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The importance of having an ESD Audit Checklist

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:19:25 +0000

The importance of having a proper ESD audit checklist is undeniable.
The ESD Audit checklist is created with the intent to guide and act as reference for the auditor during the audit.Without a proper ESD audit checklist, the auditor may accidentally omit auditing a particular area or item which could be critical in the ESD Control program of the organization.

There are many ways where ESD coordinator could establish his ESD audit checklist.
The simplest way to create an ESD audit checklist is create checklist based on requirements disclosed on the ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard.

By adopting this simple method of creating ESD audit checklist, the ESD coordinator would at the same time working on and addressing the gap analysis of his ESD Control program plan against the ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard requirements.

It is an effective killing two birds with one stone practice which any ESD coordinator could practice and use it as a means to continually improve his ESD Control program.

A good ESD audit checklist should entail both the verification on the ESD control technical elements compliance as well as the generic esd control compliance required by the ESD control program plan of the organization.

The ESD audit checklist is the heart of any ESD audit and as such it should be established correctly in the first place to ensure the effectiveness of the planned ESD audit.

ESD coordinator should spend some time in creating the ESD audit checklist and continuously improve it when necessary.
By doing so, the effectiveness of the ESD control program of the organization can be monitored correctly.

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Understanding ESD documents and ESD Standards required in ESD Control program

admin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:08:22 +0000

An ESD Coordinator plays a big role when it comes to establish an ESD Control program for his or her organization. The ESD Coordinator must be well equipped with ESD knowledge and know how before he or she can carry his or her duties well. One of the things that the ESD Coordinator must know is to understand the ESD documents and ESD standards before setting up the ESD Control program.
The ESD documents can be typically classified into four categories such as:

• Standard
• Standard Test Method
• Standard Practice
• Technical report

Standards are ESD document that specify ESD requirements to be met by an ESD product, ESD material, system and process which are required in establishing an ESD Control program. ESD Standard begins with a prefix S such as the following:

ANSI/ESD S1.1: Wrist strap
ANSI/ESD S4.1: Work surfaces – Resistance measurements
ANSI/ESD S6.1: Grounding
ANSI/ESD S8.1: ESD awareness symbols
ANSI/ESD S20.20: Standard for the development of an ESD control program
ANSI/ESD S541: Packaging materials for ESD sensitive items
ANSI/ESD S7.1: Floor material – Characterization of materials

Standard Test Methods are ESD document that specify standardized test method which produce reproducible test results for evaluating an ESD product, ESD material, system and process that are required in establishing an ESD Control program. ESD Standard Test Method begins with a prefix STM as the followings:

ANSI/ESD STM2.1: ESD garments
ANSI/ESD STM3.1: Ionization
ANSI/ESD STM4.2: ESD Protective Work surfaces – Charge dissipation characteristics
ANSI/ESD STM5.1: Electrostatic discharge sensitivity testing – Human body model – Component level
ANSI/ESD STM5.2: Electrostatic discharge sensitivity testing – Machine model – Component level
ANSI/ESD STM5.3.1: Electrostatic discharge sensitivity testing – Charged device model (CDM)—Component level.
ANSI/ESD STM9.1: Resistive characterization of footwear (exclude heel strap and toe Grounders)
ANSI/ESD STM11.11: Surface resistance measurement of static dissipative planar materials
ANSI/ESD STM11.12: Volume resistance measurement of static dissipative planar materials
ANSI/ESD STM 11.13: Two point resistance measurement
ANSI/ESD STM11.31: Evaluating the performance of electrostatic discharge shielding bags
ANSI/ESD STM12.1: Seating – Resistive characterization
ANSI/ESD STM13.1: Measuring electrical potential from electrical soldering/desoldering hand tools
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

When the test method does not have the capability to produce reproducible test results, the ESD document is then classified as Standard Practice and this ESD Standard Practice begins with a prefix SP as the following:

ESD SP3.3: Periodic verification of air ionizers
ESD SP9.2: Foot grounders – Resistive characterization (exclude static control shoes)
ESD SP10.1: Automated handling equipment (AHE)
ESD SP14.1: System level Electrostatic Discharge simulator verification standard practice
ESD SP5.4: Latch up sensitivity testing of CMOS/BiCMOS Integrated Circuits and Transient Latch up testing – component level supply transient stimulation
ESD SP5.5.1: Electrostatic Discharge sensitivity testing Transmission Line Pulse (TLP) – Component level
ESD SP5.3.2: Sensitivity testing Socketed Device model (SDM) – Component level
ESD SP15.1: In use resistance testing of gloves and finger cots

Technical reports are ESD reports that provide technical and informational reference on a specific ESD material, product, system or process. This ESD reports begin with a prefix TR as following:

ESD TR 20.20: Handbook for the development of an ESD Control Program
ESD TR53: Compliance Verification of ESD Protective equipment and materials
ESD TR50.0.01: Can Static Electricity Be Measured
ESD TR50.0-02: High Resistance Ohmmeters–Voltage Measurements
ESD TR15.0.01: ESD Glove and Finger Cots
ESD TR13.0-01: EOS Safe Soldering Iron Requirements
ESD TR2.0-01: Consideration for Developing ESD Garment Specifications
ESD TR2.0-02: Static Electricity Hazards of Triboelectrically Charged Garments
ESD TR14.0-01: Calculation of Uncertainty Associated with Measurement of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Current
ESD TR5.3.2-01: Socket Device Model (SDM) Tester
ESD TR5.4-01: Transient Induced Latch-Up (TLU)
ESD TR5.3.2-01: Socket Device Model (SDM) Tester
ESD TR5.4-02: Determination of CMOS Latch-up Susceptibility – Transient Latch-up – Technical Report No. 2
ESD TR10.0-01: Machine Model (MM) Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Investigation – Reduction in Pulse Number and Delay Time
ESD TR55.0-01: Electrostatic Guidelines and Considerations for Clean rooms and Clean Manufacturing
ESD TR1.0-01: Survey of Constant (Continuous) Monitors for Wrist Straps
ESD TR3.0-01: Alternate Techniques for Measuring Ionizer Offset Voltage and Discharge Time
ESD TR10.0-01: Measurement and ESD Control Issues for Automated Equipment Handling of ESD Sensitive Devices below 100 Volts
ESD TR4.0-01: Survey of Work surfaces and Grounding Mechanisms
ESD TR50.0-03: Voltage and Energy Susceptible Device Concepts, Including Latency Considerations
ESD TR3.0-02: Selection and Acceptance of Air Ionizers

Although there are many ESD documents available, only a handful of ESD documents that are required by a NEW ESD Coordinator to help him or her ESD in establishing the ESD Control program.

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Setting up an ESD Control program plan

admin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:45:55 +0000

It is common to find many documents or procedures in any established multinational organizations in every corner of the world. Documents or procedures spell out all the process requirements and specifications to run a process in the organizations.

The aim of the documents or procedures is to ensure the process is carried out in a control manner.

ESD Control Program plan is just another document or procedure which is required to ensure ESD Control activities is done under controlled manner so that ESD sensitive items are protected from esd damage.

ESD Control Program plan shall address:
• The Compliance Verification Plan
• The Training Plan
• The Grounding/ Equipotential bonding system
• The Personnel Grounding
• ESD Protected area
• Equipments
• Handling
• Marking

Besides addressing both the ESD Administrative and ESD Technical elements, the ESD Control program plan also need to address:
• The most sensitive level of the ESD sensitive device being handled. When the most sensitive level of the ESDS device is not known, greater than or equal to 100V Human Body Model (HBM) damage is commonly taken as the most sensitive level of the device being handled by most organizations.
• The assignment of ESD Coordinator or ESD Control Program Manager who shall establish, document, implement, maintain and verify the effectiveness of the ESD Control program.
• Under certain applications where requirement is modified or deleted, the organization shall provide tailoring decisions, including the rationale and technical justifications based on the evaluation results done.

It is also important to remember that the ESD Control Program plan shall blend and integrate well with the internal quality system requirements to ensure its full effectiveness.

Distinguished ESD Consultancy who offer help in setting up the ESD Control Program are:

• Steve Halperin and Associates
• Bob Vermillion and RMV Technology Group
Here is a copy of ESD Control Program plan by Steve Halperin and Associates.

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7 Effective ESD Control Program Management tips

admin — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:55:11 +0000

Do you know what is required to allow you to have and run an effective ESD Control Program in your organization?
ESD Control Program Management has started to manifest its role in the electronic industries when the ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard was first developed way back in April-1999 by the ESD Association. As of today, there are about 100 over facilities around the world already being certified against the ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard, and that includes a high tech industry like Dongguan Semiconductor Wafer fabrication plant in China.

Here are the recommended 7 Effective ESD Control Program Management tips that would help you to run a successful ESD Control program in your organization.

1] Process owner: A process owner either an ESD Control Program Manager or an ESD Coordinator is required to develop, document and verify the effectiveness of the ESD Control program. Without a process owner is just like a ship without a captain.

2] Team work: The success of the ESD Control program is reliant on the teamwork rendered by the team members of different backgrounds or disciplines. Organizations may choose to set up an ESD Steering Committee or a group of ESD auditors.

3] Support from Top Management: It is extremely important to have a full support from the Top Management when running and managing the ESD Control program in your organization. For example when the Top Management follows the preset ESD rules of the organization, this would certainly set a good example for the rest of the employees to follow.

4] Auditing: When audits on ESD compliance are done on regular basis, it will help to curb the non compliance occurring inside the organization. Employees are regularly feedback on the non compliance and in doing so the awareness on ESD among the employees improves.

5] Continuous improvement: Continual improvement should be practiced after analyzing the data from the audits done. Organizations must continuously seek way to prevent recurrence of the non compliance. Prevention and detection methods should be employed whenever possible.

6] ESD awareness: Employees must be made aware of the ESD controls set up by the process owner through both avenues, i.e. training and communication programs. Employees must be trained before they start handling the ESD sensitive devices and continuously being trained periodically. Periodic communication done with the employees would also constantly remind the employees of the importance of following the ESD controls.

7] Laced with ISO 9000 framework: Apart from ensuring your ESD Control program complies with the ANSI/ESD S20.20 guidelines, the program would be further strengthened when it is laced with the ISO 9000 framework. Many things which involve other disciplines would be taken care of. For example: materials supplied by the suppliers would need to be evaluated by the process owner before they are used in the organization.

These 7 tips would give some insights on how to further improve your current ESD Control program in your organization which is of extreme importance to protect the ESD sensitive devices from being damaged by electrostatic discharge.

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Review of ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007

admin — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:59:56 +0000

ANSI/ESD S20.20 is a standard that provides guidelines to electronic industries that manufacture, assemble, test and package or otherwise handle the electrical and electronic parts, assemblies and equipment on how to protect their ESD sensitive items from being damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Somewhere in March 2007, ESD Association has released ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007 for industries reference and use at ESD Association.

What is new in ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007?
â€¢ ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007 standard spells out the applicability of the Standard to electronic industries that handles ESD sensitive items which are susceptible to ESD damage of less than 100 Volts HBM with the use of tighter control limit and additional ESD controls.
â€¢ Organizations are required to appoint a process owner (ESD Control Program Manager or coordinator) to verify the compliance of the ESD control program to the Standard.
â€¢ The technical requirement limits with the source of Standard references are displayed in each ESD Control program plan Technical Requirements section for Grounding/Bonding system, Personnel Grounding and Protected Area. This simplifies the user comprehension of the Technical requirements mentioned.

What ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007 standard is missing?
â€¢ ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007 does not provide additional guidance as what ANSI/ESD S20.20-1999 version did. In this guidance, a wider overview on each section is provided to the user.
â€¢ The equipment portion that includes the AC powered tools, battery powered, pneumatic hand tools and automatic handlers are omitted from ESD Control program plan Technical Requirement section and are included as additional process considerations.

As a whole ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007 Standard simplifies user understanding, however the good sides of previous Standard ANSI/ESD S20.20-1999 should not be forgotten.

ANSI/ESD S20.20-1999 and ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007 will both be available to download until the end of 2008 at ESD Association.

It is recommended for any user to view both ANSI/ESD S20.20 standards for better comprehension before setting up an ESD Control program for your organization.

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Certify your facility against ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:31:26 +0000

ESD Association (ESDA) first established ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard in year 1999.Â ANSI/ESD S20.20 is a document that provides guidance to set up an ESD control program that protects ESD sensitive items with sensitivity threshold level of 100Volt or greater HBM model.Â The emergence of this ANSI/ESD S20.20 has reduced the problems faced by many companies especially contract manufacturers that have many customers with different ESD plans.Â When it comes to static control, ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard allows organisation to speak a common language in all parts of the world.Â Ron Gibson from Celectica Inc and John Kinnear from IBM are the well known ANSI/ESD S20.20 training gurus, actively training ISO 9000 registrars on this standard the following year. By end 2001, DNV, QMI and BSI were the ISO registrars available for certifying organisation on this standard.Â

Celestica Inc was the first facility in the world to be audited and certified against ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard.Â This ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard can be applied in all activities that involved in handling ESD sensitive items. So far, there are many facilities that are already certified by the authorized ISO registrars including high tech-industry like Dongguan Wafer semiconductor.Â This ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard outlines the requirements that to be followed to ensure continuous ESD protection on the ESDS items produced or handled by the organisations.Â

The ESD control program plan contains two sections: Administrative requirement section and Technical requirement section.Â The Administrative section includes the Plan, Training and Compliance Verification.Â The Technical section covers requirements for Grounding/Bonding, Personnel grounding, Packaging, Protected area, Handling, Equipment and Marking.Â Requirements and guidance provided by the ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard helpÂ organisations in setting up their ESD Control program.Â

Some tailoring and adjustment to the requirements and the limits are required when handling more sensitive ESD products.Â Implementing ANSI/ESD S20.20 program in a facility definitely contributes to the bottom line of the organisation. Products are not only protected from ESD damage, it will also increases customer confidence.Â Â

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