ATLANTA — A new audit report into the consolidation process happening at postal facilities in metro Atlanta and elsewhere gives some new insights into the delays that have followed, with the USPS Office of Inspector General finding those on the ground responsible for enacting the changes "at risk of not being prepared to quickly implement planned relocations."
"While the Postal Service was able to relocate machines, we found there was confusion at the facilities visited regarding roles and responsibilities for completing the process," the report notes.
The audit report, titled "Mail Processing Machine Relocation," was released this week. It looks into how a system-wide modernization drive within the USPS is going. Atlanta is one of the first areas to institute the consolidations, and three metro Atlanta sites were visited by auditors preparing the report.
Those include the Atlanta Network Distribution Center, the North Metro Processing & Distribution Center in Duluth, and the new Atlanta Regional Processing & Distribution Center in Palmetto -- the facility at the heart of the metro area's recent postal issues. It opened on Feb. 24, consolidating Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Duluth area processing and distribution centers, which are each being repurposed as local processing centers.
11Alive has contacted USPS on multiple occasions for answers to questions that would paint a fuller picture of what's going on at the Palmetto facility. They said in their latest response Tuesday they have no further updates.
11Alive has increasingly heard from viewers who have experienced frustrating delays or other problems with their mail, impacting everything from their small business shipments to medicine deliveries to tax documents. Members of Congress from Georgia from both sides of the aisle, including Republican Rep. Mike Collins and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, have called for answers.
Late Thursday, the release of the report shed new light on the issues. Specifically it highlights the relocating of mail processing machines. The auditors noted while there is a plan when it comes to moving these machines, implementation is uneven.
"We found local management was not uniformly aware of roles and responsibilities or consistently applying the process for the planned mail processing machine relocations," it states. "...in 15 of 16 interviews conducted, local management stated they were not provided clear communication," on the relocation process.
"Without full awareness or consistent application of the (mail processing equipment) relocation process, there is the potential for untimely or incorrect relocations of (mail processing equipment) during (Regional Processing & Distribution Center) transitions," the report states. "Additionally, there is an increased risk that reporting systems are not updated timely to provide management current and accurate operational data and visibility into whether operation changes are impacting service."
The report offers several recommendations:
- update processes and checklist to incorporate the accurate roles and responsibilities for the machine relocation process
- document the updated process and checklist in AS-701 and Postal Handbook
- develop a process to communicate clear and consistent procedures, including roles and responsibilities, on the machine relocation process
- verify all relocated mail processing equipment has an accurate capital property identification label affixed.
In a response letter included in the report, USPS management wrote they agreed with the first recommendation and that checklists and other related documents had been updated; agreed with the second recommendation and will update the handbook; agreed with the third recommendation and had updated documents and policies; and agreed with the fourth recommendation and issued a joint memorandum that "reinforced roles, responsibilities and the requirement for accountability and adherence to policy and processes, for all Postal assets, including the transfer of mail processing assets between facilities or disposal."
That response was signed by Dane Coleman, the USPS vice president for processing and maintenance operations; John Dunlop, the vice president for plant and process modernization; Mark Guilfoil, the vice president for supply management; and Linda Malone, the vice president for engineering systems.
You can find the full report below:
News happens fast. Stream it faster with our re-designed 11Alive+ app.
Watch newscasts, breaking news streams and get the latest sports, weather and VERIFY content -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Available on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Text "plus" to 404-885-7600 to download 11Alive+ and stream now.