2004 Department of Defense Official Mail Management Conference

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2004 Department of Defense Official Mail
Management Conference

• Professional Education In The Mailing Industry

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Why bother with professional education?

• If you think education is expensive, try
  ignorance
• Derek Bok
• University President

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Knowledge and Wisdom

• Knowledge is a process of piling up facts
  wisdom lies in their simplification.
• Martin Fischer
• Educator and author
• Bottom Line Professional education combines
  factual knowledge, wisdom, and the skills to
  apply it in your job to help create an effective
  and efficient workplace

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Professional Education a path toward
certification Industry reasons to consider
certification

• To encourage professional growth and the
  attaining of technical and managerial knowledge.
• To create a positive image of mail center
  managers in the industry.
• To recognize and emphasize the expertise required
  to be successful in the mail management field.
• To identify by name those individuals who have
  attained the stature of various certifications in
  the industry.
• To identify a defined body of knowledge for
  effective performance in the field of mail
  management.

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What are the options?

• Mail Piece Quality Control (MQC)
• Executive Mail Center Manager (EMCM)
• Certified Mail and Distribution Systems Manager
  (CMDSM)
• Certified Mail Manager (CMM)
• MailCom and National Postal Forum certificates
• Local training through PCCs, etc.

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Mail Piece Quality Control

• Designed to assist people responsible for
  creating mail pieces, and those responsible for
  understanding acceptance requirements.
• a systemic method of ensuring that designs
  coming from individuals in your company are
  acceptable for mailing and are eligible for
  worksharing discounts from the Postal Service.
  MQC training handbook
• Sponsored by US Postal Service

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MQC Components

• Classes of Mail
• Periodicals
• Processing Categories
• Addressing
• USPS barcodes
• Automation requirements
• Non-automation mailing
• Postage payment methods
• Reply and return mail
• Special Services

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Mail Piece Quality Control

• Bottom Line Not too time consuming to complete,
  has immediate benefits for mail management, and
  is good background for more demanding
  certifications.

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Mail Piece Quality Control

• When offered Anytime (self study)
• Written materials Extensive handbook,
  downloadable, and includes all study material.
• Test 100 question take home test, mail to
  Memphis for grading and certificate.
• Result Name is in USPS database, some people
  use designation on business cards

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Executive Mail Center Manager

• Comprehensive training program designed for
  people who wish to develop mail center management
  skills. Program teaches how to
• Manage more effectively,
• Improve mail center safety and security,
• Boost productivity, and
• Cut costs.
• Training is in Normal OK, for 5 days
• Sponsored by US Postal Service

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EMCM Components

• People management
• Sales marketing
• Managing Mail Center Operations
• Managing Mail Center Finances
• Mail Center Safety Security
• Planning Managing Technology
• Planning Policy Making
• Total Quality Management

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Executive Mail Center Manager

• Bottom Line Learn much in one 5 day period, and
  student can take the learning's back to your mail
  center for immediate results.

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Executive Mail Center Manager

• When offered 7 times in 2004
• Written materials Given during the training
  week to assist in learning and for test
  preparation.
• Test Taken during the week of study in Norman
  OK.
• Result Name is in USPS database, most people
  use designation on business cards, indication of
  industry professionalism.

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Certified Mail and Distribution Systems Manager

• About 15 years old, CMDSM is considered to be the
  leading and most comprehensive certification in
  the mailing industry.
• Approximately 300 people have achieved this
  certification nationwide.
• Believed to be 3 in the federal government.
• Individuals must qualify to take exam from
  attainment of points from mail and management
  related experiences must be in mail field for 5
  years or more
• Applicants take exam at one of the two MailCom
  conferences.
• Sponsored by Mail Systems Management Association

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CMDSM Components

• USPS Mail Knowledge
• Financial Management
• Human Resources
• Mail Center Design
• Mail Distribution Systems Knowledge
• General Management Practices

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Certified Mail and Distribution Systems Manager

• Bottom line Considered to be a highly valued
  certification, and some individuals have utilized
  designation to assist in promoting and attaining
  company or personal goals.

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Certified Mail and Distribution Systems Manager

• When offered 2 times a year (can be done
  locally on an exception basis)
• Written materials CMDSM study guide recommends
  postal handbooks such as DMM, and pubs 25, 28,
  49, 63, and 95. Also helpful are service guides
  from UPS, Airborne, etc.
• Test 135 multiple choice and 5 essay questions
  takes 4 hours to complete.
• Result Recognition and ceremony at MailCom,
  publicity in Mail magazine, most people use
  designation on business cards, indication of
  industry professionalism and knowledge.

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Certified Mail Manager

• Similar to CMDSM, CMM is a comprehensive
  certification.
• Requires letters of recommendation.
• Individuals must qualify to take exam and must be
  in mail field for 5 years or more
• Must pledge to adhere to the CMM code of ethics
• Requires recertification every 5 years
• Sponsored by International Publishing Management
  Association

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CMM Components

• Communications Skills
• Computer Skills
• Financial Management
• General Management
• Personnel Management
• Mail Management
• Skills Application
• Technical Skills

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Certified Mail Manager

• Bottom line Not as well known in the industry
  as others, but reflects an excellent combination
  of knowledge, experience, and ethical behavior.

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Certified Mail Manager

• When offered Offered at annual educational
  conference as well as regional conferences.
• Written materials Any material which can assist
  in acquiring competencies.
• Test Four parts of test, included mail
  management, personnel management, general
  management, and technical skills
• Result People use designation on business cards,
  indication of industry professionalism and
  knowledge.

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Mail Com and National Postal Forum Certificates
of Training

• Follow session track at conferences.
• With specific attended sessions, receive
  certificate of training.
• Are in subject areas such as mail center
  security, management/leadership, customer
  services, etc.
• Industry conferences enhance and improve training
  tracks on an ongoing basis.

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Other Local Training Avenues

• Postal Customer Council training
• Postal Business Centers
• Interagency Mail Policy Council (DC based)
• Government Mail Advisory Council - (DC based)

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Professional Education promotes life long
learning

• The brighter you are, the more you have to
  learn.
• Don Herold
• Author

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For more information

• Mail Piece Quality Control (MQC)
• www.usps.com/ncsc/addressservices/certprograms/mqc
  .htm
• Executive Mail Center Manager (EMCM)
• www.usps.com/mailcentermgr/welcome.htm
• Certified Mail Manager (CMM)
• www.ipma.org/cmm.html
• Certified Mail and Distribution Systems Manager
  (CMDSM)
• www.msmanational.org/cmdsm.html

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Questions?

• Eric Fielding, CMDSM
• Fieldinge_at_gao.gov
• 202-512-9311