ESD Control Program plan

The main element in any ESD Control Program is the ESD Control Program plan itself.
What is an ESD Control Program plan? An ESD Control Program plan is basically a procedure that is written in a manner where it normally covers all the activities that involve in controlling the generation of static electricity and its electrostatic discharge.
The ESD Control plan does not have to be as thick as your Harry Porter story book as someone may think of. It usually covers a few tenths of pages.

Many electronic companies already have their own documentation system in place either their documents are stored online using a specific documentation system software or their documents are stored in hardcopy forms.

In both formats, the ESD control program plan should be written in a systematic approach. A systematic ESD Control Program plan or procedure should cover the following:

•Purpose :
•Scope :
•Organizational responsibilities :
•Activities and tasks :
•List of supportive documents used in the program :

The ESD Control Program plan should address each of the following requirements in the main body of the plan.

•Training plan
•Compliance Verification plan
•Grounding/ Equipotential Bonding system
•Personnel Grounding
•Packaging System
•ESD Protected area requirements
•Marking
•Equipments
•Handling

Full guidance on preparing the ESD Control Program plan can be obtained from
ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard. Other supportive documents that would help in preparing the ESD Control program plan include:

•ANSI/ESD S6.1 , Grounding
•ANSI/ESD STM97.1 , Floor materials and footwear – resistance measurement in combination with a person
•ANSI/ESD STM97.2 , Floor materials and footwear – voltage measurement in combination with a person
•ANSI/ESD S1.1 , Wrist straps
•ANSI/ESD S4.1 , Work surface – resistance measurements
•ANSI/ESD S7.1 , Floor materials – characterization of materials
•ANSI/ESD S541 , Packaging materials for ESD sensitive items
•ANSI/ESD STM2.1 , Garments
•ANSI/ESD STM3.1 , Ionization
•ANSI/ESD STM12.1 , Seating
•ANSI/ESD TR53 , Compliance verification of ESD protective equipment and materials
•ANSI/ESD STM13.1 , Electrical soldering/desoldering hand tools
•ANSI/ESD SP10.1 , Automated handling equipment

The ESD Control program plan or procedure should be prepared in a manner that it integrates and conforms to internal quality system requirements.

The ESD Control program plan is an important document for verifying the effectiveness of the ESD Control program in the organizations.

An example of ESD Control Program plan can be obtained here.