Automated Delivery Unit Sorter Cost Savings

Our objective was to determine if the Postal Service’s Automated Delivery Unit Sorter (ADUS) achieved projected cost savings. The Postal Service has deployed a wide range of automated sorting equipment to achieve cost savings associated with reducing less-efficient manual processing and enhancing productivity. The ADUS is one of its most recent efforts, automating the sorting of smaller packages (up to 30 pounds) in delivery units and small processing and distribution centers (P&DC). Postal Service management issued two Decision Analysis Reports (DAR) in fiscal years (FY) 2017 and 2018 for the purchase and deployment of 20 ADUS machines for a combined [redacted]. These machines were installed at 10 delivery units and 10 small P&DCs across the country and were projected to capture cost savings of $8.8 million in FYs 2018 and 2019.