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Continuous Improvement

The Postal Service is committed to continually evaluating and improving upon these Supplying Principles and Practices to ensure continuing effectiveness and consistency with Postal Service strategic direction and supply chain innovation. This practice defines the process for identifying, documenting, reviewing, recommending, and implementing improvement opportunities (IO) to further the Postal Service's progress toward supply chain management (SCM) excellence in the categories defined in the Postal Service Supply Management Maturity Model.

Responsibility

The Vice President, Supply Management (VP, SM) is responsible for ensuring that the Postal Service's supplying activities further the business and competitive interests of the Postal Service and for approving and issuing Postal Service Supplying Principles and Practices and related material.

To assist the VP, SM in carrying out these responsibilities, two cross-functional bodies provide advice and insight to ensure that Postal Service goals are met and that the Supplying Principles and Practices promote an efficient and effective supply chain. The Supplying Principles and Practices governance structure comprises:

Supply Chain Advisory Council (SCAC)

Supply Chain Management Committee (SCMC)

Supply Chain Advisory Council (SCAC)

SCAC is responsible for:

Anticipating and adapting to strategic, organizational, technological, process, and cultural opportunities and challenges related to issues affecting the Postal Service supply chain

Regularly reviewing and improving communications between supply chain members

Sharing information with respective constituencies

Providing leadership and resource assistance, when needed

Advising the VP, SM on supply chain issues and opportunities

SCAC comprises:

Vice President, Supply Management (Chairperson)

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Vice President, Engineering

Vice President, Facilities

Vice President, Network Operations Management (NOM)

Deputy General Counsel, HQ Operations

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Supply Chain Management Committee (SCMC)

SCMC is responsible for:

Reviewing and making recommendations regarding changes to Supplying Principles and Practices language

Regularly reviewing and improving alignment between Supplying Principles and Practices and supply chain strategies

Framing strategic issues and agenda for SCAC

Anticipating and adapting to organizational, technological, process, and cultural opportunities and challenges related to Supplying Principles and Practices

Sharing information with respective constituencies

Providing leadership and resource assistance with regard to Supplying Principles and Practices.

Advising the VP, SM concerning matters related to communications with Postal Service executive leadership about Supplying Principles and Practices and integrating and operating the Postal Service supply chain

SCMC comprises:

Manager, Supply Management Infrastructure (Chairperson)

Manager, Mail Equipment Portfolio

Manager, Facilities Portfolio

Manager, Supplies Portfolio

Manager, Services Portfolio

Manager, Transportation Portfolio

Manager, Operations

Manager, SCM Strategies

Senior Counsel, Contract Protest and Policies

Client representatives

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Supply Management Infrastructure (SMI)

SMI is responsible for:

Reviewing and evaluating IOs

Preparing Supplying P&P issues and IOs and proposing revisions for review by the SCMC

Managing and overseeing the continuous improvement process and serving as the point of contact for all inquiries and communications related to Postal Service Supplying Principles and Practices

Submitting Improvement Opportunities (IOs)

Anyone may propose an IO for consideration. The stimulus for IOs can include, but are not limited to:

Internal or external assessments (e.g., best practices)

Management directives

Analysis of defects or root cause

Lessons learned

External process reviews (e.g., organizational-level reviews)

The originator(s) of an IO should complete and submit an improvement opportunity form to SMI that identifies:

Text (e.g., Process Step, Task, Topic, etc.) in which the change is sought

Proposed wording

Rationale for the change

Potential effects of the change in terms of cost or personnel

Other documents (e.g., supporting directives or manuals) that may or will be affected by the proposed changes

Any other relevant information

Once received, IOs will be reviewed for effectiveness and, if appropriate, submitted to SCMC for review. SCMC will review all IOs that are submitted for consideration by SMI to determine which IOs will be recommended to the VP, SM for approval. SMI is responsible for reviewing and approving changes that are administrative and editorial in nature.

Information on changes and updates to Postal Service Principles and Practices will be posted online in the "What's New" section of this website. The originator of IOs will be notified of the result of their submission, whether approved or rejected.

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