NCJ Number
65709
Journal
INTERFACES Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBURARY 1979) Pages: 42-49
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE METHODOLOGY USED IN EVALUATING A MAINTENANCE INFORMATION SYSTEM OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE (USPS) IS PRESENTED TO DEMONSTRATE ACTUAL TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED IN STUDYING A LARGE SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE USPS'S NATIONAL MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM (NMICS) CONTROLS THE MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT IN 118 OFFICES. BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE SIZE OF THE REGULATORY POSTAL MANUAL, THE EVALUATION WAS SIMPLIFIED TO DOCUMENTING THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS AND COMPARING THE RESULTS WITH A SET OF OPERATING STANDARDS: DECISIONMAKER, REQUIRED DECISION, VERIFICATION OF APPROPRIATENESS OF MODEL USED FOR DECISION, DATA REQUIRED, AND ACCURACY REQUIRED. DETERMINING STANDARDS FOR TIMELINESS AND ACCURACY PRESENTED THE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE SYSTEM WAS OBSERVED OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD WITH DATA BEING COLLECTED BY MAINTENANCE INSPECTORS WHILE PERFORMING THEIR NORMAL DUTIES. BECAUSE OF THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, ONLY FIVE OFFICES WERE FINALLY EVALUATED. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT THE NMICS WAS OPERATING AS PLANNED, BUT WITH SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN ACCURACY BETWEEN POST OFICES; $19 MILLION IN EXCESS INVENTORY WAS EXPOSED. BECAUSE POSTAL INSPECTORS DESCEND ON OFFICES WHEN A DISRUPTION OF SERVICE OCCURS, MANAGERS TEND TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM MECHANICAL FAILURES BY HOARDING EQUIPMENT. THIS PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY IMPROVEMENTS IN DELIVERIES FROM REGIONAL INVENTORIES. OVERALL, IMPLEMENTATION OF NMICS RESULTED IN A $2.6 MILLION VALUE SAVINGS FOR THE USPS. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MJM)