Posts
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.
Running an ESD Control program
Most organizations across the globe already have some ESD controls in place.
If your company hired and assigned you as an ESD Coordinator to improve the existing ESD controls, then below are the few tips that are worth to consider helping you in your journey to setup and run a manageable ESD Control program.
• Support from Top Management: Support from Top Management is essential for running a successful ESD Control program. Support in terms of training provision for ESD Coordinator, ESD material and products provisions, following the ESD control rules in the organization are the few kind of support that the Top Management can do.
• Forming a team: Forming a team or an ESD Steering Committee which has members from different disciplines/departments such as Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Production and Training is much encouraged. With the existence of members from different disciplines and departments, workload can be shared and ESD controls can be implemented without many obstacles.
• Periodic communication: From time to time, communication on ESD controls should be imparted through the organization communication channels. This is aimed to send a gentle reminder to the employees about the ESD rules that they tend to forget.
• Periodic inspection: From time to time, periodic inspection or audit on the ESD compliance in the organization should be carried out in a systematic manner to ensure continuous ESD protection.
• Integration with ISO 9000 requirements: The ESD Control program should be implemented and integrated with the ISO 9000 requirements. For example: ESD audit should be planned in an audit schedule and ESD materials should be evaluated and reevaluated.
• Continual improvements: Continual or gradual improvement is recommended to be taken either upon receiving customer feedback, audit findings or through technology changes.
• Continuous training provision: Continuous training provision to the employees of all levels is essential to ensure the ESD Control program is running as it is intended.
• Decision based on facts: To ensure the ESD Control program is cost effective and running effectively, any decision made has to be based on facts to prevent overspending.
If your company hired and assigned you as an ESD Coordinator to improve the existing ESD controls, then below are the few tips that are worth to consider helping you in your journey to setup and run a manageable ESD Control program.
• Support from Top Management: Support from Top Management is essential for running a successful ESD Control program. Support in terms of training provision for ESD Coordinator, ESD material and products provisions, following the ESD control rules in the organization are the few kind of support that the Top Management can do.
• Forming a team: Forming a team or an ESD Steering Committee which has members from different disciplines/departments such as Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Production and Training is much encouraged. With the existence of members from different disciplines and departments, workload can be shared and ESD controls can be implemented without many obstacles.
• Periodic communication: From time to time, communication on ESD controls should be imparted through the organization communication channels. This is aimed to send a gentle reminder to the employees about the ESD rules that they tend to forget.
• Periodic inspection: From time to time, periodic inspection or audit on the ESD compliance in the organization should be carried out in a systematic manner to ensure continuous ESD protection.
• Integration with ISO 9000 requirements: The ESD Control program should be implemented and integrated with the ISO 9000 requirements. For example: ESD audit should be planned in an audit schedule and ESD materials should be evaluated and reevaluated.
• Continual improvements: Continual or gradual improvement is recommended to be taken either upon receiving customer feedback, audit findings or through technology changes.
• Continuous training provision: Continuous training provision to the employees of all levels is essential to ensure the ESD Control program is running as it is intended.
• Decision based on facts: To ensure the ESD Control program is cost effective and running effectively, any decision made has to be based on facts to prevent overspending.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
