The optimization of the collections and deliveries of the Irish Postal Service

The logistical problems associated with the collection and delivery of mail by a national postal service may be tackled using a number of different management science techniques. This paper describes the application of two such techniques, simulation and vehicle routing, to the Irish Postal Service. Considerable tuning is necessary to provide a good fit between the problems, and the solution approaches, but the end results include better management information, improved customer service levels, and significantly lower operational costs.