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Supplying Principles and Practices > USPS Supplying Practices General Practices > Continuous Improvement
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.
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)
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
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
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
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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