United Parcel Service Research Articles

Adjustable Sit-Stand Workstations in the Office

This study describes the approach taken and the results measured thus far from the introduction of sit-stand workstations in an office environment. Adjustable workstations have been developed and introduced in an office within United Parcel Service (UPS). A sit-stand workstation consists of the following components: modular panel walls, an adjustable front work surface, an adjustable rear work surface, and an adjustable chair. An employee can sit or stand while working and perform the adjustments to the workstation with fingertip ease and control. The job requirements of all of the employees using the new workstations are sedentary in which there is constant use of the computer to perform a variety of tasks. A training program was also introduced to review basic principles of human factors and ergonomics and to provide instruction in how to properly use the new workstations, chairs, and other accessories. Prior to the installation of the workstations, various benchmark data were collected including: production levels, absenteeism, and injuries and illnesses. A survey of body part discomfort identified areas that were of concern. Following the installation of the workstations, the same data have been and will continue to be collected to measure the effectiveness of the ergonomic interventions. Body part discomfort decreased by an average of 62 percent. Production in two departments that were monitored demonstrated improvement, however at this time the study cycle is too short to hypothesize long term results. The occurrence of injuries and illnesses decreased by more than half. Absenteeism did not show significant changes. These data will continue to be tracked to measure the results of the interventions.

Minimizing Trailer-on-Flat-Car Costs: A Network Optimization Model

This paper discusses the mathematical and computational underpinnings of an optimization model that reduces United Parcel Service, Inc.'s trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC) usage costs by $4 million per year. It includes an informal statement of the TOFC problem, an integer linear program (ILP) formulation, and a transformation of this ILP into a pure minimum cost network flow program, whose software implementation provides the TOFC planner with a rich set of practical features.

Drop Heights Encountered in the United Parcel Service Small Parcel Environment in the United States

Abstract Packaged goods move through varieous logistical networks each day all over the world. Packages moving through these various networks are exposed to dynamic forces such as drops, tosses, and kicks. This study investigated the effect of drops, tosses, and kicks encountered in the United Parcel Service (UPS) small parcel environment in the United States. The effect of the weight and volume of packages shipped was studied. The results of this study showed the highest drop observed in the UPS environment in 35 roundtrips from Lansing, MI to Monterey, CA was 42.1 inches for the Small-size package. The size of the package had no significant effect on the drop heights. Lighter weight packages for the smaller size experienced higher drop heights. Weight in general also did not have a significant effect on the Medium and Larger size package drop heights. 95% of the drops occurred at 30 inches for the Small/Light package, 24 inches for the Small/Medium package, 18 inches for the Medium/Light package, 24 inches for the Medium/Medium packages, 26 inches for the Medium/Heavy package, and 18 inches for the Large/Medium and Large/Heavy packages.

Managing a major technological change

Many companies experience disruptive changes when their core product or process technologies shift dramatically. Such shifts in technology present major management challenges. This article uses the cases of NCR and Harris to illustrate contrasting strategic approaches which influence the technological transition. These approaches affect management's ability to see change coming. United Parcel Service provides a current example of a company managing technological discontinuity.