Efficiency of Operations at the Curseen-Morris Processing and Distribution Center, Washington, D.C.
Background
The U.S. Postal Service needs effective and productive operations to fulfill its mission of providing prompt, reliable, and affordable mail service to the American public. It has a vast transportation network that moves mail and equipment among approximately 330 processing facilities and 31,100 post offices, stations, and branches. The Postal Service is transforming its processing and logistics networks to become scalable, reliable, visible, efficient, automated, and digitally integrated. This includes modernizing operating plans and aligning the workforce; leveraging emerging technologies to provide world-class visibility and tracking of mail packages in near real time; and optimizing the surface and air transportation network. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviews the efficiency of mail processing operations at facilities across the country and provides management with timely feedback to further the Postal Service’s mission.
This report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of operations at the Curseen- Morris Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) in Washington, DC. We judgmentally selected this P&DC based on a review of first and last mile failures; workhours; scanning compliance; and late, canceled, and extra trips. The Curseen-Morris P&DC is in the Chesapeake Division and processes letters, flats, and packages. The Curseen-Morris P&DC services multiple 3-digit ZIP Codes in urban communities.
Objective, Scope, and Methodology
Our objective was to evaluate the efficiency of operations at the Curseen-Morris P&DC.
To accomplish our objective, we focused on five audit areas: mail clearance times, delayed mail, late, cancelled, and extra outbound trips; dock scanning; and security of registry items. We reviewed Surface Visibility Web (SVWeb) data for late, canceled, and extra trips, as well as scan compliance for the period January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Further, we identified mail clearance time goals for the Curseen- Morris P&DC and compared them with operations shown in the Run Plan Generator report. During our site visit the week of February 5, 2024, we interviewed P&DC management and observed mail processing and dock operations.