MERLIN MERLIN M ail E valuation R eadability and L ookup IN strument MERLIN MERLIN M ail E valuation R eadability and L ookup IN strument Mailer’s Technical Advisory Committee August 8, 2002

Activities Report Since April 4th MTAC Mail Preparation Quality Workgroup Meeting Activities Report Since April 4th MTAC Mail Preparation Quality Workgroup Meeting MTAC Barcode Quality Industry Practices Workgroup MTAC Barcode Quality Industry Practices Workgroup Flats Correlation (Sensitivity) Testing Flats Correlation (Sensitivity) Testing 60 Day Grace Period 60 Day Grace Period Outstanding Issues Outstanding Issues Website Information Website Information Agenda

Mailing Evaluation Readability Lookup INstrument MERLIN

Simultaneous Verification n Presort / Mail Makeup n Piece Count by Weight n Barcode Readability n Tray Label Accuracy Address and Barcode Accuracy MERLIN n Walk Sequence Accuracy Mailpiece Dimensions n Endorsements and Rate Markings n Combined Mailings n Meter Identification and Date

MERLIN Deployment Southwest Area Arkansas Dallas Houston Louisiana Oklahoma Ft Worth Rio Grande Southeast Area Alabama Atlanta Central Florida Mississippi North Florida South Florida South Georgia Suncoast Tennessee Western Southwest Midwest Southeast Northeast

Formed at January MTAC Meeting Formed at January MTAC Meeting USPS Co-Chair Michelle Denny USPS Co-Chair Michelle Denny Industry Co-Chair Bob O’Brien, Time Customer Svc. Industry Co-Chair Bob O’Brien, Time Customer Svc. February 20 Meeting February 20 Meeting Established 20 Industry Recommendations Established 20 Industry Recommendations April 4 Meeting April 4 Meeting Update on USPS Actions Update on USPS Actions Action Plan Agreed To Action Plan Agreed To Agreement to Sunset Agreement to Sunset MTAC Mail Preparation Quality Workgroup

April 4 Resolutions: April 4 Resolutions: Action Taken on 20 Recommendations Action Taken on 20 Recommendations 60 Grace Period To Begin No Earlier Than June 1 60 Grace Period To Begin No Earlier Than June 1 Flats Barcode Assessments No Earlier Than August 1 Flats Barcode Assessments No Earlier Than August 1 80% Threshold Until Completion of Flats Correlation Testing 80% Threshold Until Completion of Flats Correlation Testing Formation of Barcode Quality Industry Best Practices Workgroup Formation of Barcode Quality Industry Best Practices Workgroup MTAC Mail Preparation Quality Workgroup

USPS Co-Chair Scott Hamel USPS Co-Chair Scott Hamel Industry Co-Chair Wanda Senne, World Marketing Industry Co-Chair Wanda Senne, World Marketing Focus: Focus: Industry Best Practices Industry Best Practices MERLIN Report Enhancements MERLIN Report Enhancements Barcode Error Reference Guide Barcode Error Reference Guide Mailer’s Guide Mailer’s Guide Communications (Boston NPF) Communications (Boston NPF) MTAC Barcode Quality Industry Best Practices Workgroup

Two Sub-groups Formed: Mailer’s Best Practices Mailer’s Best Practices Ernie Broennie, Mail Unlimited Ernie Broennie, Mail Unlimited Vendor’s Best Practices - Universal Inkjet Addressing Guidelines Vendor’s Best Practices - Universal Inkjet Addressing Guidelines Mark Breunig, Domino Amjet Mark Breunig, Domino Amjet Industry Best Practices

Hernan Borja, USPS Engineer Hernan Borja, USPS Engineer Update to Existing Publication Update to Existing Publication Methodology Methodology Thresholds Thresholds Reporting Errors Reporting Errors Easier to Understand Easier to Understand Barcode Error Reference Guide

Kathleen Siviter PCSI, Inc. (Postcom) Kathleen Siviter PCSI, Inc. (Postcom) Outline Completed Outline Completed What is MERLIN? What is MERLIN? Preparing for MERLIN Deployment (Phases) Preparing for MERLIN Deployment (Phases) Mailer Tips for Successful Barcode Readability Testing Mailer Tips for Successful Barcode Readability Testing Resources Resources Contacts Contacts MERLIN Mailer’s Guide

Kathleen Siviter PCSI, Inc. (Postcom) Kathleen Siviter PCSI, Inc. (Postcom) USPS Asked Industry For Critical Parameters USPS Asked Industry For Critical Parameters USPS Engineers Could Not Create Barcode Errors USPS Engineers Could Not Create Barcode Errors Further Refinement of Parameters Further Refinement of Parameters Industry Will Provide Samples Industry Will Provide Samples USPS Goal is 98% Read Rate Yet Discounts Based on 93% USPS Goal is 98% Read Rate Yet Discounts Based on 93% Correlation (Sensitivity) Study

June 1 in Southeast Area June 1 in Southeast Area Push-Back if USPS/Site Not Ready Push-Back if USPS/Site Not Ready Southwest Area Has Not Begun Southwest Area Has Not Begun 60 Day Grace Period

Appeals Process Appeals Process Strappers Strappers Mailpiece ID Legibility Mailpiece ID Legibility Flats Template Flats Template Co-palletization Co-palletization Different Orientation of Address Different Orientation of Address CPP Publications CPP Publications Co-Mail (Variable thickness) Co-Mail (Variable thickness) Outstanding Issues

Three Ways to Access: Three Ways to Access: (Most Up-to-Date) (Most Up-to-Date) MTAC MTAC Latest on Mail Quality Latest on Mail Quality MERLIN Website Information

Questions? Questions? MERLIN