a thing of beauty
Presented by (insert name here)
2
Agenda

• What is a bundle?
• Why The Perfect Bundle?
• Wheres the data?
• What should you know about the Perfect Bundle?
• How can you ensure bundle are prepared securely?
• Feedback and resolution
• Postal activities

3
What is a bundle?

• Bundle Group of presorted pieces
• Processing bundles
• Multi-step process
• Bundle breakage may occur during
• Transit
• Container processing
• Unloading sacks or pallets

4
Why the Perfect Bundle?

• Get mail to delivery point in good condition
• Control costs
• Prevent loss of presort
• Prevent damage to mail

5
Wheres the Data?
MTAC Bundle Integrity Workgroup 1999

• Data collected
• Bundles on Pallets 1.1 breakage
• Bundles in Sacks 17.5 breakage
• 23 of bundle breakage in sacks coated covers
• Sacks subject to additional handling
• Controlled test Mail in sacks
• Bundles of pieces with coated covers
• 55 breakage
• 72 breakage when over 6 height

Pieces Loose in processing
6
Wheres the Data?
MTAC Bundle Integrity Workgroup 1999

• Overall Results
• Bundle breakage occurs most frequently when
• Bundles are in sacks
• Pieces have coated/glossy covers
• Bundles made too big/tall
• Bundles made too heavy

Bundle Too Tall
7
Wheres the Data?

• Bundle integrity reviews
• Conducted routine reviews at selected postal
  sites from May 16 June 10, 2005
• Reports recorded in eMIR
• Mailers contacted through BSN and BME
• Preliminary Results
• Largest factors
• Bundles in sacks
• Shrinkwrap - Broken at Seam and insufficient
  strength
• Plastic Strap Loose/Slipped off
• Rubber bands Broken/Slipped off

8
Example of Typical Bundle
9
Has Anything Changed?

• Automated Package Processing System (APPS)
• Automated equipment for sorting parcels and
  bundles
• Organizes bundles into single file
• Reads address or barcode and optional endorsement
  line or bundle presort label on top piece of
  bundle
• Requires visible address on top piece

10
What should I know about the Perfect Bundle?

• Bundle Preparation Standards
• Must be able to withstand transit and handling
• Use banding, shrink-wrap or both
• Banding plastic, string/twine, rubber bands, NO
  wire/metal banding
• Double banding around girth and length
• Sufficient tension on banding to depress edges
• Loose banding not allowed
• String/twine must have secure KNOTS
• Maximum bundle weight 20 pounds
• Counter-stack pieces of irregular thickness
• Bundle 1 or less Min. one band (girth)
• Bundles over 1 Min. 2 bands, shrink-wrap or
  both

Strap too loose
DMM-345, 365, 375, 385, 705, 707
11
What should I know about the Perfect Bundle?

• Standards for Specific Mail Types
• in SACKS
• Pieces with Coated Paper Cover
• Maximum 3 inch height if using string,
  shrink-wrap or rubber bands
• May use maximum 6 inch height if using 2 plastic
  straps or shrink-wrap plus 1 or 2 straps
• Uncoated Paper
• Maximum height 8 inches
• Recommend 6 inch maximum
• 2 bands OR shrinkwrap OR both

DMM-345, 365, 375, 385, 705, 707
12
Preparing Bundles Address Visibility

• Prepare Perfect bundles with fully visible
  address on top piece
• No banding or other interference over address on
  top piece
• No facing slip over address
• No bunching, blistering, wrinkles in shrink-wrap
  over address
• Proper use of OEL or bundle presort labels

Shrink-wrap wrinkles obscures address
Strap interferes with address visibility
13
How can you ensure bundles are prepared securely?

• Ensure bundles do not exceed height and weight
  standards
• Select bundling material appropriate for the type
  of mail you process
• Bundle may compress further after being secured
  causing bundling material to become loose

This piece is thicker in the middle which caused
strapping to slide off 4 packages that bulged
like a football
14
How can you ensure bundles are prepared securely?

• Pay close attention to bundles that will be
  placed in sacks, particularly if the majority of
  mail will destinate outside your local post
  office service area
• BUT, also pay attention to bundles on pallets

15
How can you ensure bundles are prepared securely?

• Once appropriate bundling material/method is
  selected, make sure it is applied properly
• Banding must be tight enough to retain its
  tension and be centered to reduce slippage
• String must be tied securely so knots will not
  come loose
• Use 10-ply twine with a 65 polyester/35cotton
  blend to ensure adequate tensile strength (50 -
  55 lbs.)

16
How can you ensure bundles are prepared securely?

• Once appropriate bundling material/method is
  selected, make sure it is applied properly
• Rubber bands must be new and strong enough not to
  break or come loose
• Shrink-wrap must be of sufficient mil and strong
  enough for bundle size and weight
• Shrink-wrap must be sealed securely without large
  openings that can catch and tear

17
How can you ensure bundles are prepared securely?

• Presort Software
• Considerations when setting presort software
  parameters to limit height of packages in sacks
• Is mailing coated or uncoated stock?
• What is the thickness of the piece?
• What package securing method will be used?
• IF Mailing job is coated and includes both
  palletized and sacked portions, consider
• Setting different package heights for palletized
  and sacked portions OR
• Use plastic straps or shrinkwrap two straps to
  secure packages set one maximum for all
  packages (e.g., 6)

18
How can you ensure bundles are prepared securely?

• Visit your local USPS processing plant and
  observe the condition of your mail after an
  initial sort (e.g., on APPS, SPBS or sack sorter)
• Test your bundling methods in your plant
• Give special attention to bundling of odd-shaped
  pieces and pieces with covers of coated stock

19
How can you ensure bundles are prepared securely?

• Quality Test for Bundles
• Drop from 4 foot height
• Drop on edge
• Pick up by strap or wrap
• No pieces should escape or become loose from the
  bundle
• If bundle becomes loose or pieces fall out, make
  adjustments to bundle preparation process

20
Feedback and Resolution

• Mail owners/preparers tell USPS
• We never heard of any problems with our mail!"

21
Feedback and Resolution

• Electronic Mail Improvement Report (eMIR)
• Postal reporting system for problems found after
  mail accepted
• All types of mail preparation problems may be
  reported
• Mail preparation problems found in postal
  processing operations reported to
  origin/acceptance site
• BME or BSN site contacts mailer to resolve
• BME or BSN close reports. Resolution information
  available to all parties

22
Feedback and Resolution

• eMIR reports
• Part of PostalOne! customer report package
• Customer access to PostalOne!
• Customer Care Center 800-522-9085

Look under National Premier Accounts menu
for PostalOne! system info
23
Feedback and Resolution

• Customer Access to eMIR
• Provide visibility to mail owners/preparers with
  reported problems

24
Feedback and Resolution
25
Postal Activities

• Acceptance clerk review of bundle integrity
• Rework mailing
• Pay additional postage
• Adapting standards to help move mail from sacks
  to pallets
• Reviewing standards for bundle preparation

26
Conclusion

• Bundle breakage is severe problem
• Affects postal processing, mailer owners, mail
  preparers and the customer
• Bundle breakage adds additional processing costs
  which can increase postage rates.
• Coated paper stock pieces are more likely to
  become loose
• Comply with standards for The Perfect Bundle
• Perform quality checks of material, machines, and
  bundles
• Work with local postal officials to improve
  bundling processes

27
Questions?
The Perfect Bundle
Thank You
A secure bundle with a fully visible address is
a thing of beauty