The Postal Service is trying to scale back its mail
processing and distribution operations but a new report
from the Government Accountability Office finds the
service’s strategy for realigning its mail-processing
infrastructure lacking in “clarity, criteria and
accountability.”
A drop in first-class mail, increased competition and
automation, and demographic shifts have resulted in
excess processing and distribution capacity, and the
service is looking at ways to close annexes, consolidate
operations and use new tools to model infrastructure
needs, according to GAO-05-261.
It said USPS is trying to expand automation, improve
material handling, create a comprehensive transportation
network and introduce standardization programs, but
that it faces challenges reducing capacity while
maintaining standards because of “workforce rules and
resistance to plant closings.”
With comprehensive postal reform legislation moving
through both the House and Senate, GAO said it is unclear
how the service intends to realign its processing and
distribution infrastructure, when it “has outlined
several seemingly different strategies over the past
three years.”
None of those strategies spell out criteria or processes
for scaling back, said GAO, adding, “the strategy lacks
sufficient transparency and accountability, excludes
stakeholder input, and lacks performance measures for
results.”
