Delivery operations information system with performance reports feature and methods of use
The present invention provides a system for managing information related to a delivery service provider and systems of using such a system. The system and systems provided herein allow a delivery service provider to coordinate with efficiency the volume of mail or packages to be delivered with the carrier resources available to deliver them. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the delivery operation information system tracks quantities of articles, schedules their distribution, and schedules and tracks the work force that distributes the articles.
Under provisions of 35 U.S.C. §119(e), this Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/602,592, filed Aug. 19, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/706,510, filed Aug. 8, 2005, both of which are entitled “Delivery Operations Information System,” and both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of tracking quantities of mail for delivery, monitoring their distribution, and scheduling and tracking the work force that distributes the mail. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for tracking mail volumes and distribution, and tracking and scheduling a mail carrier work force.
2. Background of the Invention
The United States Postal Service (USPS™) is an independent establishment of the United States government that provides mail delivery and other services to the public. The USPS™ is widely recognized as a safe and reliable means for sending and receiving mail and other items. With the advent and steady growth of electronic commerce, the physical mail stream will increasingly be utilized for sending and receiving packages and other items. Accordingly, providers of delivery service such as the USPS™ will continue to require better systems and methods to meet the increasing demand for faster, more efficient and reliable delivery of mail and other deliverable packages.
Currently, the USPS™ has the enormous task of assigning, and optimizing, delivery routes for hundreds of thousands of mail carriers who daily deliver approximately 617 million pieces of mail to about 141 million delivery points throughout the nation. The previous delivery operations system was challenged by inefficiencies, outdated technology, and compliance with federal mandates and unionized labor rules. For example, some carriers were obligated to work overtime in order to complete their assigned delivery routes, while others were paid for a full eight-hour shift although they could finish their delivery routes in less than eight hours, with time to spare.
A study of existing delivery operations systems used by the USPS™ identified several deficiencies: the existing system was DOS-based, making it difficult for a supervisor to interface with the necessary applications to properly perform the job; disparate legacy systems from the 1980's were redundant and could not effectively communicate; and supervisors and route examiners did not use the same system and so could not effectively share information.
Thus, new methods are needed to maximize on-time and profitable delivery of the mail while complying with federally required mandates and labor contract rules. There is a need for a delivery operation information system that allows a mail carrier supervisor to access, analyze, and act on data in near real time so that the supervisor can make sound business decisions on what needs to be done for that day. In addition, there is a need for a system that provides a supervisor with the ability to analyze operations to identify and address issues in his or her delivery unit, or with individual routes or individual carriers. There is also a need for a system that allows for long-range planning, such as for example a week, a month, or a year, and for a system that allows for a streamlined route inspection and adjustment process to provide current update of critical information to the route assignment process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a system for managing information related to a delivery service provider such as the USPS™ and methods of using such a system. The system and methods provided herein allow a delivery service provider to coordinate with efficiency the volume of mail or packages to be delivered with the carrier resources available to deliver them. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the delivery operation information system tracks quantities of articles, schedules their distribution, and schedules and tracks the work force that distributes the articles. These articles can include, but are not limited to, mail such as letters, flat mail, bulk mail, parcels, and other packages. The terms articles, mail and packages are used interchangeably throughout the specification. It is understood that such terms are intended to include any item that is deliverable by air or surface transportation.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for managing delivery of articles. The method comprises developing a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period, and developing a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period. The method further provides display screens selectively showing the data from the first and second databases. Next the actual amount of delivery resources used is compared to the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period. A report is then generated based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period.
In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a system for managing delivery of articles can also be provided. The system can include a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period, and a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period. The system can further include a display screen for showing selective data from the first and second databases, a component for comparing the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period, and a component for generating a report based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The present invention provides a delivery operations information system for a delivery service provider such as the USPS™ and methods of using such a system. The delivery operations information system (DOIS) and methods provided herein allow a delivery service provider to coordinate with efficiency the volume of mail or packages to be delivered with the carrier resources available to deliver them. For example, DOIS can allow a postal supervisor to glance at a computer screen and see a quick visual snapshot of information, such as for example daily mail volume for individual mail routes, carrier shift schedules, whether a carrier will have spare time in his shift due to the day's mail volume, which carriers have the day off, and which carrier has requested overtime. Based on this information, the system can provide an accurate and reliable automated method for matching up mail loads with available carriers. Accordingly, DOIS can serve as a high-tech matchmaking service, using data to match up workload with available carriers rather than guesswork. By managing capacity and demand, use of DOIS can result in improved resource allocation, lower labor costs, and improved reliability and higher quality mail service.
The delivery operations information system of the present invention comprises a software application that combines client/server technology with highly integrated applications, including one or more software components, a central repository, a graphical user interface, and a standard platform that can scale with changing demands. The mainframe back-end captures large amounts of information about mail volume, delivery routes and inspections, carrier schedules, time and attendance, and budget. DOIS provides a software application that feeds data from multiple sources into the central repository, so that users of the system such as managers or supervisors can quickly view critical data, such as for example the amount of mail scheduled to arrive at a facility, and adjust carrier workloads to meet the demand.
In one embodiment of the invention, the delivery operation information system 100 can be a client-server software application, with data being stored on one or more of a client or a mainframe. The client(s) and mainframe(s) of the system can be connected via a local area network or a wide area network, as previously described. It is understood, of course, that data may be transferred in both directions. For example, a database of route records may be maintained on the mainframe 130, and a workstation user can transfer route data between the mainframe 130 and the workstation 112.
The client can be, in one embodiment, a Windows-based PC or laptop and further can be located in the delivery unit. A user may have his own PC, or a number of users may share a PC. As illustrated in
A separate version of a DOIS application 110 may be provided by the present invention for use with a laptop computer. The laptop version may include many of the same features, but is not as comprehensive. Certain functions, therefore, may be left out of the laptop version.
The system 100 described herein, in one embodiment, can allow connectivity to other applications, such as for example Form Flow software or Microsoft Excel. In another embodiment, the system can allow connectivity to other databases, such as for example legacy postal service databases. Further, it is understood that the present software application can work with utilities other than those already mentioned, and that the DOIS software application may include one or more additional software components for implementing the following management functions.
As illustrated in
In one aspect of the embodiment, DOIS can comprise a web page that can be viewed online and allow users to. view the system status. For example, the web page may inform the user of the system's availability, and whether the system is fully functional, slow, or unavailable. This can be achieved, for example, by tracking the length of time it takes for DOIS to return a communication sent from the web page. The system's availability may be indicated, for example, by an easily viewable symbol such as a traffic light having a signal that is green when the system is fully functional, yellow when the system is slow, and red when the system is unavailable. The system status can be updated by refreshing the web page.
In another aspect, the DOIS website can provide additional online support for the user, such as for example a “Tip of the Day,” or the ability to reset system passwords or view certain information online. In yet another aspect, each of the system's windows can include a help button. The help button is window-sensitive and includes extensive online help, including a brief description of the purpose of the window.
Turning now to methods for using DOIS, a user of the delivery operations information system may be, for example, a mail carrier (“carrier”), a delivery unit supervisor, a system administrator, a district, area or national manager. Each user can be assigned a profile and a unique identifier or username, and must log on with a password, which may be changed, to the secure system of the present invention in order to gain access to the delivery operations information system 100. In an exemplary embodiment, only authorized users may access the system 100. The system 100 may recognize and allow access, for example, only to those users whose profiles have been stored in the system.
In one embodiment, a user may only have access to limited information and/or operations of the system 100. For example, a delivery unit supervisor may assign a carrier to a delivery route in his or her district, or may modify a delivery route in that district, but may not assign a carrier to a delivery route outside that district or modify a delivery route outside that district. In some embodiments, only a local or district manager may modify a delivery route in any particular district. Thus, the system 100 may be configured to allow selective users access to some, but not all of the functions of the system 100.
With the system 100 of the present invention, a system administrator or another authorized user may maintain user profiles, district organizations, and 52-day implementation plans (i.e., calendars of events that must take place in order to meet contractual requirements). For example, a user may add an activity to a 52-day plan. A system administrator or other authorized user may view the profiles of other users, including, for a given ID and user name, the user's primary delivery unit and class (e.g., supervisor, manager, system administrator, etc.). The system administrator or other authorized user may also create a new profile for a user or a new user class (e.g., supervisor, manager, route inspector, etc.) and the delivery unit for that particular user class.
A system administrator or another authorized user may further use the DOIS 100 to view a district organization as a tree format, edit, reassign, delete, and/or add to the district, its facilities, and its management areas. A system administrator or other authorized user may also add a new post office operation area or a new installation (e.g., an individual building or multiple facilities), and may assign a finance number, city, and state to the new installation. A system administrator or other authorized user may also add a new delivery unit. A system administrator or other authorized user may also assign an existing ZIP code™ to that district.
As shown in
In general, DOIS can include a database comprising information regarding individual carriers, delivery units, routes, and mail volumes. An individual user of DOIS, or of the daily workload management system, performance reports system, planning and scheduling system, route and unit maintenance system, managed service points and street management system, or route adjustment system, may have access to some or all of this information.
For each carrier the DOIS database can include the carrier's status (e.g., regular carrier, part-time carrier, transitional employee (TE) carrier, casual carrier, utility carrier, or substitute carrier), the carrier's assigned route (or whether the carrier is currently unassigned) and the date the carrier was assigned to that route, the hours worked to date by that carrier and whether the carrier is on an overtime desired list (OTDL), the carrier's delivery unit, and the carrier's prior performance reports. The database can also provide for each carrier the number of days the carrier has physically worked on a particular route, the last day the carrier worked a particular route, the days the carrier worked on a particular route in the office, and the last day the carrier worked on a particular route on the street.
The overtime desired list can comprise a list of carriers desiring overtime. In one embodiment, the OTDL can include the identities of the carriers on the list, as well as a record of overtime offered to each carrier on the OTDL, overtime worked by each carrier on the OTDL, and overtime refused by each carrier on the OTDL, including any reasons for refusal of overtime.
For each route, the DOIS database can include information, such as for example the route (e.g., the path traveled, and whether the route is a full or auxiliary route), the overall time for the route (and whether the route is over or under eight hours on a given day, based on the calculated workload), the travel time for the route, the route type (e.g., combination, collection, or relay), the route environment (e.g., residential, business, or mixed), the type of delivery (e.g., foot, dismount, curb line motorized, park and loop, etc.), the clock rings (e.g., reporting time, leave time, return time, end time), previous inspections (e.g., date(s) of previous inspections, findings of previous inspections), the projected mail volume for one or more delivery times per day (e.g., a morning delivery and an afternoon or evening delivery), whether mail is delivered to that route on particular days (e.g., weekends, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays), the fixed office time for the route, the managed service points for the route, the non-delivery points for the route (e.g., park points, relay points, collection boxes), and the carrier assigned to the route.
For each delivery unit, the DOIS database can include information, such as for example the carriers assigned to the delivery unit, the routes serviced by the delivery unit, and the supervisor of the delivery unit.
DOIS can also include information such as the projected or actual mail volume, optionally by route, for a particular day, week, month, or year. It is understood that the term mail may include, for example, letters, magazines, postcards, or parcels, and may be shipped by, for example, air or surface. Mail volume may be measured by individual pieces or in linear measurements. For instance, mail volume data may be collected by scanning individual pieces of mail and maintaining a count of the pieces. Alternately, stacked mail may be measured using a ruler or yardstick. With DOIS, a user may view the mail volume by category such as, for example, first class letter mail, first class flat mail, parcels, etc, and may view running totals.
DOIS can also provide advance notice of the amount of mail a sorting facility will be sending to a delivery unit. This advance notice would allow the delivery unit to plan ahead for incoming mail volume. In situations where mail is received by individual offices such as for example post offices or courier offices, from a central sorting facility, a user may record the amount of mail that comes in for each delivery from the sorting facility, and the time of the delivery so as to track inflow of mail. In one embodiment, a user may modify a mail volume value from a projected mail volume value to a measured mail volume value after mail is received from a central sorting facility. The system 100, in one embodiment, can allow a user to capture mail volumes manually or by uploading data stored in a DCD 150. For example, a carrier may use a DCD 150 to enter the mail volume by route as he or she counts the amount of mail to be delivered for that route for that day.
DOIS can further provide a list of route vacancies, which occur when a route is not covered by an individual carrier, including planned vacancies and vacancies that occur on a particular day as a result of a call-in (i.e., a carrier announces an unscheduled absence). A DOIS user may create a vacancy by documenting a carrier's leave request, and may record whether the leave is, for example, sick leave or annual leave, and whether a full or partial day of leave is requested. For a partial day, the user may further record the number of hours of leave taken. The user may also identify a date range for a carrier's multi-day leave. In one embodiment, the system may print an appropriate leave form automatically upon saving vacancy information.
While in DOIS, a user may change the information retrieved from one delivery unit to another, or one delivery facility to another, without logging out of the system. DOIS can also serve as a message broadcasting system. For instance, a national manager may be able to place a message onto the system so that users will receive a notification on the screen after logging into the system. In one embodiment, DOIS can provide online forms for work-related accidents, or include applications for mail holding and parcel redelivery.
DOIS can provide a method for managing delivery of articles by developing a first database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, developing a second database that identifies the volume of articles to be delivered along each route, developing a third database that identifies the total estimated work time for completing any identified routes, developing a fourth database that identifies carriers assigned and assignable to all or portions of the routes, and the availability of the carriers, and providing display screens selectively showing the data from the first, second, third, and fourth databases to permit assignment of the carrier to the routes.
Also provided is a system for managing delivery of articles comprising a first database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, a second database that identifies the volume of articles to be delivered along each route, a third database that identifies the total estimated work time for completing any identified routes and a fourth database that identifies carriers assigned and assignable to all or portions of the routes, and the availability of the carriers. The system also includes a display screen for selectively showing data from the first, second, third, and fourth databases to permit assignment of the carrier to the routes.
As described, DOIS can provide a user with the ability to view multiple display screens or windows at the same time, so that a user can analyze data from different information databases to formulate a business decision. For example, as shown in
Particular features of the office management 200 and street management 300 functions of DOIS are discussed in greater detail below.
Daily Workload Management System
As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the daily workload management system 300 can allow a user to view, enter, or modify one or more carriers, delivery units, routes, and absences for a particular date. A user may also view, enter, or modify the projected or actual mail volume for a particular date. This date may be the current date, the previous day, the following day or, for example, any day of the following week, month, or year.
With the daily workload management system 300, a user may also adjust a carrier's start or end time in the event of, for example, a supervisor's service or safety talk with the carrier. For example, if a supervisor spends twenty minutes giving a talk, the carrier's route time may be adjusted by twenty minutes. In one embodiment, a user may adjust a carrier's route time in the event of a deviation from a planned route due to, for example, construction along that route. A user may also adjust a carrier's schedule if that carrier starts earlier or later than planned. In one embodiment, a user may input time added to a carrier's original route when the carrier is providing assistance to another route. Thus, a user may change a carriers' begin time for a given day, as well as a carrier's regular scheduled start time.
The daily workload management system 300 may also allow a user to view, enter, or modify the projected or actual mail volume for a particular route. The mail volume for a particular route may be projected based on historical data (e.g., mail volumes recorded the previous day, week, month, or year, or, for example, an average of the mail volume recorded for that day in, for example, the previous years).
A user may also use the daily workload management system 300 to compare actual mail volume to projected mail volume, or mail volume from a previous historical period such as the same period last year (SPLY). The SPLY function of the daily workload management system 300 can permit the user to assess the effect of anomalies, such as those due to weather conditions (e.g., a heavy snowstorm) or unusual traffic congestion, and to plan the workload for the future. In one aspect of the system 300, a user may “roll in” undelivered mail from an earlier period, such as for example the previous day or earlier in the same day. In another aspect of the system 300, a user may record a special event, such as for example a heavy snow storm, so that other users viewing data for that day at a later time will be alerted to the special event.
The system 300 can also provide a list of route vacancies, which occur when a route is not covered by an individual carrier, including planned vacancies and vacancies that occur on a particular day as a result of a call-in. A user may use the daily workload management system 300 to manage workload by, for example, creating a vacancy by documenting a carrier's leave request. A user may also choose a carrier's name, for example, using a drop-down list, and then create a vacancy type such as sick leave or annual leave. In some embodiments a user may indicate whether the carrier is taking a full or partial day of leave and, for a partial day, may further record the number of hours of leave taken. A user may also identify a date range for a carrier's multi-day leave. In some embodiments, the system 300 may print an appropriate leave form automatically upon saving vacancy information.
A user may then use the daily workload management system 300 to assign assistance from scheduled and unscheduled carriers. For example, a user may specify the duration of the assistance, as well as whether the assistance will apply to an entire route or only to a portion of the route. A user may request assistance from an unscheduled carrier if such assistance is needed, for example, to cover a full route. A user can also view the total overtime and under time for the total of the delivery unit's routes, and can reassign workload so that the total overtime and total under time equal, or approach, zero.
In one embodiment, a user may view a summary of a particular carrier's assignment for the day, including the route the carrier is assigned to, and the carrier's expected total work time for the daily assignment. The daily workload management system 300 may also allow a user to generate a report of a carrier's performance, including, for example, work hours over a period of time, and any difference from the hours expected.
With the daily workload management system 300, a user may also generate a workload status report which may provide information for one, some, or all of the routes and assignments made for a given day. The report may include the identity of the route, the name of the carrier, the status of the carrier, the type of carrier, the demonstrated performance of the carrier, the volume the carrier has for the day, projections based on the carrier's workload, the carrier's leave time, projections of the carrier's return time, and projections of the carrier's total time for the day. The report may also identify deviations from expected data, and may provide a comparison to historical values.
The daily workload management system 300 also can allow a user to view and/or edit details of regular and city routes, including, for example, the base route information, including office time, street time, how many deliveries the carrier has, the carrier's begin time, leave time, and return time. These routes may be, for example, combination routes, collection routes, and relay routes. The user may also divide a route up into smaller segments (e.g., by time or distance) that can be given to other carriers for delivery. The user may view or modify delivery instructions, or a form specifying delivery instructions, as described above.
A user may also produce a report displaying the carrier's revised route with the daily workload management system 300. Such a report may be printed either by carrier or by route for a given date. It is understood that the report may be printed with or without route times.
With the daily workload management system 300 of the present invention, a user may elect to “pivot” a route by reassigning a portion of that route. In some embodiments, the system 300 can allow the user to pivot by section (a given street or portion thereof on the route) or duration (the time to deliver the section). The system may also allow the user to pivot the route by business deliveries or residential deliveries.
In some embodiments, the user may choose a pivot option, for example, by section, and then select a number of sections (e.g., one, two, ten, or twenty sections). Alternatively the user may pivot by duration (e.g., one-hour, two-hour, or three-hour increments). In one embodiment, the system 300 may break down the route being pivoted into every delivery, and the mode and method of delivery for all the streets can be broken down into individual sections or logical groups. The system 300 can give the user start and end times, and determine how long it takes to deliver each logical group, the type of delivery (e.g., business or residential), and the delivery method (e.g., mounted or park and loop).
The user may also be able to fill out reports and/or forms with the daily workload management system 300. In one embodiment, a report and/or form may be generated which lists key information about a given route including, for example, the carrier assigned, the replacement carrier, relay points, the number of deliveries on each relay point, park points, where the carrier goes to lunch, and how the carrier travels back and forth to lunch. In another embodiment, a report and/or form may be generated which lists a revised carrier or revised route assignment which may, for example, ensure recipients will get their mail or deliveries at the same approximate time each day.
In one embodiment, a method is provided for daily management of the delivery of articles over routes. The method comprises developing a first database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, developing a second database that identifies the volume of articles to be delivered along each route, and developing a third database that identifies a set of carriers and the carriers' availability and workload capacity, wherein workload capacity comprises a total number of available work hours for that carrier. Next, an estimated work time is determined for completing the identified routes. Display screens are provided to selectively show the data from the first, second, and third databases. A user can then assign carriers to routes, while also determining a variance between the estimated work time for completing the identified routes and the available work hours for the carrier or carriers assigned to each route. If needed, the user can adjust the assignment of carriers such that the variance for each of the route approaches zero.
A system can also be provided for daily management of the delivery of articles over routes. The system can include a first database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, a second database that identifies the volume of articles to be delivered along each route, and a third database that identifies a set of carriers and the carriers' availability and workload capacity, wherein workload capacity comprises a total number of available work hours for that carrier. The system can further include a component for determining an estimated work time for completing the identified routes, a display screen for selectively showing the data from the first, second, and third databases, a component for assigning carriers to routes, and a component for determining a variance between the estimated work time for completing the identified routes and the available work hours for the carrier or carriers assigned to each route, as well as component for adjusting the assignment of carriers such that the variance for each of the routes approaches zero.
In one exemplary method for using the present invention, a supervisor makes an assessment of the mail volume to be delivered on a particular day. The supervisor can then enter this information into the Capture Mail Volume—Manual feature of the system. Next, the supervisor can view the Workload Status window to view the list of carriers that don't have a full day's worth of work, based on mail volume. This status can be indicated by a numerical value, as shown in
Determination of the estimated work hours for each carrier can be calculated by taking into account several factors. For example, after the mail volume for a particular route has been estimated, a numerical calculation is made to determine the estimated office time for that carrier assigned to that route for that day. The calculation can include rates for letters and rates for flats (i.e., non-letter sized flat pieces of mail such as for example magazines) per minute. For instance, a typical rate can be eighteen letters/minute and 8 flats/minute. These numbers, combined, reflect the sorting time that is allocated to that carrier. Bundle up time can also be included into this total. For instance, a typical bundle up rate of 70 pieces of mail/minute can be applied to the mail volume to determine that carrier's bundle up time. The combined sorting and bundle up time can then be multiplied by a percent to standard factor. This factor reflects a carrier's demonstrated ability, which has been calculated based on previous performance statistics. A normal carrier would have a 100% standard, while a faster carrier would have a lower percentage factor since he would likely be able to do the same amount of work but in less time. The system captures this efficiency and reflects this in the percent to standard factor for that carrier. Fixed office time, such as for collecting signatures from customers and signing for deliveries, as well as other miscellaneous time, can be factored into the carrier's estimated work hours as well.
The system is configured to know how much time it should take to complete any given route. The route time can be a fixed or standard time, based on inspection or by timing each activity. So, after determining a carrier's estimated work hours, it is possible for a supervisor using DOIS to view the route assignments for the day and also see which carriers are over or under their expected work hours based on the estimated work hours calculated for that day. The supervisor can also view the availability of the carriers. Using DOIS, a supervisor can then make assignments so that the total estimated overtime and under time for the carriers approaches zero. That is, the supervisor can make route assignments to carriers so that no carrier is over his expected work hours and no carrier is under his expected work hours for that day.
After the supervisor has made the adjustments, he can advise the carrier of the changes and print out a Workload Status Report that notes what the new assigned routes will be for each carrier. This report would tell the carrier which routes they need to cover for that day.
Performance Reports System
The office management module 200 of DOIS can also include a performance reports system 320. As generally illustrated in
A performance report may typically comprise a graphical representation, such as for example a bar graph or trend graph. The performance reports enable a supervisor or manager to determine how close actual performance is to budgeted or projected performance. The reports also enable a user to determine how close actual performance is to projected performance. Further, it is possible using the reports to compare what happened yesterday with what is happening today. With this information, a user may elect to change one or more aspects of the delivery process to meet or exceed the desired expectations.
The individual and delivery unit performance reports may, for example, reflect performance of an individual carrier or group of carriers over the course of a day, week, month, or year. As used herein, a week may denote a “service week,” which runs from Saturday through Friday, or may be defined with the system 320 to include any consecutive set of days. A “month” may denote a calendar month. If the calendar year chosen is not yet complete, the system 320 can provide all of the collected data up to that point in time.
The performance reports system 320 can provide performance reports, including late-leaving/late-returning reports that can be used in conjunction with the time keeping system to determine whether a carrier left on time and returned on time as projected. The system 320 may also generate an absence analysis that identifies a carrier's leave taken by, for example, a pay period for a given year. The user may also print a dispatch feedback report or a statistics worksheet for a given week.
With the system 320 provided, a user can generate a report such as a route/carrier daily performance report which compares a supervisor's projections from the previous day to the carriers' actual clock rings to determine and display any variance between the two. What is meant by a clock ring is a registration event on a time clock of a start or end point. For example, the carrier may have four clock rings per days, such as, e.g.: (1) when he begins work; (2) when he leaves the office to begin his route; (3) when he returns from his route to the office; and (4) when he leaves the office for the day. However, any known method can be used to calculate and record each carrier's total time worked.
Another type of report that can be generated using the performance reports system 320 is a unit daily performance report and unit weekly performance graph consolidate the unit's performance on a daily and weekly basis, respectively, based on a number of performance factors, such as individual carrier performance and the amount of mail that was delivered. The dispatch feedback report lists the amount of mail volume (in terms of percent of the delivery unit's total mail volume for a day) coming in from its sorting facility. Tracking the percent of the daily mail volume arriving in each delivery unit from the sorting facility allows a supervisor to improve the delivery unit's mail flow.
In one embodiment, a method is provided for managing delivery of articles comprising developing a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period, developing a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period, providing display screens selectively showing the data from the first and second databases, comparing the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period, and generating a report based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period.
A system for managing delivery of articles can also be provided. The system can include a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period, a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period, a display screen for showing selective data from the first and second databases, a component for comparing the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period, and a component for generating a report based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for the period.
Planning and Scheduling System
Another component of the office management module 200 of DOIS is a planning and scheduling system 340. As generally depicted in
With the planning and scheduling system 340 of DOIS, a user may view projected workload 342 based on volume from another historical period, such as the previous year, and may assess the effect of a particular event, such as a heavy snowstorm, during that period. A user may also view, generate, edit, or print a weekly schedule report for the current week or another week such as for example the following week. This weekly schedule may account for projected mail volume during the selected week. The weekly schedule report can include the names of regular carriers and the routes to which they are assigned. The weekly schedule report may also include the day-to-day schedule of a particular carrier. Additional information about carriers and/or routes may also be present in the weekly schedule report.
The planning and scheduling system 340 may also allow a user to view or modify assignment details for a given route number, such as the particular section that is assigned to a carrier, and whether it is an office or street section. If a carrier assigned to a particular route is absent, or on leave, the user can assign another carrier to the route for the duration of the first carrier's absence. In one embodiment, a user may select a route and assign a carrier to that route. A user may also assign overtime hours to a carrier, which may be scheduled before or after a carrier's regular shift. A user of the system 340 may modify a carrier's assignments for a particular week. For example, a user may reassign a carrier to a route that the carrier has requested or may remove a carrier from a route. The planning and scheduling system may, in one embodiment, warn a user that the system has detected overlapping or conflicting assignments.
The planning and scheduling system 340 may also warn the user that a particular assignment will place an employee into “penalty overtime.” Penalty overtime, in one embodiment, may be defined as total working time of more than ten hours a day, or more than four days of overtime in a week. A user, in one embodiment, may authorize or reject an assignment, following the system's warning.
The system 340 can provide a method of managing an overtime desired list (ODTL) 344. A user may generate a new OTDL or modify an existing one. For example, a user may add a carrier to or remove a carrier from the OTDL. If a carrier was removed from the overtime desired list, the system 340 can be configured to display the date of removal. A user may also use the system 340 to generate a new OTDL for a different time period, such as for example a new quarter, but may also roll in an overtime list from the previous quarter in order to avoid re-entering the entire list.
The system 340 may allow a user to display a list of each carrier that desires overtime and to track overtime hours and opportunities for overtime hours by each employee on the overtime desired list. A user may view each carrier's overtime status, including the amount of overtime that that carrier is willing to work. A user may also identify employees who have refused overtime on a given day, and the reasons for their refusal. A user may select a period of time (such as for example a year quarter) and display information for all carriers desiring overtime for that period. A user may also track overtime by carrier by quarter.
In some embodiments, the planning and scheduling system 340 can provide a warning when a route exceeds a predetermined threshold amount and/or occurrence of overtime. This warning would indicate to a supervisor that he should investigate whether the route requires permanent assistance or should be divided. In one embodiment, a user, such as for example a national supervisor, may change the threshold and accordingly, adjust the route.
The system 340 may also allow a user to manage an annual budget 346. A user with the appropriate authorization may also view, edit, modify, or record a delivery unit's budget by week. A user may also, for example, display a weekly summary by month or a daily summary by week. The planning and scheduling system 340 can also allow the user to allocate a weekly budget or display budget details. A user may also break down the budget by day, month, or fiscal year, to plan for work hours and mail volume. Budget can be represented in terms of total work hours provided to a particular unit, for that given period of time. The budgeted hours represent a restriction or maximum threshold on the total work hours that can be allocated for any given unit for that work period. Accordingly, a supervisor can use DOIS to allocate resources so that demand is met while also keeping within the budgeted work hours restriction. Further, the system 340 can allow the user to compare the budgeted hours against the carrier's actual hours, and the budgeted hours against the scheduled hours. The actual hours worked can also be compared with the projected hours to have worked.
In one embodiment, a method is provided for managing delivery of articles to locations along routes over a plurality of days. The method can comprise the steps of developing a first database that identifies routes for delivery of the articles, developing a second database that identifies regularly scheduled carriers, assigning carriers to the routes in response to the data from the first and second databases, providing display screens selectively showing the carriers assigned to the routes and showing the number of hours projected for those carriers to complete those routes over the plurality of days, developing a third database that identifies the assignments and projected hours, developing a fourth database that identifies budgeted work hours for the carriers, and providing display screens selectively showing data from the third and fourth databases in a form that permits comparison of the hours projected and hours budgeted for the delivery of the articles along the routes over the plurality of days.
Also provided is a system for managing delivery of articles to locations along routes over a plurality of days. The system can comprise a first database that identifies routes for delivery of the articles, a second database that identifies regularly scheduled carriers, a component for assigning carriers to the routes in response to the data from the first and second databases, a component for selectively showing on a display screen the carriers assigned to the routes and showing the number of hours projected for those carriers to complete those routes over the plurality of days, a third database that identifies the assignments and projected hours, a fourth database that identifies budgeted work hours for the carriers, and a display screen for selectively showing data from the third and fourth databases in a form that permits comparison of the hours projected and hours budgeted for the delivery of the articles along the routes over the plurality of days.
Route and Unit Maintenance System
The office management module 200 of DOIS can also include a route and unit maintenance system 360. As generally depicted in
In an exemplary embodiment, the system 360 can manage route maintenance 362 and can list all of the routes stored on the mainframe. A user can select certain of those routes to be downloaded to the workstation. With the route and unit maintenance system 360, a user may view information for a particular route, including the type of route (e.g., residential, business, mixed), the type of delivery (e.g., foot, dismount, curb line motorized, park and loop, etc.), whether the route is a full route or auxiliary, and whether or not the route has Saturday delivery. The user may also view the route's begin time, leave time, return time, and end time on a daily basis, and the route's last inspection date and statistics, and fixed office time (the amount of fixed office time that has been established for the route, which is not driven by workload). The user may further view morning and evening mail volume information, percent-to-standard, and carrier information such as the regular carrier assigned to the route, the carrier's hire date, the date the carrier was assigned to the route, and the replacement carrier, if any. A user may also see if a route is pending special inspection, or may view or enter inspection information.
A user of the route and unit maintenance system 360 may also view and adjust information related to a route, for example, travel times and begin times. A user may modify the step-by-step travel pattern a carrier follows to deliver a route. A user may further remove a route from a delivery unit. This might be done, for example, when a new ZIP code™ is created and routes are therefore moved to a new unit. A user may assign or edit one or more of the following fields: route number, its ZIP code™, type (e.g., collection route, relay route, or combination route), base hours, daily begin tour time and Saturday begin tour time. A user may set the time when a carrier is predicted to drop mail in the first delivery box of a route.
The route and unit maintenance system 360 can also allow a user to create a pivot plan 364 and logical groups, or assign route break locations. That is, the route can be broken up into a series of logical segments. The system 360 takes the step-by-step travel pattern a carrier follows to deliver a route and combines that information with an interfacing Address Management System (AMS) database to identify the address of every delivery on a particular route, and then splits those deliveries into logical groups. Once the user creates logical groups of addresses, the system 360 can assign an amount of time for delivery, a travel pattern, a delivery method, possible points for mail delivery (e.g., number of houses), the carrier's expected enter time and exit time for a particular logical group, and his first delivery. A block with no breaks can be considered a sector segment. Sector segments are already set up in the AMS database and are linked together by the user to create a logical group.
A user of the system 360 may identify all of the routes in close proximity to the route being pivoted, so that the user can reassign a section to another carrier having a proximate route, and therefore lessen the time it takes to assist the carrier with the route section. A user may also view, create, or modify non-delivery points, such as for example park points (where a carrier parks and makes a loop on foot), relay points (where the carrier returns to the vehicle between multiple loops), and collection boxes (where carriers pick up mail to be processed).
The route and unit maintenance system 360 can also allow a user to integrate an operating plan 366 to coordinate mail sent between a post office and a sorting facility. The system 360 can update information regarding when deliveries will arrive from the sorting facility and how much mail will be in each delivery. A user may view a list of dispatches (deliveries from the sorting facility, as discussed above), their arrival time, and the percentage of the day's mail that is expected from the plant. A user may manually enter or edit mail volume information. The mail volume can be broken down by route and day, and can be identified by morning or evening volume. The system can break down mail volume by type of mail. A user may print a one-day office mail count for an individual carrier. A user may measure the impact the automated DPS sorter has on the total number of letters the carrier has to sort, so that the saved time can be subtracted from a carrier's allowed sorting time. A user may view, for example, by ZIP code™ or by route, the impact of having DPS sorted mail.
A user may designate a threshold for one or more types of mail. If the mail volume of a type of mail exceeds the entered threshold (which is entered as a percentage), the system highlights the mail volume field to alert the user of a possible mistake. The highlighting may include turning the field yellow, bolding it, flashing it, or another method to draw the user's attention.
A user of the system 360 may also manage unit maintenance 368, as represented in
Further, a user of the route and unit maintenance system 360 of the present invention may designate a threshold of overtime and under time he or she wants to be alerted to. For example, if a user selects to view thirty minutes, only routes that have 30 minutes or more of overtime or under time will be displayed. A user may also view or enter vehicle odometer readings at various points in a carrier's workday, for example, upon reporting to the office, leaving the office, making a first delivery, etc. during an inspection period. The system may also display a carrier's volume of mail for a given date and route number during an inspection period.
In one embodiment, a method is provided for managing delivery of articles. The method comprises the steps of developing a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, including characteristics of the routes, providing a display screen selectively showing the routes for delivery and the characteristics, using the display screen to modify the characteristics of a delivery route, and saving the modification to the database.
A system for managing delivery of articles can also be provided. The system can include a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, including characteristics of the routes, a display screen for selectively showing the routes for delivery and the characteristics, a component for modifying the characteristics of a delivery route, and a component for saving the modification to the database.
Thus, the route and unit maintenance system allows a user to make permanent prospective adjustments to the assignment of routes to carriers, and to the manner in which a carrier travels to and from a route. In one example, the user can break up a route into a series of logical segments, then assign segments of the routes to carriers so that each carrier has approximately eight hours of work. This feature allows the user to level off the workload. It is contemplated that this system 360 can be implemented on an as-need basis to provide a permanent change to the route assignment.
Managed Service Points and Street Management System
Another feature of the office management module 200 of DOIS is the managed service points and street management system 380, which can allow a supervisor to track a carrier's progress through the use of barcodes placed at various points along a routes (e.g., in mailboxes or collection boxes). As depicted in
In one embodiment, MSP barcode labels 384 are secure. For example, it is contemplated that all MSP barcode labels 384 must be generated by an authorized user or facility of the system 380. Further, a new MSP label 384 may only be requested by an authorized user, such as for example a supervisor. In another embodiment, a new MSP label 384 may only be approved by an authorized user, such as for example a system administrator.
The managed service points and street management system 380 of the present invention may also share data with other applications, such as for example the mail volume collected by a supervisor, the time and attendance recorded with Time and Attendance Collection System (TACS), the Address Management System (AMS), and scanned data from mail carriers.
In one embodiment, a method is provided for managing delivery of articles. The method comprises the steps of providing a set of scannable barcode labels corresponding to unique addressable locations on a delivery route, providing a database of recorded time entries, each entry corresponding to a scanning event of a barcode label, and tracking a movement of a carrier by analyzing a series of recorded time entries for the delivery route.
A system for managing delivery of articles can also be provided. The system can comprise a set of scannable barcode labels corresponding to unique addressable locations on a delivery route, a database of recorded time entries, each entry corresponding to a scanning event of a barcode label, and a component for tracking a movement of a carrier by analyzing a series of recorded time entries for the delivery route.
Route Adjustment System
As depicted in
A user may also use the route inspections and adjustments system 500 to perform a route adjustment 514. With this route adjustment system 500, a user may create a new route 516. The new route can be automatically provided with a new route number via the address management system (AMS). The user can also make adjustments to the new route with the route adjustment system 500, as shown in
A user may use route inspection data for a given route to create adjustment scenarios for that route in order to determine the most efficient route. A user may want to evaluate an alternate scenario, for example, in the event of new construction along a route. To create a new scenario (e.g., by moving a particular street from one route to another route), the user can enter a ZIP code™ and each route within that ZIP code™ can be displayed along with its office time, street time, allied time (i.e., time when the carrier is on the street but not delivering mail, for example, refilling mail between loops), possible deliveries, and other factors. The user can evaluate and adjust office, street, and allied time, and can assign a given amount of time to a route. Street information can be displayed, for example, by block range.
A route adjustment may be formal, special, or minor. A special route adjustment request can one made by a carrier. A supervisor need not accompany the carrier on the route, but may instead use predetermined calculation to make the adjustment using the volume of mail and the historical time data for that route. In one embodiment, for a formal or special adjustment, the user manually enters the adjustment. In another embodiment, if the user identifies a minor adjustment, no data need be entered because there is no normal inspection process associated with a minor adjustment.
A user of the route adjustment system 500 can enter, edit, or view adjustment details from multiple delivery facilities including, for example, the route, carrier, adjustment type, duration, and whether the adjustments are implemented or pending. A user may also enter comments for an adjustment. A user may analyze data such as DPS volume impact, and edit office time, select and edit street time, and add or remove delivery points. A user may manually enter or edit mail volume information, or modify the step-by-step travel pattern a carrier follows to deliver a route. A user may adjust details relating to a route by identifying the route and the carrier, along with the adjustment type, duration, and status (implemented or pending). A user may also enter or modify comments related to an adjustment.
The system 500 may also allow a user to view a listing of adjustments that have been implemented or are currently pending, for example, by ZIP code™. A user may also input a delivery unit and display a summary of adjustments made for the entire unit. Further, a user may add or remove delivery points from a route. The system 500 can be configured to automatically calculate and display changes to office time and street time based on the addition or removal of the delivery point. The user may also add, edit, or remove non-delivery points, non-delivery point attributes, and non-delivery point sector segment association.
A user of the route adjustment system 500 may also add, edit, or remove non-delivery point attributes, and non-delivery point sector segment association. Non-delivery point attributes include the non-delivery point type (e.g., collection point, relay box, park and loop point), time the carrier arrives at the non-delivery point (daily, on Saturday, and on holidays), possible deliveries (per relay, loop, swing), location ID (for collection boxes having ID numbers), street corner, street number, a pre-directory designation (e.g., “north” for North Elm Street), street name, suffix, etc. The non-delivery points sector segment association breaks down the sector segments and displays them.
A user may also insert an allied time or sector segment. This can allow the user to make a change to a route such as adding a collection box. This can also allow the user to identify delivery zone changes (moving a route among delivery zones). A user may adjust allied times (e.g., relay time, travel to time, vehicle load time, and vehicle unload time). Relay time is understood to be the time it takes a carrier to prepare for a relay at his vehicle. Travel to time is understood to be the time it takes the carrier to travel to and from lunch, to and from the route, etc. Vehicle load time understood to be is the time it takes the carrier to put his mail in his vehicle. Vehicle unload time is understood to be the time it takes the carrier to unload his vehicle.
With the route adjustment system 500, a user can enter or edit information relating to new construction, such as when the construction began, when it is expected to end, location information, the anticipated number of deliveries to the new construction. The system 500 can be configured to designate a factor created from the route inspection adjustment and calculate the time the new construction will add to a route.
Further, a user may generate and display a random time card analysis data, and print an appropriate report. The system 500 can randomly select a carrier and display the week number for the specific accounting period and the week date. The system 500 can also display any “abnormal conditions” that would suggest a user select a previous or later week to avoid any SPLY impact that may distort the data for that week. The system 500 in one embodiment can perform an automatic week adjustment such that, if the regular carrier was not working his route on the chosen week, the system 500 can skip to the next week. A user may also check for any abnormalities during the chosen weeks. A user may also see when a carrier is given auxiliary assistance to deliver mail.
A user can, in one embodiment, print reports from this system 500. The reports can relate to, for example, route performance, route inspection, unit recap, non-delivery point changes, calendars of events that must take place in order to meet contractual requirements, adjustment analysis, mail counts, and inspection summaries.
A user may generate a weekly schedule for a delivery unit by entering a service week start date into the system 500. The user can select a route number and can then also select a replacement carrier. If no replacement carrier is selected, the system 500 can default to the regular carrier.
The route adjustment system 500 can also allow a user to add a new delivery unit, and related information such as for example the new delivery unit's area ID, district ID, facility ID, group ID, and assigned finance number. This information can be used to link delivery units to other units and facilities within their district. In one embodiment, data can be gathered for creating a new delivery unit by pulling in data from the AMS database and other interfacing databases that have relevant information about routes, etc.
In one embodiment, a method is provided for managing delivery of articles. The method comprises the steps of developing a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, wherein each route comprises locations for article delivery, providing a display screen selectively showing the routes for delivery, using the display screen to modify the locations for article delivery, and saving the modification to the database.
A system for managing delivery of articles can also be provided. The system can include a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, wherein each route comprises locations for article delivery, a display screen for selectively showing the routes for delivery, a component for modifying the locations for article delivery, and a component for saving the modification to the database.
Although the system of the present invention has been described for use with mail or package delivery service providers, it is understood that the system can easily be implemented by any type of delivery service provider. For example, the system can be utilized by any delivery service provider that would benefit from a high-tech matchmaking application that pairs up deliveries to be made with the carriers available to perform the deliveries, such as the food delivery industry.
To use the delivery operations information system 100 of the present invention, a user may be required to enter a user identification and a password on a login screen. If the user identification is recognized and the password accepted, the user may enter the DOIS program and be given access to the mainframe. Preferably, each user has a unique identification and a password, so that the system can track who is doing what within the system. The login screen can allow the user to change his password if desired.
In one embodiment of the present invention, once the user has logged onto the mainframe, he sees a screen confirming that the application is loading. The user may then see a screen indicating that the system is secure and unauthorized use is prohibited.
The next button in this section is a Same Period Last Year (“SPLY”) impact entry function that records anomalies occurring on a given day, such as a major snowstorm. SPLY information is used for future planning.
The next section in the Daily Workload Management tab is Reports and Forms. The first form, “1564A Delivery Instructions,” identifies key information about a given route including, for example, the carrier assigned, the replacement carrier, relay points, the number of deliveries on each relay point, park points, where the carrier goes to lunch, and how the carrier travels back and forth to lunch. The next form is the Revised Carrier/Route Assignment that ensures customers will get their mail at the same approximate time each day. The next button is for the Workload Status Report, which is an expansion of the workload status window. Preferably, it gives all the basic information for every route and every assignment that's made for a given day. The report can have several sections, including the carrier, the route, the status of the carrier, the type of carrier, the demonstrated performance of the carrier, the volume the carrier has for the day, projections based on the carrier's workload, the carrier's leave time, projections of the carrier's return time, and projections of the carrier's total time for the day. The last button is for the Workhour Discrepancy Report, which identifies deviations from expected work.
The next section of the illustrated embodiment of the Daily Workload Management tab is the Workload Management section. “Create Vacancy” is the first button and includes documentation for carrier leave requests. “Regular/City Route Details” includes information that identifies everything about a route, for example, the base route information, including office time, street time, how many deliveries the carrier has, the carrier's begin time, leave time, and return time. “Miscellaneous Route Details” includes basic information for such routes as combination routes, collection routes, and relay routes. The “Street Pivoting” button assists the user in breaking a route up into small segments (e.g., by hour) that can be given to other carriers for delivery. The “Daily Assignments” button provides the user with a quick snapshot of each carrier's assignment that day and the expected total work time.
This section may also include a “Record Overtime Refusals” button that performs the same function as the Record Overtime Exception button on the Carrier Information List. The next button is “Adjust Leave/Office Time” that can be used by a supervisor to adjust the carriers' time when he has, for example, a service or safety talk with the carriers. If the supervisor spends twenty minutes giving the talk, he can then adjust all of the routes by twenty minutes. The “Adjust Return/Street Time” button is used to adjust a carriers time when a carrier has to deviate from his planned route, for example, due to construction. The “Change Start Time” button is used to adjust a carriers schedule if his start time deviate, for example, due to lateness.
In a scenario where mail is received by individual post offices from a central sorting facility, the system of the present invention allows the user to record the amount of mail that comes in for each delivery from the sorting facility, and the time of the delivery. In this way, the user can track inflow of mail.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the system can be used to configure the DCD for mail volume recording. The DCD is a device capable of performing two functions: it can record mail volume and it can be used during a supervisor's route inspection process. If a single DCD is used to perform both functions the system 100 can be used to configure the DCD for the different functions. For example, the system 100 can include a “DCD Configuration—Mail Volume” function which, when initiated, gives a specific set of instructions on how to configure the DCD. The system 100 can also include a “DCD Burn-In” function for configuring the DCD for a route inspection.
A Miscellaneous Route Details windows is shown in
A Street Pivoting window can appear if the user selects a given route from the window of
In one embodiment of the invention, the Individual Performance Reports section includes individual weekly performance reports, bar graphs, and trend graphs for a carrier. A week generally denotes a “service week,” which runs from Saturday through Friday. However, it is understood that a week can be defined in the system to include any consecutive set of days. The Performance Forms section may include, for example, a late-leaving/late-returning report that can be used in conjunction with the time keeping system to determine whether a carrier left on time and returned on time as projected. The Performance Forms section may also include an absence analysis that identifies a carrier's leave taken by pay period for a given year.
The unit performance reports may include, for example, a Route/Carrier Daily Performance Report, a Unit Daily Performance Report, a Unit Weekly Performance Trend Graph, a Dispatch Feedback Report, and a FLASH Statistics Worksheet. The Route/Carrier Daily Performance Report compares a supervisor's projections from the previous day to carriers' actual clock rings to determine and display any variance between the two. The system is preferably set up for a carrier to have four clock rings a day: (1) when he begins work; (2) when he leaves the office to begin his route; (3) when he returns from his route to the office; and (4) when he leaves the office for the day. However, any known method can be used to record each carrier's time worked. The FLASH Statistics Worksheet is a report that displays mail volume totals.
The Unit Daily Performance Report and Unit Weekly Performance Graph consolidate the unit's performance on a daily and weekly basis, respectively, based on a number of performance factors, such as individual carrier performance and the amount of mail that was delivered. The Dispatch Feedback Report lists the amount of mail volume (in terms of percent of the delivery unit's total mail volume for a day) coming in from its sorting facility. Tracking the percent of the daily mail volume arriving in each delivery unit from the sorting facility allows a supervisor to improve the delivery unit's mail flow.
The OTDL Management section facilitates management of an overtime desired list. The Overtime Desired List button allows the user to display a list of each employee that desires overtime. The Overtime Equity Tracking button tracks overtime hours and opportunity by each employee on the overtime desired list and preferably produces a report for the user. The Overtime Equity Worksheet button identifies employees that have refused overtime on a given day and sets forth the reasons.
The Annual Budget section records a delivery unit's budget by week. An interfacing system inputs a budget to the system of the present invention as a weekly total. This total budget is recorded when the user presses the Record Budget by Week button. The system allows users to allocate that weekly budget by day by pressing the Adjust Daily Budget Spread button. The user can display budget details by pressing the Budget Details Report button.
The 3999 Data Transfer window preferably allows the user to download information from a DCD that was used during a route inspection, street management, or a mail count. The 1838-C Data Capture/Special Office Mail Counts button is used for a one-day office mail count for an individual carrier. This information allows the system to determine the carrier's daily performance. The Special Office Mail Counts Data Transfer button allows the user to transfer the one-day office mail count for an individual carrier into the application.
The Unit Maintenance tab is where the user identifies the delivery unit, its location, and gives general information about the delivery unit by pressing the Maintain Unit Information button. The Maintain Carrier Route Assignments button allows the user to identify the carriers for each route. The Maintain Dispatch Information button allows the user to integrate an operating plan (a plan that the post office and the sorting facility have to coordinate mail sent between the two facilities) and update information regarding when deliveries will arrive from a sorting facility and how much mail will be in each delivery.
In one embodiment, the Reports and Forms section includes a number of buttons that perform the functions set forth below. Route Base Information Report button displays general information for all routes in a delivery unit. The Route Information Card button displays specific information about a route including reporting time, leave time, return time, end time (carrier leaves the office to go home), and projected morning and evening mail volumes. The Route Performance Report button displays carrier assignments and performance for a given period of time. The Unit Recap button displays assignments and performance for a delivery unit. The Delivery Point Sequence (“DPS”) Volume Impact Button allows the user to measure the impact the automated DPS sorter has on the total number of letters the carrier has to sort, so that the saved time can be subtracted from the carriers allowed sorting time. The Routes Pending Special Inspection button allows the user to display the routes pending special inspection. The PS Form 3999 Inspection of a Letter Carrier Route button allows the user to get a history of the carrier's performance. The 3999—Manual Entry button allows the user to manually enter inspection information. The 1838 Carrier's Count of Mail button allows the user to print a one-day office mail count for an individual carrier.
The Unit Maintenance Menu feature can include a Unit Maintenance Menu window having buttons for the following functions: Maintain Unit information; Maintain Carrier Route Assignments; and Maintain Dispatch Information.
In one embodiment, the system can include a window allowing the user to remove a route from a delivery unit. This might be done, for example, when a new ZIP code™ is created and routes are therefore moved to a new unit.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the delivery operations information system of the present invention includes a second module for Route Inspections and Adjustments.
The Analyze Data subsection allows the user to analyze data such as DPS volume impact, and to edit office time, select and edit street time, and add or remove delivery points. The Conduct Inspection subsection allows the user to manually enter or edit mail volume information by pressing the 1838-C Data Capture and Maintenance button (discussed above), modify the step-by-step travel pattern a carrier follows to deliver a route by pressing the 3999 Data Capture/Summary button (discussed above), and record Examiner Observations and Comments after an inspection. The Make/Implement Adjustments subsection allows the user to create adjustment scenarios, maintain route base information once he has identified his desired scenario, and perform non-delivery point maintenance.
The Data Transfer subsection performs many electronic transfers and configures the user's workstation. Configuring the workstation involves identifying the delivery unit, the routes, etc. The user can perform a 3999 Data Transfer after a route inspection, as discussed above.
In one embodiment of the invention, data is gathered for creating a new delivery unit by pulling in data from the AMS database and other interfacing databases that have relevant information about routes, etc.
In one embodiment, the delivery operations information system of the present invention can also provide a function for adjusting a carrier's weekly schedule. From the office function, a Weekly Schedule window can be open. By right clicking on a selected field, the user can select from a number of different functions, such as: Quick Assign, Assignment Details, Create Vacancy, and Show. For each of these options, the user can select from: Regular Routes, Miscellaneous Routes, Carrier Work Status, Absence List, Sunday, or Vacant Routes. The Weekly Schedule window can allow a user to insert a replacement carrier, as shown in
Turning back to the Maintain District Organization function, in an exemplary embodiment the system can allow the user to share ZIP codes™ across one or more facilities.
With the present features of the system, the user is able to reassign a delivery facility without having to change the Facility Name field. Further, it is possible to sort alphabetically the installation or facility names, as the drop down lists are based on installation names or facility names. Also, by displaying the finance number for installation and facilities on the Maintain District Organization screen, it is easier for the user to gather station data based on finance number.
The preferred embodiment is configured to make the process of changing installation names easier.
A report displaying steward, standby and meeting time that can be generated using the system of the present invention. A user can generate this report by selecting the Unit Feedback Report button from the Performance Report tab from the Supervisor Workbench. The report can include information about a deliver unit's identity (ID), the begin date, end date, and service week, the carrier's name and route ID, the type of carrier (e.g., part time, full time), the dates with beginning and end times telling exactly when time was recorded for steward, standby or meeting times, the duration of the time for each instance where steward, standby or meeting time was recorded, and the total weekly durations for the various types of time. This information can be displayed separately by the type of time that is being recorded. Such a report can be generated for a unit by either the route or by the carrier. For example, the Steward, Standby and Meeting Time Report window can allow the user to select a report based on route or by carrier, as shown in
Steward, standby and meeting times are a subset of the general office time that is being monitored. Tracking the steward, standby and meeting times can provide delivery unit supervisors with more information on how office time is being used. Hence, the display of steward, standby and meeting time can assist supervisors in their ability to effectively and efficiently manage delivery units. For example, where a delivery truck is delayed in getting to the receiving dock and the receiving dock employee has some down time before the truck arrives, this down time can be captured in the system. If that employee's manager has a discussion with the receiving dock employee, that time can be captured as meeting time. Then, by preparing the report the supervisor can determine how the total work time has been spent.
Another useful feature of the system is the ability to generate a Unit Feedback Report from the Supervisor Workbench. The Unit Feedback Report allows users to view the previous day's overall performance for a delivery unit. This daily performance/analysis report outlines the following: usage, quality practices, and effectiveness data.
The usage section of the report allows users to track how their delivery units are using the main functions of the system, including logon, capture of mail volumes (manual and with data collection device), EOR transfer, and application version. The quality practices section allows users to track how they are managing quality practices of the system. These quality practices can include, for example, timeliness of reports, allocation of miscellaneous time, daily statistics, a summary of the steward, standby and meeting times, and additional miscellaneous times. The effectiveness data can include effectiveness indicators such as overtime percentage, adjusted office effectiveness, adjusted street effectiveness, and adjusted workload effectiveness.
The Performance Report tab of the Supervisor Workbench window of
The unit daily performance report can also include information such as a comparison of actual deliveries to budget, as well as a percent variance for possible deliveries. Also included with the report is an analysis of the unit's work hours. These can include projected and actual values for the office, street, and route times; and variances and percent variances for office and street times, including router time. In addition, the report can include a comparison of LDC's 21, 22 and 29 projected, actual and budgeted hours, and total and budgeted variance hours.
The report can also include an analysis of productivity indicators for the office and for the street. The office efficiency indicator (OEI) designates the average amount of time spent in the office on each possible delivery in the unit. The adjusted office effectiveness indicator (OE) designates how the unit performed versus projected office time. The total efficiency indicator (TEI) designates the overall efficiency of the unit. The workload effectiveness (WE) designates the overall effectiveness of the unit. All of the efficiency indicators (OEI, OE, TEI, WE) can be adjusted for steward, standby and meeting times. The report can be broken down to display OEI and adjusted OEI, as well as effectiveness (OE) calculations, for AM and PM office data.
Further, the report can include an AM/PM breakdown of office and router time, including miscellaneous time such as steward, standby and meeting times. The report can also include a weekly totals section containing a summary of the figures for the week to date.
The delivery operations information system (DOIS) of the present invention can also be integrated with a change of address request system (COARS) in order to provide maximum flexibility to the user of the system. Using DOIS, it can be possible to validate user access to requested ZIP codes™. As shown in
In another exemplary embodiment, the DOIS can also be integrated to the facility data base (FDB), so that a link is created between the DOIS facility database and the FDB facility database. In this way, it is possible to generate reports to help manage DOIS facility data against FDB facility data. Thus, a DOIS user can gather information on a particular facility, such as the street address, the number of doors available to accept delivery trucks, whether it has a gate, runs on gas or electric, etc. The information between both databases is thus shared so that congruency between the databases can be maintained.
In one exemplary embodiment, a user can access the facility detail by selecting an installation from the tree chart of the Maintain District Organization window and hitting the Edit button. As previously discussed, the Maintain District Organization window can be accessed through the System Administration Workbench. In the Edit Facility Detail window, the user will be presented with a series of warning messages. The values coming from the DOIS database are validated before the window is opened.
If the user wishes to add a new facility to the DOIS database and include FDB information, he or she would select an installation from the tree chart of the Maintain District Organization window and select the Add New Facility button. A New Facility window would then open, with the finance number from the selected installation filled in. After the user enters the appropriate information for the Type, City, State, ZIP Code™, and Name fields, he or she can select the OK button to create a new facility record. This facility record will be saved in the DOIS database, without a link to the FDB database. To complete the newly created record, the user would repeat the above-discussed steps.
It is also possible to generate district reports with FDB and DOIS database information using the present system. As shown in
Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment the system of the present invention can provide a function that tracks an office's compliance with the AM Standard Operating Procedures (AM SOP). From the data gathered, AM SOP certification team members will have the ability to edit and view the AM SOP certification status of DOIS. This function can be accessed by selecting the AM SOP Certification Status button from the System Administration Workbench window, as shown in
Upon entering the AM SOP window for the first time, the user may notice that the date fields are empty. After the user selects the type of certification status desired by checking the box next to the entry type (e.g., IOP, Case Configuration, Unit Layout, or Carrier Schedule), then the date field associated with that certification type can be populated with the current date or the date last entered in the system for that certification. An empty date field would indicate that the milestone or certification was not yet complete for that item. A user could change the date if needed by using the up and down arrows in the box next to the date field, or by manually entering the numbers. Selecting the Save button would save the information while selecting the Close button would close the window and discard any changes that were made. Once the AM SOP information has been recorded for a unit, the changes would appear upon entering the AM SOP window. Users would have the ability to revise the AM SOP information for any particular unit.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system can include a function to record volumes of mail (letters and flats) by trip. The method includes the ability to track the actual receipts of mail and to be able to track the volumes (letters and flats) by dispatch compared to the IOP. In one example, the method would require a supervisor to enter the source of the mail and arrival time prior to saving mail volumes. PM dispatches would also be recorded similar to AM dispatches. Further, miscellaneous route volumes would also be recorded. The method would also allow the recording of unit distribution, P.O. box, and rural route volumes for the delivery unit. With this function, DOIS would be able to calculate what time mail arrives at the carrier's cases, and be able to identify the time a carrier has, for example, 80% of their AM caseable mail and, for example, 100% of their flats for the day.
From the Capture Mail Volume window, a user can click on a route and access a Detailed Route Volume window similar to that shown in
With this capture volume feature of the present embodiment of the invention, a user is also able to generate several reports with the captured data. For example, it is possible to generate a Volume Feedback Report by selecting that button. The report can be based on route detail, unit, or unit distribution. In the Unit Daily Performance Report, the Mail Volumes section can be broken down to include unit distribution of letters, flats, and parcels. The P.O. box entry would be broken down to include letters, flats, and parcels, and rural routes would include subcategories of DPS, letters, flats and parcels. This information can be displayed in a Mail Volume section of a unit daily performance report. A Unit Distribution Volume Feedback Report can also be generated using the present system to display unit distribution letters, flats, and parcels by day, including weekly totals for the selected unit. A representative Unit Distribution Volume Feedback Report is shown in
Another report that can be generated is the Unit Volume Feedback Report, which can display the time when, for example, 80% of the carrier's mail to be cased is available for a selected week for all routes in the selected unit. The report can also display the time when, for example, 100% of the carriers flats to be cased are available for a selected week. A summary can be provided which would represent the totals for non-compliance, unscheduled trips and to the unit, and number of trips that were at least a certain time, such as 15 minutes, late, for the selected unit. A representative Unit Volume Feedback Report is illustrated in
A Route Detail Volume Report can also be generated using the present system. The Route Detail Volume Report can display the time that, for example, 80% of the carriers' mail to be cased is available and when, for example, 100% of the carriers' flats to be cased are available. The report can provide a detailed view of roll-ins, dispatch trips and withdrawals for a route in one day. A representative Route Detail Volume Report is illustrated in
The Approval or Disapproval buttons, as well as the Save and Cancel are enabled only after the requested time has been adjusted. When the Disapproved check button is checked a Comments box can be visible and enabled. In one embodiment, the Comments field is always required if the Disapproval box is checked.
Preferably, each of the system's windows has a help button. The help button is window-sensitive and includes extensive online help, including a brief description of the purpose of the window.
This delivery operation information system of the present invention can be used for both city letter carriers and rural carriers. The embodiment of the system described above is tailored to city carriers, but could be used, preferably with appropriate alterations, for rural carriers. The system may also include an automatic budgeting feature allowing the user to tap into a national budget system for local downloads or data.
The system of the present invention can include several security features to prevent unauthorized access to the system and also to protect the privacy of the identities within the system's database. For example, it is understood that access to the system of the present invention can be controlled by granting selective access to authorized users only. For example, the Unit Feedback Report can be available to users with Manager access and Managers with National User access. Also, the system can be configured so that reports, such as for example the PS Form 3999, which include a carrier's ID number (usually the carrier's social security number) masks the first five characters and identifies only the last four digits of that ID number. Further, the system is configured to allow only users with a recognized profile to log on. If a user tries to log on to the system, and he or she does not have a recognized profile or the profile information is incorrect (i.e., no access to that level of the system), then a DOIS warning window similar to the one shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the Managed Service Points and Street Management System 380 can be divided into two subcomponents: Managed Service Points Maintenance and Managed Service Points Performance Reports. From the Managed Service Points Maintenance menu, a user can access features such as MSP Base Information Maintenance, MSP Location Report, MSP Label Request Status, and MSP Conversion. From the Managed Service Points Performance Reports menu, a user can access reports such as an MSP Overview Report, MSP Route Report, MSP Carrier Report, Missed Scan Report, Invalid Route Report, and Invalid Scan Report.
In one embodiment, the Route Inspections and Adjustments Workbench window can include an MSP Base Information Maintenance window in the Make/Implement Adjustments frame. The window allows route inspectors to maintain MSPs during a route inspection. Additionally, the System Administration Workbench can include a button for an MSP Label Request Status window. This window enables system administrators to print, reject, request, or view the status of MSP barcode labels for the district. The MSP Base Information Maintenance window allows MSPs to be added, edited, and deleted from a DOIS route. The base information displayed includes the MSP Type, Address, Label Location, Scheduled Scan Time, Scheduled Interval, and a Saturday Non-Delivery Indicator. The MSP Label Request window is also accessible via this window. The MSP Label Request window allows users to request Office, Street, and Mailing Labels from system administration. System administrators can make requests for every facility in the district, whereas, delivery unit supervisors can only request labels for their unit. The label information displayed on the window includes the Delivery Unit, Route Number, MSP Type, Address, Label Location, Number of Labels Previously Requested, and a New MSP Indicator.
The MSP Label Request window can be accessible via the MSP Label Request Status window or the MSP Base Information Maintenance window. Both windows are located on the Street Management Tab of the Supervisor Workbench. The MSP Label Request Status window can also be accessed from the System Administration Workbench.
The System Administration Workbench, as well as the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench, can also include an MSP Label Request Status window. The MSP Label Request Status window allows users to view the status of existing label requests. System administrators can view the status of all label requests in the district, and delivery unit supervisors can view the status of all label requests in the unit. Labels can have a status of Submitted, Printed, or Rejected. From this window, users also have access to the MSP Label Request window.
The MSP Print Label window can be accessed via the MSP Label Request Status window, if opened from the System Administration Workbench. The MSP Print Label window allows system administrators the ability to print requested labels. The user will first display the outstanding label requests. The information displayed for each label request includes: Delivery Unit, Route Number, MSP Type, Address, Label Location, Date Requested, Number of Labels Previously Requested, New MSP Indicator, and Status. Once the label requests are displayed, the user can select the labels to print or reject. If a label is being rejected, a comment must be entered describing the reason for rejection.
Also accessible from the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench is an MSP Location Report function. This new MSP maintenance report displays MSP base information for a selected route. The report outlines the following for each route in the delivery unit: Regular Carrier, MSP Type, Address, Label Location, Scheduled Scan Time, and Scheduled Interval.
The present system can also generate an MSP Overview Report. This new report displays MSP performance data for an entire delivery unit. The following fields are displayed for each route in the delivery unit: Assigned Carrier, Actual On-Time Scan Percentage, Load Time (Scheduled, Actual, and Variance), Travel To Time (Scheduled, Actual, and Variance), Travel From Time (Scheduled, Actual, and Variance), Total Street Time (Scheduled, Actual, and Variance), and Keyed Entry Indicator. Delivery Unit Totals are also displayed for each of the above fields. Users can generate a Daily or a Weekly Summary of the report. If a Weekly Summary is generated, the report will display route and unit averages, instead of actuals, for each of the displayed fields. The MSP Overview Report can be viewed/printed the following day after MSP performance information has been uploaded into DOIS. It is accessible from the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
Another report that can be generated using the present system is an MSP Route Report. This new report displays MSP performance data for one or all routes in a delivery unit. The following fields are displayed for each route: MSP Type, Address, Assigned Carrier, Scan Time (Scheduled, Actual, and Variance), and Keyed Entry Indicator. Users can generate a Daily or a Weekly Summary of the report. If a Weekly Summary is generated, the report will display the Average Scan Time, instead of the Actual Scan Time. The MSP Route Report can be viewed/printed the following day after MSP performance information has been uploaded into DOIS. It is accessible from the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
Yet anther report that can be generated is an MSP Carrier Report. This new report displays MSP performance data for one or all carriers in a delivery unit. The following fields are displayed for each carrier: Route Number, MSP Type, Address, Scan Time (Adjusted Scheduled, Scheduled, Actual, and Variance to Scheduled), Scan Interval (Adjusted Scheduled, Actual, and Variance to Adjusted Scheduled), and Keyed Entry Indicator. The MSP Carrier Report can be viewed/printed the following day after MSP performance information has been uploaded into DOIS and can be generated for a single service date. It is accessible from the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
The system can also generate a Missed Scan Report. This new report displays missed scan statistics for each route in the delivery unit. The following fields are displayed for each route: Assigned Carrier, Possible Office Scans, Actual Office Scans, Office Scan Percentage, Possible Street Scans, Actual Street Scans, and Street Scan Percentage. Delivery Unit Totals are also displayed for each of the above fields. The Missed Scan Report can be viewed/printed the following day after MSP performance information has been uploaded into DOIS. It can be generated for a service date or for a service week. The report is accessible from the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
Another report that can be generated with the present system is an Invalid Route Report. The Invalid Route Report identifies the carriers in the delivery unit that have logged into the Mobile Data Collection Device (MDCD) using an invalid route number. An invalid route number is defined as one that is not recognized by DOIS. The report displays the following fields for each invalid route: Carrier Name, Invalid Route Number, DOIS Assigned Route Number, and Hot Case Route Number. The Invalid Route Report can be viewed/printed the following day after MSP performance information has been uploaded into DOIS and can be generated for a single service date. It is accessible from the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
Still a further report that can be generated is an Invalid Scan Report. This new report displays MSP performance data for each invalid scan during the selected service date. The following fields are displayed on the report: Route Number, Actual Carrier, Address, and Actual Scan Time. The Invalid Scan Report can be viewed/printed the following day after MSP performance information has been uploaded into DOIS and can be generated for a single service date. It is accessible from the Street Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
For the Carrier/Route Assignment Report menu, in one embodiment the Service Date field can be removed. Since the Revised Carrier/Route Assignment Report is a planning report, it will only be generated for the current service date. Further, in this embodiment the Report Type frame can be removed. The user can only select a carrier since the report focuses specifically on the selected carrier's line of travel for the current service date. In addition, the Revised Carrier/Route Assignment Report can be configured to focus specifically on a carrier's line of travel. MSP functionality has also been added to the report. The Carrier/Route Report can be generated for any carrier with a street or street assistance assignment. This report can be accessible from the Daily Workload Management tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
In one embodiment, the Unit Feedback Report can display MSP functionality. The MSP Overview Report can be added to the Timeliness of Reports sub-section of Quality Practices. Users can view the First Use, Last Use, and Times Used statistics for this report. In addition, MSP Management data can be added to the Effectiveness section. The following values can be displayed under this sub-category: Possible Office Scans, Missed Office Scans, Office Scan Percentage, Possible Street Scans, Missed Street Scans, Invalid Street Scans, Street Scan Percentage, and On-Time Street Scan Percentage. This report can be accessible from the Performance Reports tab on the Supervisor Workbench.
Additionally, the Non-Delivery Point Maintenance window can be accessible from the Route Inspections and Adjustments Workbench and the Route and Unit Maintenance tab on the Supervisor Workbench. An Add Non-Delivery Point window can be accessible from the Route Re-sequencing window in the Route portion of DOIS. Further, an Edit Non-Delivery Point window can also be accessible from the Non-Delivery Point Maintenance window and the Route Re-sequencing window. Also, a 3999 Data Capture/Summary window can be accessible from the 3999 Data Capture Record Selection window on the Route Inspections and Adjustments Workbench and the Route and Unit Maintenance tab on the Supervisor Workbench. And, a Route Re-Sequencing window providing access to the MSP Base Information Maintenance window can be accessible from the Create Adjustment Scenarios window on the Route Inspections and Adjustments Workbench.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, the entire system could be made available to users online. It is intended that the specification and examples be exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A method for managing delivery of articles comprising:
- developing a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period;
- developing a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period;
- providing display screens selectively showing said data from said first and second databases;
- comparing the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period; and
- generating a report based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is an individual carrier.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is a group of carriers.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is a delivery unit.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is a delivery route.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period comprises a set of consecutive work days.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period comprise a single day.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a graphical representation of performance.
9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of comparing a report generated for that predetermined period with a previously generated report for another time period.
10. The method of claim 1, further including the step of modifying a condition of delivery for the client based on the report.
11. A system for managing delivery of articles comprising:
- a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period;
- a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period;
- a display screen for selectively showing said data from said first and second databases;
- a component for comparing the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period; and
- a component for generating a report based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is an individual carrier.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is a group of carriers.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is a delivery unit.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is a delivery route.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period comprises a set of consecutive work days.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period comprise a single day.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the report comprises a graphical representation of performance.
19. The system of claim 11, further including a component for comparing a report generated for that predetermined period with a previously generated report for another time period.
20. The system of claim 11, further including a component for modifying a condition of delivery for the client based on the report.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 19, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 27, 2006
Inventors: Gale Scott (Louisville, KY), Charles Fisher (Manchester, NH)
Application Number: 11/207,982
International Classification: G05B 19/418 (20060101); G06F 9/46 (20060101);
