1. UPS Worldport
Sean Ricks
12/5/2012

2. Current State
“One of the most technologically advanced parcel sorting facilities in the world.”
5.2 M square feet
33,245 conveyors over 155 miles
546 camera tunnels
9,000 employees

3. Where used Local facilities around the world add smart labels
Worldport uses majority of automation
Louisville, KY

4. Who, What, When used
Conveyors transport and sort (small, parcel, irregular)
Tilt trays
PosiSorter

5. Costs First Expansion -- $1 billion + Latest Expansion -- $1 billion
This is total capital expenditure (automation + facilities)

6. Supporting technology
Cameras, Optical Sensors, Humans
Ball Mats
“Polite Packages”
and other software
Automatic Dependence Surveillance Broadcast

7. Application rules and limitations
Odd packages
If a technological change creates new work that replaces, enhances or modifies bargaining unit work, bargaining unit employees will perform that new or modified work. -Teamsters Agreement

8. Primary Vendors

9. Existing or evolving standards
Conveyor speed: 15 ft/s
13 minute average travel time
Capacity: 416,000 pkg/hr
Record: 3.6 M pkg in one day

10. Technical Paper
ADS-B

11. Technology is used throughout and automation influences each step
How integrates
Local Receiving
Worldport
Local Delivery
Technology is used throughout and automation influences each step

12. Video-National Geographic

13. Class Application
A package travelling along a 15 ft/s belt is to be sorted onto another belt using PosiSorter. In order to prevent damage to fragile packages, PosiSorter pucks may not travel faster than 5 ft/s. At what distance before the junction should the pucks begin to travel across the belt? Assume the belt is 6 feet wide.

14. Class Application
Answer: The pucks should begin to travel across the belt exactly 18 ft before the end of the junction.
Solution:
6 ft / (5 ft/s) = 1.2 s
1.2 s * (15 ft/s) = 18 ft

15. Summary Worldport uses conveyors and human-powered systems
Cameras, sensors, and software are needed to support the operation
The extent of automation is restricted by unions

16. References