1. Automated Package Processing System [APPS] Update February 23, 2006

2. Agenda System Description Deployment Status Bundle Processing –Address Visibility –Bundle Integrity APPS Singulator Design

3. Dual Induction, 100 Output APPS System Description

4. Mail Characteristics APPS System Description Maximum weight = 25 lbs

5. APPS Deployment Status Phase I - 74 Machines, 62 sites First Article Test completed May 2004 Deployment from Aug 2004 to Aug 2006 – Currently have 55 machines in operation

6. Bundle Processing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) –Reads both Optional Endorsement Line (OEL) and address block information to sort the mail –Current read rates for OEL bundles is around 80% –Read failures occur due to: –Address block obscured by opaque strapping material –Address block is obscured by opaque shrink wrap Address Visibility

7. Image Capture Gray Scale Image – 5,807Kb Binary Image – 201Kb OCR decodes Binary Image

8. APPS Images Opaque Material Address Block Location

9. Clear Strapping

10. APPS Image - Polywrap Poly weld seam through address block Image captured at semi-auto induct station Piece was rejected by video coding operator

11. Address Visibility Rule DMM Change - Address visible and readable to the naked eye Where the label WILL be covered –If practical - move the address to one of the four quadrants –Clear smooth strapping (recommend less than 70% haze – ASTM D1003) –Clear shrinkwrap (recommend less than 70% haze – ASTM D1003) Effective – April 30 th, 2006

12. Bundle Processing on APPS Automatic Singulation –Bulk input to single bundle output –Designed for wide variation in frictional characteristics –Destacking produces tumbling Bundle Integrity

13. Bundle Processing on APPS Shrinkwrap no longer required on bundles on BMC pallets (Implemented in 2005) Two straps on all non-shrinkwrapped bundles (Tentative effective date April 30) Information sharing –Bundle Blitzes –The Perfect Bundle – Recommended quality test for bundles –Electronic Mail Improvement Report (E-MIR) Bundle Integrity

14. Bundle Processing on APPS Define characteristics of bundles Design an experiment to measure bundle performance on APPS –Greensboro P&DC test site –Preliminary meeting in early February –March 2006 data collection Bundle Integrity – USPS/Mailer Study

15. Bundle Processing on APPS Singulator Design Study –Engineering task to evaluate destack module –Assess feasibility of reconfiguration to reduce tumbling –Findings in 6 months Bundle Integrity

16. The Perfect Bundle A secure bundle with a fully visible address is a thing of beauty Questions?