Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS) John Keegan Manager, Automation Equipment Engineering Mailers´ Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) November 5, 2003 Washington DC

2 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 n What is PARS n Key Concepts and Components n Improved Change-of-Address Process n Redirection of UAA mail n Processes Automated by PARS n Electronic Address Corretion Service - ACS n Memphis NCSC ACS – Print System n Advanced Forwarding Reader - AFR n Limitations of the System - Examples n Project Timeline

3 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 What is PARS?  …  … A system that reduces the cost of forwarding mail to a customer’s new address by automating each of the currently manual or mechanized processes.

4 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Key Concepts and Components n Change of Address Forms Processing System (CFPS) n 86 CFS Sites Scan Change of Address Forms n Remote Encoding Site operators Key Images n PARS - Interception/Forwarding/Return to Sender n CIOSS Machine (Combined ISS/OSS) n CARS (Change of Address Record Server) n Address Correction Printers and Servers at the Memphis National Customer Service Center

5 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Improved Change-of-Address Process Redesigned Change-of- Address form Scanned and processed by OCR software along with remote video operators at 4 locations National Customer Support Center

6 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Distribution Process Today Delivery Unit CFS Unit Origin Correct Destination

7 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 OriginCorrect Destination The PARS Concept A majority of the UAA volume is identified and redirected at the originating P&DC A majority of the UAA volume is identified and redirected at the originating P&DC

8 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Processes Automated by PARS Notification to Mailer Notification to Mailer – PS Form 3547 Delivery Unit Receives Cards from NCSC (Memphis) Bearing Image of Mailpiece and Collects Fees Address Change Service Address Change Service Electronic Enhancement to PS Form 3547 UAA Information is Provided Electronically to Mailers by NCSC Versus Hardcopy Notification PS Form 3547 Electronic ACS Electronic ACS Immediate transmission to NCSC after automatic recognition by AFR

9 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Electronic Address Correction Service - ACS Memphis NCSC Image Controller and ACS Server NCSC ACS Fulfillment n n ACS instantly forwarded electronically from P&DCs to NCSC n n P&DC Image Controllers nationwide send ACS information to NCSC Image Controller ACS Server n n NCSC ACS Server submits information to the ACS fulfillment system P&DC Image Controllers nationwide

10 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Address Correction Notification - PS FORM 3547 Addressee’s Name Old Address New Address Return Address as new Delivery address Return Address’ Postmaster Barcode Mail piece image n n Bar coded with Return Address (faster delivery) n n Postmaster code for postage due handling n n Name & Addresses printed for better readability

11 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Address Correction Notification – Print System n n PARS 3547 print system n n NCSC Memphis n n Central processing of nationwide collected data n n Up to 800,000 forms daily n n Fully automated n n Printing, cutting, auto- traying in presort sequence n n Conveyer to Postal One n n One day turnaround

12 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Advanced Forwarding Reader – AFR n n Mail Class (any type of indicia) n n Ancillary Service Endorsements n n ACS Information n n Automatic reading of n n Addressee’s name n n Address information n n Return Address Information (front and back side) Indicia Endorsement line Return Address

13 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Current Limitations of the PARS System Interference of Information Bad type face Exceptional address format “current resident” not in address block Endorsements not compliant with Postal Standards Reverse print

14 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Current Limitations of the PARS System Interference of Information First class meter Over Standard imprint Participant ID shifted out of window Fonts too small Wrong position No clear space Light meter prints “low ink” prints

15 Postal Automated Redirection System MTAC - November 2003 Project Timeline n Nov 2003 n Nov 2003 – First Article Test (FAT) n Jan 2004 n Jan 2004 – Start Phase I Deployment n 53 P&DCs, 40 CFS, 20 RECs n 209 CFS for COA Forms processing (86 scanning sites) n Sept 2004 n Sept 2004 – Complete Phase I Deployment n September 2006 n September 2006 – Complete Phase II Deployment n Remaining 230 P&DC’s n Remaining 180 CFS