Standard Packaging Definitions - FAQs

Overview:

Standard Packaging Definitions ("SPDs") are used by COGS-Well for two purposes. The first is to provide inventory items with a consistent name for a common pack size. The second purpose is to assign Count Unit and Recipe Unit configurations to an item automatically (so they don't have to be entered manually).  

Consistent Pack Size Name: Different vendors utilize different pack size descriptions for the same Pack Size.  Sysco might define a 50 pound pack size as "50 LB" while US Foods defines the same pack size as "50 lbs", and Bay City Produce refers to the same pack size as "50#".  Or, for a case of wine that comes in 12, 750-milliliter bottles, one vendor might use a pack size description of "750/12", and another uses "12-750 Ml".  When an SPD is assigned to an item, it ensures that items with common pack sizes always have the same definition regardless of the vendor.  

Automated Count Unit and Recipe Unit Configurations: Vendors only include a pack size for their items on an invoice. An inventory control system, however, needs to know the count Unit, Measure Class, and Recipe Unit configurations for an inventory item. An SPD, therefore, includes these configurations. The result is that when a Pack Size is assigned to a new item, the information needed for an inventory control system is automatically assigned to an item so it doesn't have to be configured manually. 

How does it Work?

Standard Packaging Definitions ("SPDs") reside in a table (a library) of definitions. Each definition is mapped (cross-referenced) to all of the definitions that are used by vendors to reference this pack size. When a new inventory item is imported into COGS-Well, the vendor's pack size is recognized and an SPD is assigned to the new item.

There are over 5,000 SPDs in the library and it s constantly growing. As COGS-Well adds new customers, new vendor pack sizes are added to the library.  When a vendor pack size for an item is not recognized, our auditors are alerted, and a new SPD is created.  In addition, new item SPD assignments are alerted to our auditors and they review each new inventory item.

SPDs are unique to COGS-Well. Their capability to standardize pack size descriptions and automatically configure count unit and recipe unit information for an item represents a significant time and labor saving for the Initial System Setup for a new customer and for ongoing inventory item maintenance. It also keeps a customer's item database uniform and consistent.     

Example of a Standard Packaging Definition:

Below we have selected to edit an SPD from the SPD library for "6/#10 Cans" so we can display the configuration fields for this SPD:

In the above example, we are looking at the SPD for "6/#10 Cans". The count unit has been defined as a "Can" and there are 6 Cans per pack. The primary measure class is "Volume", the recipe unit is Fz (Fluid Ounce), and there are 576 recipe units per pack.