Changes will Increase Productivity and Reduce Staffing Needs

The Governors of the Postal Service approved additional funding to add Optical Character Readers (OCRs) and automated feeders to all model 1000 Flat Sorting Machines.

Equipment upgrades began in February of this year, and are expected to be completed by December 2002.

The USPS hopes that over time, equipment upgrades will enable the Postal Service to increase productivity, increase daily volume capacity, and reduce staffing in the affected operations.

"With OCR now playing a key role," explains now-retired Vice President of Engineering, William J. Dowling, " Customers who provide newspapers, magazines and other large flat mail pieces will receive better service."

Today, the USPS utilizes 350 FSM 1000s in major processing plans nationwide. Upgrading the equipment with both an automated feeder and OCR should produce substantial labor savings.

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