Packaging specification worksheet

What the worksheet produces

The Spec Sheet Builder turns the ten entered fields into a single specification record. Three summary rows appear first: Format, Requested quantity and Revision. Below them, the body repeats every field with an uppercase label, including PROJECT, SKU, FORMAT, DIMENSIONS, MATERIAL, PRINTING, QUANTITY, CRITICAL, ACCEPTANCE and REVISION. Two fixed notes follow: attach an approved dimensioned drawing and identify who owns each unresolved specification; and the limitation that the worksheet does not create a manufacturing dieline, verify material compliance, approve artwork or place an order. All example values are editable.

Project, SKU and format entry

Enter a project name that identifies the development or program, then a SKU that distinguishes the item. The Format select offers Corrugated case, Folding carton, Pouch, Label and Rigid box. The choice is copied into the Format row and the FORMAT line; it does not load a format-specific template, dimension rule or artwork check. Changing from Corrugated case to Label changes those two displayed values only. Use the format value that matches the specification you are recording, not a guess about what the converter will produce.

Dimensions, material and printing

The dimensions field is free text. Include units and state whether the basis is internal, external or finished cut. The worksheet trims surrounding whitespace and retains the wording. It does not convert units, sort axes, calculate a dieline or infer missing basis. For a case, distinguish 12 × 10 × 8 in internal dimensions from the external size used for pallet and parcel calculations. Material and grade is also free text; the default Confirm with converter is a placeholder, not a verified grade. Printing records colors and finish as entered; CMYK; finish to confirm remains unresolved until someone confirms it.

Quantity, critical requirements and acceptance

Quantity is a whole-unit input. The worksheet displays the requested quantity in the Requested quantity row and the QUANTITY line; it does not convert units to cases, estimate material yield, calculate pallet counts or apply a price. Critical requirements should state the fit, protection and legibility points that matter for the item. Acceptance evidence records the evidence you intend to use, such as an approved drawing and production-equivalent sample. That field is a record of intended evidence, not an approval action or a compliance verification.

How the record is assembled

The output is assembled in field order. The body uses the field key in uppercase, a colon and the entered value. Quantity appears as the whole number you entered. The summary rows repeat only Format, Requested quantity and Revision. The notes are fixed and do not change with the inputs. Revision is user-entered text, so the worksheet does not auto-increment it, date-stamp it or compare it with a previous record. If you edit a field but leave Revision as Draft 1, the output still shows Draft 1.

Worked example: corrugated case draft

With Project Example packaging project, SKU SKU-001, Format Corrugated case, dimensions 12 × 10 × 8 in, internal, material Confirm with converter, printing CMYK; finish to confirm, quantity 1000, critical Fit, protection and legibility, acceptance Approved drawing and production-equivalent sample and revision Draft 1, the summary rows are Corrugated case, 1000 and Draft 1. The body includes DIMENSIONS: 12 × 10 × 8 in, internal and QUANTITY: 1000. The internal basis is visible because the user typed it; the worksheet does not derive an external size.

Worked example: label change

Change Format to Label, dimensions to 8.293 × 3.625 in, finished cut and quantity to 500 while leaving revision Draft 1. The summary rows become Label, 500 and Draft 1. The body changes FORMAT to Label, DIMENSIONS to 8.293 × 3.625 in, finished cut and QUANTITY to 500. The material, printing, critical and acceptance lines remain as entered. This is a record change, not a label dieline or print-ready artwork check. The finished cut basis is preserved from the text field.

Edge cases and handoff limits

If dimensions omit internal or external basis, the output preserves that ambiguity. If quantity is not a whole unit, the worksheet has no split-unit handling; use a whole-unit quantity. If a specification has unresolved material or finish, the default placeholder remains visible rather than being resolved. The record can support a handoff by showing what is known and what is unresolved, but it does not create a manufacturing dieline, verify material compliance, approve artwork or place an order. Update Revision yourself when the record changes.

Questions about packaging specification worksheet