Efficiency of Operations at the Seattle, WA, Processing and Distribution Center
Background
This report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of operations at the Seattle Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) in Seattle, WA (Project Number 22-094). We conducted this audit to provide U.S. Postal Service management with timely information on operational risks at this P&DC. We judgmentally selected the Seattle P&DC based on overtime, penalty overtime, clearance times, and late and extra trips by Postal Vehicle Service (PVS) and Highway Contract Route drivers. The Seattle P&DC is in the Pacific Northwest Division of the Logistics and Processing Operations Western Region and processes letters, flats, and parcels. The Seattle P&DC services multiple 3-digit ZIP Codes in urban and rural communities.
Objective, Scope, and Methodology
Our objective was to evaluate the efficiency of operations at the Seattle P&DC. To accomplish our objective, we focused on these four audit areas: mail clearance times; delayed mail; late, cancelled, and extra outbound trips; and load scans. Specifically, we analyzed the Seattle P&DC’s Enterprise Data Warehouse data for productivity, workhours, overtime, and load scans from March 2021 to February 2022. We also reviewed Surface Visibility Web data for late, cancelled, and extra trips from fiscal year (FY) 2021. Additionally, we reviewed Web End-of-Run to identify mail clearance times. During our site visit from April 4 – April 7, 2022, we interviewed P&DC management and observed mail processing and dock operations.
During the week of April 4, 2022, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) also audited four delivery units in the Seattle area. We will provide the results of those audits to district management in separate reports. See Appendix A for additional information about our scope and methodology.