Efficiency of Operations at the Saint Paul Processing and Distribution Center, Eagan, MN
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 217 processing facilities and about 33,500 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 and packages in near real time; and optimizing the surface and air transportation network. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General 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 Saint Paul Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) in Eagan, MN. We selected the Saint Paul P&DC because the delivery area it services had units with multiple poor performance indicators and based on congressional interest. We reviewed mail processing performance indicators including first and last mile failures; workhours; service performance; scanning compliance; and late, canceled, and extra trips. The Saint Paul P&DC services multiple 3-digit ZIP Codes in urban and rural communities.
Our objective was to evaluate the efficiency of operations at the Saint Paul P&DC.