• Glass packaging specifications need to be in place to ensure the product's quality.grey glass pitcher and glass and water image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  A packaging specification is defined by International Trade Center as: "an accurate and detailed description containing information about all the necessary facts, properties and special features of a packaging material." The specifications for glass packaging are developed to ensure that the package matches the requirements of the product, the machinery used and customer's needs. Also, the specifications need to be in place to avoid misunderstandings and to protect the packaging firm against claims. (See Reference 1)
  
  

Essential Information

• Glass packaging specifications should contain the following information: type and name of the product, quantity to be packed, raw material grade, quality and substance. The specifications should also comprise the description of the package construction, including a picture, if necessary, dimensions of the package, its special features and graphic design. Product characteristics, packing methods, requirements for transporting and distributing the product safely should all be a part of the description. Similarly, price, delivery time and sometimes, specification number with the date on which it was issued are customarily included in the specifications.
  
  

Product Characteristics

• Generally, the more the packager knows about the product the better. The package supplier should know the characteristics of the product such as its pH value and chemical composition. Information on modes of transportation and transport conditions are important for the right selection of glass to minimize the mechanical stress. Packing the product from the packaging company for the delivery to the buyer should also be specified, as the packing material could be reused to save money. The delivery time is an important aspect of the specifications, especially in large shipments, as the buyer may impose a penalty for delayed delivery. (See Reference 2)
  
  

Tolerances and Quality Control

• Tolerances are defined as dimensions and grades of raw materials. One of the most important questions in establishing workable specifications is what the minimum and maximum tolerances should be. The tolerances in the packaging specifications should be accepted by both the supplier and the buyer. They should be initially based on the already established practices, but adjusted for precision, when possible. Quality control is also a vital element in the specifications. It clarifies reasons for acceptance or rejection of the product. It describes the kinds of defects and specifies how many defects are allowed. It also describes how the quality control procedure should be organized for best results. For example, if the glass is broken or there is glass inside the bottle, the defect is major and the glass cannot be sold. If the glass structure or weight is off, it can be reused when fixed. When the bottle's surface is uneven or slightly off-color, the defect is considered minor.