The Postal Service has repeatedly revised plans to optimize its mail-processing network and management could improve communications with stakeholders by ensuring it shares accurate and consistent information on consolidation impacts, the USPS inspector general has said.
According to the IG, the Postal Service initiated 418 consolidation studies from fiscal 2004 to 2011, resulting in 103 consolidations. In September 2011 it announced the Network Rationalization Initiative, which studied 252 mail processing facilities for potential consolidations to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Management approved the Network Rationalization Initiative plan in February 2012, before modifying it in May 2012. But while USPS has improved its mail processing network optimization efforts as a result of lessons learned from current and past initiatives, it should improve communications with stakeholders to enhance transparency, the IG said.
It said for example that consolidation activities during the 2012 fall mailing season conflicted with information shared with stakeholders.
In addition, overall cost-saving projections were revised on several occasions, causing stakeholders to further question the initiative, risking diminished public confidence while increasing opposition to optimization efforts, the IG said.
