CONSOLIDATION METHOD / 01
Keep mixed-product cartons traceable from brief to handoff.
A mixed-carton plan connects agreed order lines to a proposed packing map. It does not establish available quantities, physical fit, final carton count or acceptance by a carrier.
THREE RECORD LEVELS
Do not collapse the order line, handling group and carton into one row.
The commercial line identifies what was discussed. A handling group records items that share a requested instruction. A carton reference records a proposed physical grouping. Keeping those levels separate makes changes and discrepancies easier to trace.
- Commercial line: product identity, stated unit and agreed quantity.
- Handling group: a buyer instruction or proposed packing relationship.
- Carton reference: a provisional or final ID with an explicit status.
- Exception record: any mismatch, missing input or unconfirmed instruction.
MIXED-CARTON WORKSHEET
Fields that preserve the chain from request to carton.
Values should come from the buyer brief, the applicable commercial document or a documented packing update. Unknown values remain unknown.
| Field | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer line reference | A stable identifier from the buyer brief or quotation. | Keeps later carton notes tied to the correct commercial line. |
| Exact product identity | Product code, release name, language and packaging level as supplied. | Prevents similar names or formats from being combined accidentally. |
| Agreed buying unit | The unit stated in the applicable commercial document. | Avoids silently converting displays, cases or individual units. |
| Requested carton allocation | The buyer's preference, clearly marked as provisional. | Creates a planning instruction without claiming that the layout is feasible. |
| Handling note | Any buyer-supplied separation, orientation or labeling request. | Keeps special instructions beside the affected line rather than in a loose message. |
| Resolution status | Open, proposed or confirmed, with the source of confirmation. | Makes unresolved packing questions visible at handoff. |
CONTROL SEQUENCE
Build the map in four controlled passes.
- 01
Freeze the input references
Start from the latest agreed line references. A later change to product, format or quantity creates a new planning version.
- 02
Separate requirements from preferences
Record mandatory buyer instructions separately from preferred grouping. Neither category confirms that a proposed mixed carton can be packed.
- 03
Assign provisional carton IDs
Use unique working IDs to map lines before final packing. Do not present provisional IDs as final carton marks or counts.
- 04
Reconcile before handoff
Compare the mapped line totals with the controlling commercial document and leave every mismatch open until it is resolved directly.
DO NOT INFER
A planning row is not a packing confirmation.
- Do not infer units per display or case from another release.
- Do not infer carton dimensions, weight or available space from an image.
- Do not assume mixed packing is available or appropriate for a requested order.
- Do not treat a working carton ID as a shipping mark or carrier reference.
PREPARE THE INPUT
Start with exact order lines and destination context.
Use the dispatch planner to assemble a working brief before asking whether a proposed carton arrangement can be discussed.