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The
Local Joint Steering Committee
Co-Chairs:
Theresa Bachman and Brian Carson
LJSC Members: Mike
Ferrari, Dana Edsall, Bob McCormick, Brian Carson, Forrest Handy, Shonn Turner
Coordinators: Dot
Thompson and Doug Moats
8-20-09 Meeting Minutes
Present: Theresa Bachman, Brian Carson, Dana Edsall, Shonn Turner, Bob McCormick, Dot Thompson, Doug Moats
Absent: Barbara Flot, Mike Ferrari, Forrest Handy
Agenda: ‘Meet & Greet’
1)
‘Meet & Greet’: The Steering Committee welcomed Theresa
as the new Senior Plant Manager and Harrisburg Plant QWL Co-Chair. Maintenance
Manager Bob was also welcomed as a new Steering Committee member. Mailhandler
Chief Shop Steward Shonn was welcomed as a new Steering Committee member, as well.
2)
LJSC Statement of Philosophy: The Committee reviewed the current
Statement of Philosophy. No changes
to the Statement were proposed.
3)
Pat Donahoe’s QWL Challenges: The 2007, 2008, and 2009 DPMG
QWL goals were reviewed. These goals offer Headquarters’ guidance for Quality
Circle project topics. 2009 Challenges are: Promote Our Business; Improve Processes
(in conjunction with Lean Six Sigma Teams); Capture Opportunities to Save Energy; Improve Drop Shipment Process.
4)
Quality Circle Project Review: The Quality Circles are to be commended
for their chosen project topics.
Surface Visibility. This is an important topic of concern and Quality Circles are encouraged to propose solutions for current
SV challenges through their developing SV projects.
Shonn described SV challenges now facing Mailhandlers on T-II. Development of simple work unit SV SOPs coupled with SV (re)training is needed, especially
in the current Plant environment whereby employees are reassigned to relatively unfamiliar work areas.
SV scanning incentives
will be explored.
Plant Employee Survey.
The T-I Quality Circle will be presenting its ‘Employee Morale’ Project Presentation to the Co-Chairs as
soon as schedules permit. The Steering Committee will look forward to the results
of the survey.
RCS SOPs. The T-II
2nd Floor Quality Circle will ensure that recent changes in RCS ops are reflected in its RCS SOPs. The Circle will continue to have the SOPs reviewed by In‑Plant Support.
AFCS Productivity. Theresa reports that AFCS productivity has been
excellent due to the efforts of Culling Maintenance, Mailhandlers, and Supervision.
5)
Quality Circle Meeting Cancellation: SDOs have been unilaterally
canceling Circle meetings without proper consultation with senior management. Meetings
will not be canceled unless for sound mailprocessing reasons as approved by senior management.
6) SDO Quality Circle Participation: SDOs assigned to
participate in their work unit Quality Circles will not be absent from Circle meetings.
7)
LJSC Training: Shonn and Mike attended the recent Steering Committee training
at the Bolger Academy.
Shonn reported to the Committee on the weeklong QWL training. Instructor
Sean Lacey will be contacted for additional information regarding his training module.
Minutes prepared by: Doug Moats
Circle
of Success Steps
“A systematic problem-solving
process.”
Step #1 Share perceptions of the Situation
Step #2 Define Problem & Goal
Step #3 Identify Potential Causes
Step #4 Collect & Analyze Data
Step #5 Agree on Criteria
Step #6 Brainstorm Solutions
Step #7 Use Criteria to Analyze Solutions
Step #8 Choose Best Solutions
Step #9 Identify Hindrances
Step #10 Plan Action Steps
Step #11 Implement the Plan
Step #12 Evaluate Success
“T-I Regulators” Circle
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 27th
2009 2145-2245hrs
Present: Pat King
(SDO), Jim Griffey (SS), Tim Shutt, Ruben Martinez, Marion Isom, Karen Turner, Doug Moats
Absent: Daryl Hall,
Cory Stephenson
TODAY’S DISCUSSION:
The Circle welcomes new member
Karen Turner to the group. Karen was previously a member of the T‑II ‘Belvederes’
Circle.
Employee Morale Project
Problem: There exists a lack of positive workplace morale as perceived by
the Circle. This adversely affects mailprocessing performance and reduces quality
of work life.
Goal: To develop and foster
improved workplace morale.
Coord Dot reports that the
Sr Plant Manager plans to meet with the Circle during next week’s meeting to hear the group’s Employee Survey
presentation. The survey will collect and enable compilation of data to determine
the future course of the Project.
The Circle reviewed and rehearsed
the presentation. Tim and Ruben will make the presentation.
1st Floor Dock
Reconfiguration
As followup to last week’s
Circle visit by Managers Dave Strohecker and Eric Stauffer, the Circle discussed proposed and evolving changes on the 1st
Floor docks. Dave forwarded Doug proposed Outsides configuration diagrams for
Circle review and comment. Feedback has been provided to Dave, and feedback will
continue to be provided as the Circle has continued opportunity to review the diagrams and experience the various dock changes.
Preliminary feedback is that
the SCF170 Outsides Breakdown incorporates positive changes to improve Breakdowns operations.
Surface Visibility Project:
Problem: SV/MTEL placarding
and scanning are not being properly performed.
Goal: To improve SV/MTEL
placarding and scanning compliance.
Next Meeting Agenda:
Employee Morale – Collect & Analyze Data
Dock Reconfiguration
– Evaluate Success
Surface Visibility/MTEL
– Brainstorm Solutions; Plan Action Steps
"T-II
1st Floor Heavy Hitters" Circle Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 0830-0930hrs
Present: Roberto Vazquez (SDO), Rick Sylvia (SS), Mike Jackson, Pam Burger, Rodney Williams, Steve Pebley,
Doug Moats
Absent: None
TODAY’S DISCUSSION:
APPS 035 Holdout Project
Problem:
The heavy-running 035 wiretainers destined for the 035 Prep Area are heavy and difficult to push.
Goal:
To reduce the need to manually push the heavy wiretainers.
Step
#11 Implement the Plan
In‑Plant Support Specialist Chuck Daley
met with Doug to explain the new draft APPS sortplans. The T‑III 1st Floor QWL Circle and T‑III APPS SDO have been consulted
for feedback.
The Circle’s proposed 035 wiretainer
movement has been incorporated in the new sortplans.
Roberto reports that Chuck has also met with
him. The new sortplans are being implemented.
MTEL Placarding
Roberto reports that he has discussed various
MTEL printing issues with the Plant SV specialists.
Roberto will provide a “Quickprint”
placard printing SOP to assist in offering a solution to the printing of MTEL placards over weekends and Holidays when transportation
is unavailable.
The Circle discussed and updated its draft
Sunday/Holiday MTEL Placard Printing SOP.
The T-III 1st Floor Circle reports
that T-II APPS placards are not always being ‘assigned’ and has asked for feedback from the group today. Placards are to be assigned on all tours by employees responsible for placarding. Employees not assigning placards will be instructed to do so, and will be provided
training from the SV Coordinator, if necessary.
Pam reports that some APPS MTEL placard menus
(e.g. SCF connections) cause ‘overprinting’. Roberto will contact
the SV Coordinator for possible remedies.
SV Scanning
Rick reports as followup to last week’s
Circle meeting with the SV coordinator that 1st Floor work areas not properly scanning have been reported to management. As result, scanning is now being properly performed.
Mike and Steve report that inbound MTE contains
placards without scanable barcodes. Mike will provide samples of these unscanable
placards to Roberto. Roberto will contact the SV Coordinator for further action.
New Project
The Circle reviewed it list of possible new Circle projects and deleted topics no longer a Circle concern.
Topics of concern are: safe tray retrieval
from Gaylords; overweight APPS sacks; APPS Side 2 Belt Stop; poor mailer prep of APPS induction mail.
Next
Meeting Agenda:
APPS 035 Holdout Movement – Evaluate Success
Weekend/Holiday Placard Printing SOP
New Project Determination
"T-II 2nd Floor Belvederes" Circle Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 0900-1000hrs
Present: Hank Wieman (SDO), Marty Kovach,
Charles
Jones, Ray Nieliwocki, Ben Davenport, Doug
Moats
Absent: None
TODAY’S DISCUSSION:
Co-Chair Barb attended today’s meeting as her last QWL function. Barbara
is retiring this week. Congratulations!
RCS SOP Project
Problem: A simple ‘user-friendly’ RCS SOP does not exist for
use by OJIs and SDOs in RCS employee training.
Goal: To develop a written instructional SOP.
Step #11 Implement the Plan
The SOPs have been sent for lamination. They
will be posted at the RCSs, and used by MH OJIs/SDOs.
2nd
Floor 035 Staging Lanes Project
Problem: Wiretainers staged for the 2nd Floor 035 prep operation lacks processing
& priority order.
Goal: To provide an ordered and systematic staging system for 035 mail.
T‑III
flatsort supervision and In‑Plant Support have been consulted for feedback regarding the Circle’s staging proposal.
New Project:
The Circle reviewed its list
of potential new projects and began determining the current status of the various proposed project topics. Some topics are moot, or unlikely to be resolved through the QWL Process.
The group began prioritizing remaining topics.
RCS lasers. Possible
adverse health effects to vision may result in working around RCS lasers. Marty
reported information regarding this topic. The Safety Office and MH Safety &
Health rep Rick Sylvia has been consulted. The Circle will defer to the Safety
and Health Committee for further investigation of this matter.
RCS rejects. The
Circle described and discussed various issues potentially causing trays to be rejected on the RCS. Rejected‑trays cause mail rehandlings, resultant lost productivity and diminished service to downstream
mailprocessing operations. Trays are primarily rejected due to the RCS’s
inability to properly read tray labels.
RCS employee training.
As a further and expanded stage of the RCS SOP project, a structured employee training program for RCS (and other)
operations needs developed.
LCTS fan. The
Circle proposes a column fan be mounted to improve air circulation at the LCTS feeding stations.
LCTS staging lanes.
Staging areas to include 893 lanes and pedestrian egress at the LCTS are proposed.
The additional 2nd Floor RCS may influence LCTS operations and allied mail staging requirements. LCTS signage needs reviewed. Old Scale signage should be removed.
Tour-turnover ops.
The Circle discussed possible procedures and protocols that would smooth the T-I to T‑II turnover and improve
dispatch and setup operations.
Next
Meeting Agenda:
RCS SOP Project
– Implement the Plan
Select New Circle Project
"T-III 1st Floor"
Circle Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 26th, 2009 1515-1615hrs
Present: Lan Walters (SDO),
Kelly Zindren (SS), Joe Namet, Doug Moats
Absent: Chris Broadfield
TODAY’S DISCUSSION:
Last week’s
Circle meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum. The 10-12 meeting was canceled
due to the Holiday.
The Circle welcomes
Kelly as the Circle’s new Union Shop Steward.
1st
Floor Surface Visibility Project
MTEL Placard Printing Project Module
Problem: SV placard printing is unnecessarily time-consuming and wasteful of paper resources.
Goal: To clarify and simplify placarding procedure.
Step #6 Brainstorm Solutions
The Circle reports
that many APPS MTEL placards are not being SV-assigned by the previous tours once printed and placed on MTE. This impedes startup T-III APPS ops. The Circle proposes that
once placards are printed and placed on MTE, placards should be ‘Assigned’.
Step #11 Implement the Plan
In‑Plant
Support SOPs instructing APPS employees to notify the MTEL Coordinator of placarding problems have been posted at the APPS.
SV Scanning Project Module
Problem: Proper IMD scanning procedure is unclear to employees.
Goal: To instruct employees in IMD best practices and correct scanning technique.
Step #11 Implement the Plan
CSS Jim Bainbridge
has posted additional IMD Scanning SOPs around the APPS. As per request, the IOP Office has been forwarded laminated copies of the Circle’s SOP.
The Circle finalized
its proposed IMD Scanning – 1st FL Jitney SOP. The SOP will be sent to the SV Coordinator for review.
The Circle began
creating a draft IMD Scanning – 1st FL RCS SOP.
Doug reports that
the G/S Office maintains a supply of rolling stock placard holders. These vinyl
placard pouches were supplied to the Circle at today’s meeting. Additional
pouches can be ordered, as needed. As such, all MTE can possess a placard pouch
thus ensuring MTEL placards will stay with the dispatch MTE. Tray/tub/sack label
holders are available at the AFSMs.
The Circle reviewed
its list of 1st Floor work units serving to benefit from having specific SV scanning SOPs. The group will monitor current dock configuration changes and adjust proposed SOPs as necessary.
A supply of SV
MTE ‘License Plates’ (barcodes) has been located in the TT Office. These
LPs are placed on MTE not containing a scanable barcode. An LP replacement SOP
should be within the LP briefcase in the TT Office. The SV Coordinator has been
alerted to availability of the LPs and need to find the combination to the briefcase locks.
Lan will followup.
Step #12 Evaluate Success
The Circle discussed
last week’s SV/MTEL system upgrades and changes. The group will monitor
IMD and MTEL menu changes and modify Circle SV/MTEL SOPs accordingly. Lan will
provide information regarding MTEL system changes and its effect on information printed on placards.
Additional quantities
of IMD styli have been received. Styli have been placed in all IMDs.
Next Meeting Agenda:
1st Floor Surface Visibility Project
OJI Utilization Project
"T-III 2nd Floor Magnifiers" Circle Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 28th,
2009 1530-1630hrs
Present: Kelly Zindren
(SS), Bob Herigan, Barb Cielinski, Sean Kerwin, Doug Moats
Absent: Rodney Rowe (SDO)
TODAY’S DISCUSSION:
Last week’s meeting
was canceled due to lack of quorum.
The Circle welcomes Kelly
as the group’s new Circle Union Steward.
Surface Visibility Scanning
Project
Step #2 Define Problem & Goal
Problem: Employees on the 2nd Floor are not properly scanning placarded containers at each step of the
SV scanning process.
Goal: To increase Plant Surface Visibility awareness and SV SOP compliance.
Step #11 Implement the Plan
The Circle finalized its
City Dock IMD Scanning SOP. The SOP
will be forwarded to the SV Coordinator for review and approval.
The SV Coordinator has been
forwarded the Circle’s SV Project findings and concerns for review and comment.
The Coordinator has been invited to attend an upcoming Circle meeting to assist the group in SV problem-solving.
The Circle discussed the
scanning role of the jitney, towline, and elevator operators. The 1st
Floor jitney SV scanning SOP will be used as a template for a 2nd Floor Jitney SOP.
RCS MTE
The Circle proposes a project
to ensure a consistent supply of APC/ERMC rolling stock at the 2nd Floor RCSs for the beginning of T‑III
RCS ops. Doug explained the LSS MTE Team’s Plant SOP for T‑II to
provide rolling stock for the RCS Re-Supply Area. The issue has been an agenda
item for the LSS Team. The Automation unit also needs supplied with rolling stock,
or cannibalization of the RCS Re‑Supply Area will occur. The installation
of the additional 2nd Floor RCS will require a restructuring of the existing RCS Re‑Supply Area and increase
RCS re‑supply needs.
New Projects
The Circle discussed new topics for Circle Projects:
Towline Safety Zone.
The concrete floor area at the 2nd Floor towline has become a pedestrian egress thus creating a safety concern. As a former Circle project, the group desires to re‑propose that floor hazard
marking be repainted on the concrete. Signage should be installed to explicitly
indicate that this area is unauthorized for pedestrian traffic.
2nd Floor Break Area. The Circle reports that the 2nd Floor break area near N3 has been removed and replaced with
Automation. The Circle is unaware of whether or not plans exist to recreate a
break area elsewhere on the 2nd Floor. This break area was result
of a former Circle Project.
Next Meeting Agenda:
SV Scanning Awareness Project – Implement the Plan
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