CUSTOMS' EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM FOR ASSIGNING INSPECTORS NEED TOP MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

• NCJ Number: 59528
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 45 pages
• Corporate Author: US Government Accountability Office
• Sale Source: Azimuth Inc.
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THERE IS A CHARGE FOR MORE THAN ONE COPY

Annotation

THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE NEED FOR THE CUSTOMS SERVICE TO EVALUATE THE INSPECTION WORKLOAD AT PORTS-OF-ENTRY AND DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE STAFFING LEVELS.

Abstract

THE REPORT WAS PREPARED BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE AND STATES THAT ONLY RECENTLY HAS CUSTOMS BEGUN TO DEVELOP AN INSPECTOR WORK-MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY MANAGEMENT AND THE ALLOCATION PROCESS. HOWEVER, THE PRODUCTIVITY MANAGEMENT EFFORT SEEMS TO BE WEAKENING AND NEEDS TOP MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. FOR EXAMPLE, CUSTOM'S METHOD OF ALLOCATING INSPECTORS TO PORTS-OF-ENTRY HAS CREATED STAFFING INCONSISTENCIES AND INSUFFICIENCY. GAO FOUND NO APPARENT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF INSPECTORS ASSIGNED TO PORT-OF-ENTRY AND THE WORKLOAD IN TERMS OF ACTIVITY LEVELS, WORK COMPLEXITY, OR ENFORCEMENT RISKS. IT BELIEVES THAT A VIABLE MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WITH ATTENDANT SUBPROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE WORK-LOAD MEASUREMENT SYSTEM COULD AID CUSTOMS IN MAKING A MORE RATIONAL ALLOCATION OF INSPECTORS TO PORTS-OF-ENTRY. THEREFORE, GAO, RECOMMENDS THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS PROVIDE THE PRODUCTIVITY TASK FORCE THE NECESSARY LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY GUIDANCE AND PERSONNEL TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES. THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD ALSO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE PRODUCTIVITY MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND DEVELOP STANDARDIZED CUSTOMS TERMINOLOGY FOR THE CURRENT AND PROPOSED INFORMATION SYSTEMS. STUDY DATA ARE PROVIDED. (MJW)