The Perfect Bundle

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

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

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What Is A Bundle?

• Bundle Secured group of presorted pieces
• Processing bundles
• Multi-step process
• Bundle breakage may occur during
• Transit
• Container processing
• Unloading sacks or pallets
• Non-readable address
• Manual processing

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Why The Perfect Bundle?

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

Pieces Loose in Processing
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What Is APPS?

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

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What Should I Know About The Perfect Bundle?

• Bundle Preparation Standards
• Must be able to withstand transit and handling
• Use banding, shrinkwrap or both
• Banding plastic, string/twine, rubber bands
• Double banding around girth and length
• Sufficient tension on banding to depress edges
• Loose banding not allowed
• String/twine must have secure knots
• NO wire/metal banding

Strap Too Loose
DMM 345, 365, 375, 385, 705, 707
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What Should I Know About The Perfect Bundle?

• Bundle Preparation Standards
• Maximum bundle weight 20 pounds
• Counter-stack pieces of irregular thickness
• All bundles Minimum of 2 bands, shrinkwrap, OR
  shrinkwrap one or two bands

Shrink-Wrap Wrinkles Obscures Address
DMM 345, 365, 375, 385, 705, 707
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What Should I Know About The Perfect Bundle?

• Address Visibility
• Prepare Perfect bundles with fully visible
  address on top piece
• No interference over address on top piece
• No facing slip over address
• No seams, bunching, blistering, wrinkles in
  shrinkwrap over address
• Proper use of OEL or bundle presort labels

Strapping Interferes With Address Visibility
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What Should I Know About The Perfect Bundle?

• SACKS Standards - Specific Mail Types
• Pieces with Coated Paper Cover
• Maximum 3 height if using rubber bands, OR
  shrinkwrap, OR string
• Maximum 6 height, if using 2 plastic straps, OR
  shrinkwrap, plus 1 or 2 straps
• Uncoated Paper
• Maximum height 8
• Recommend 6 maximum
• 2 bands, OR shrinkwrap, OR shrinkwrap and one or
  two bands

Poor Use of Rubber Bands
DMM-345, 365, 375, 385, 705, 707
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How Can You Ensure Bundles Are Prepared Securely?

• Ensure bundles do not exceed height 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
• Use clear smooth strapping

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How Can You Ensure Bundles Are Prepared Securely?

• Pay close attention to bundles that are 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

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How Can You Ensure Bundles Are Prepared Securely?

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

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How Can You Ensure Bundles Are Prepared Securely?

• Once appropriate bundling material and bundling
  method is selected, make sure it is applied
  properly
• Rubber bands must be new and strong enough not to
  break or come loose
• Shrinkwrap must be of sufficient mil (thickness),
  strong enough for bundle size weight
• Shrinkwrap must be sealed securely
• With shrinkwrap, minimize opening at end of bundle

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How Can You Ensure Bundles Are Prepared Securely?

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

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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

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Feedback and Resolution

• Mail owners/Mail preparers
• We never heard of any problems
• with our mail!
• Additional guidelines for bundle preparation
• Type Bundle Preparation Guidelines in usps.com
  search
• www.usps.com/nationalpremieraccounts/bundleprepara
  tionguidelines.htm

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Feedback and Resolution

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

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Feedback and Resolution

• eMIR reports
• Part of PostalOne! customer report package
• Customer access to PostalOne!
• Postage Statement Wizard Application Coordinator
• Apply at local post office or BMEU

Look Under National Premier Accounts Menu
for PostalOne! System Info
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Feedback and Resolution

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

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Feedback and Resolution
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Postal Activities

• Acceptance clerk review of bundle preparation
  bundle integrity and visibility of address
• Rework mailing
• Pay additional postage
• Adapting standards to help move mail from sacks
  to pallets
• Resources
• Business Mail Entry
• Business Service Network

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Conclusion

• Bundle breakage is a severe problem
• Affects postal processing, mail owners, mail
  preparers and the customer (addressee)
• Bundle breakage adds additional processing costs
  which can increase postage rates
• Coated paper stock pieces and pieces in sacks 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

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