System and process for real time monitoring of mail and print jobs and providing real time verification of mail piece completion

1. A method for tracking documents within a document production pathway, the method comprising:

defining, using a processor, a production sequence of discrete tasks to be performed on each of a plurality of documents to be produced by a document production facility, wherein each of the plurality of documents is assigned a sequence number operable to individually identify each of the plurality of documents;

defining, using the processor, a production pathway in the document production facility to produce each of the plurality of documents;

defining, using the processor, a document sequence for the plurality of documents to be produced;

performing the production sequence of discrete tasks on each of the plurality of documents in the production pathway;

placing each of the plurality of documents in one or more trays in the document sequence after each of the discrete tasks is performed;

tagging each of the one or more trays with a tray identifier operable to individually identify each of the one or more trays;

determining, using the processor, the sequence number for each of the first document of the plurality of documents placed in each tray and the last document of the plurality of documents placed in each tray;

recording, using the processor and a database, associations between the sequence numbers for each of the first document of the plurality of documents placed in each tray and the last document of the plurality of documents placed in each tray and tray identifiers for each of the one or more trays after each discrete task in the production sequence is performed; and

tracking, using the processor, each tray within the production pathway in the database.

2. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

removing at least one document from the plurality of documents in the production pathway;

recording, using the processor and the database, each sequence number for each of the at least one document removed from the production pathway;

placing each of the at least one document that is removed from the production pathway in a designated tray for removed documents;

recording, using the processor and the database, associations between each sequence number of each of the at least one document removed from the production pathway and the tray identifier of the designated tray for removed documents; and

tracking, using the processor, the designated tray within the production pathway in the database.

3. The method of claim 2 , the method further comprising:

determining, using the processor and the database, the location within the document production facility of the at least one document removed from the production pathway using the sequence number of the at least one document.

4. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

determining, using the processor and the database, the location of a selected document within the document production facility using the sequence number of the selected document.

5. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

extracting document information for each of the plurality of documents from a project file using the processor to generate a command file, wherein the command file comprises specifications for each of the plurality of documents to be produced by the document production facility, the production pathway to produce each of the plurality of documents, the production sequence of discrete tasks to be performed on each of the plurality of documents, and the document sequence of each of the plurality of documents to be produced.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the specifications for each of the plurality of documents comprise customized information, a number and sequence of inserts, and/or a weight of the document.

7. The method of claim 6 , the method further comprising:

determining, using the processor, the accuracy of each of the plurality of documents produced based on the specifications; and

removing a selected document from the production pathway after determining that the selected document is inaccurate.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the document production facility comprises at least two physical locations or premises.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each tray identifier and each document sequence number may be determined using a counting apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the counting apparatus comprises an optical character verification system.

11. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

placing at least one of the one or more trays on a skid;

tagging the skid with a skid identifier operable to individually identify each skid;

recording, using the processor and a database, associations between the skid identifier and the tray identifier of the at least one of the one or more trays and the sequence numbers of the plurality of documents associated with the tray identifier of the at least one of the one or more trays; and

tracking, using the processor, each skid within the document production facility in the database.

12. The method of claim 11 , the method further comprising:

determining, using the processor and the database, the location of a selected skid within the document production facility using the skid identifier, tray identifier, or sequence number of a selected document.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the skid is tagged with a radio-frequency identification device.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locations within the production pathway of a selected tray and/or document sequence number are reported via a user interface operably connected to the processor.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discrete tasks comprise printing, inserting, stapling, sorting, weighing, folding, and/or sealing.

16. A method for tracking documents within a document production pathway, the method comprising:

extracting document specifications from a project file using a processor for each of a plurality of documents to be produced by a document production facility;

defining, using the processor, a production sequence of discrete tasks to be performed on each of a plurality of documents, wherein each of the plurality of documents is assigned a sequence number operable to individually identify each of the plurality of documents;

defining, using the processor, a production pathway in the document production facility to produce each of the plurality of documents;

defining, using the processor, a document sequence for the plurality of documents to be produced;

performing the production sequence of discrete tasks on each of the plurality of documents in the production pathway;

recording, using the processor and a database, the sequence number for each of the plurality of documents after each discrete task in the production sequence is performed; and

tracking, using the processor, each of the plurality of documents within the production pathway in the database.

17. The method of claim 16 , the method further comprising:

removing at least one document from the plurality of documents in the production pathway; and

recording, using the processor and the database, each sequence number for each of the at least one document removed from the production pathway.

18. The method of claim 16 , the method further comprising:

determining, using the processor and the database, the location of a selected document within the document production facility using the sequence number of the selected document.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein each document sequence number may be determined using a counting apparatus.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the specifications for each of the plurality of documents comprise customized information, a number and sequence of inserts, and/or a weight of the document.