Incompatibles by PD & IR
A report geared towards operators that drills into the volume distribution of Incompatible packages.
Context
Seeing that Incompatible packages are typically the largest, it is important to know the quantity per destination to know how many trailers are needed for the increased cube size taken up inside the trailer. In addition, the distribution of these packages across the sort span is also relevant to operators, as each Incompatible package requires handling from 1-2 employees at a time. For example, a shipper may send us an influx of mattresses (Incompatible) destined to Texas, so that 1-2 hours will need to have significant staffing at the Texas trailers to accommodate.
Action
The tool manipulates daily Incompatible volume and is sent as a report. The graphs and data slicers were specifically chosen to allow for outbound operators to choose their individual areas and drill down into flow patterns. In addition, the Incompatible operators have a section by “IR Depot” to see the distribution and flow for each of the Incompatibles (IR) depots that process Incompatible packages.
Result
Operators have a better sense of how to staff their areas (both outbound employees and Incompatible depot employees) to accommodate for high volume, as well as a distribution of volume over the sort span and by day of week. During holiday sorts, volume trends can also be utilized to plan staffing for the next holiday sort.
General UPS Context
Packages are processed through the facility in one of three main processes, based on the type of package: Cube, Small, and Incompatible.
| Package Type | Specifications | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Cube | - Larger than 16” x 16” x 7” (shoebox) but smaller than 5’ - Weight is below 70 lbs - Conveyable on automated belts without causing issues (e.g. jams) - Can be handled by a person with normal strength under normal conditions |
- Cube packages get processed using the automated belt system. - Each package is scanned through a camera tunnel and sorted based on the label to the correct outbound trailer. |
| Small | - Smaller than 16” x 16” x 7” (shoebox) - Weight is below 10 lbs - Small, thin envelopes |
- Because of its size, Small packages get processed at first through the automated belt system (in a tote or bag), then through the Smalls automated belt system, where the packages will be removed from any container then sorted into a bag. - The bag is then put into an outbound trailer in the automated belt system again. - The S.M.A.R.T. facility has five single-line sorters (SLS) to process Small packages. One SLS contains up to 110 bins, which means our sort can create bags for up to 550 unique destinations (which are typically specific cities across the U.S.). |
| Incompatible | - Larger than 5’ - Weight is over 70 lbs - Includes shapes incompatible with the belt system, such as tires, cylindrical packages, and flat envelopes |
- Incompatibles are named as such due to the incompatibility with the automated belt system that processes Cube packages (due to size, shape, weight). - These packages are taken to an Incompatible Depot, where employees scan and sort these packages onto carts. - These carts are then put onto trains for an Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV) to take to the correct part of the building. - Then, these carts are unloaded onto a belt, where an employee scans each package into the correct outbound trailer. |