Short description:

An essential guide providing engineers involved with electronics production with the understanding and practical skills needed to develop and maintain an effective ESD control program for manufacturing, storage, and handling of ESD sensitive components

Every company that handles ESD susceptible components such as semiconductor devices needs an understanding of ESD control in order to avoid ESD damage in their processes. Despite this, there are very few books available on the subject and much of the currently available literature is not aligned with current practices and the ESD program standards IEC 61340?5?1 and ESD S20:20.

Because within the industry, people often move into a position of responsibility for ESD control from different backgrounds with a minimal knowledge of the subject, The ESD Control Program Handbook explains the principles and practice of ESD control in an easily accessible way whilst also providing more depth and a wealth of references for those who want to gain a deeper knowledge of the subject. It covers the scientific basis of ESD, an overview of ESD susceptible components, principles of ESD control, development of an ESD control program, ESD training and how to do the most commonly used ESD related measurements.

Key features:

• Gives the reader a sound understanding of the subject to analyse the ESD control requirements of their manufacturing processes, and develop an effective ESD control program.


• As well as dispensing the practical knowledge, it also contains enough theory and background for readers to understand the principles of ESD control.


• One of only a few books on ESD oriented toward control in electronic system manufacture, rather than from the point of view of integrated circuit and semiconductor device design.


• Emphasises working with modern ESD control program standards IEC 61340?5?1 and ESD S20:20, to which the author has contributed.


• References are given to encourage further reading and study to advance readers knowledge and understanding.

This is an invaluable reference for anyone who has responsibility for setting up, evaluating or maintaining an effective ESD control program, training personnel or making ESD control related measurements. It is a handbook for ESD control in the electronics industry, and a practical guide to the principles and practice of successful ESD control. 

Long description:

Provides the understanding and practical skills needed to develop and maintain an effective ESD control program for manufacturing, storage, and handling of ESD sensitive components

This essential guide to ESD control programs explains the principles and practice of ESD control in an easily accessible way whilst also providing more depth and a wealth of references for those who want to gain a deeper knowledge of the subject. It describes static electricity and ESD principles such as triboelectrification, electrostatic fields, and induced voltages, with the minimum of theory or mathematics. It is designed for the reader to "dip into" as required, rather than need to read cover to cover.

The ESD Control Program Handbook begins with definitions and commonly used terminology, followed by the principles of static electricity and ESD control. Chapter 3 discusses ESD susceptible electronic devices, and how ESD susceptibility of a component is measured. This is followed by the "Seven habits of a highly effective ESD program", explaining the essential activities of an effective ESD control program. While most texts mainly address manual handling of ESD susceptible devices, Chapter 5 extends the discussion to ESD control in automated systems, processes and handling, which form a major part of modern electronic manufacture.

Chapter 6 deals with requirements for compliance given by the IEC 61340-5-1 and ANSI/ESD S20.20 ESD control standards.

Chapter 7 gives an overview of the selection, use, care and maintenance of equipment and furniture commonly used to control ESD risks. The chapter explains how these often work together as part of a system and must be specified with that in mind.

ESD protective packaging is available in an extraordinary range of forms from bags, boxes and bubble wrap to tape and reel packaging for automated processes. The principles and practice of this widely misunderstood area of ESD control are introduced in Chapter 8. The thorny question of how to evaluate an ESD control program is addressed in Chapter 9 with a goal of compliance with a standard as well as effective control of ESD risks and possible customer perceptions.

Whilst evaluating an existing ESD control program provides challenges, developing an ESD control program from scratch provides others. Chapter 10 gives an approach to this.

Standard test methods used in compliance with ESD control standards are explained and simple test procedures given in Chapter 11.

ESD Training has long been recognised as essential in maintaining effective ESD control. Chapter 12 discusses ways of covering essential topics and how to demonstrate static electricity in action. The book ends with a look at where ESD control may go in the near future.


The ESD Control Program Handbook:

* Gives readers a sound understanding of the subject to analyze the ESD control requirements of manufacturing processes, and develop an effective ESD control program
* Provides practical knowledge, as well as sufficient theory and background to understand the principles of ESD control
* Teaches how to track and identify how ESD risks arise, and how to identify fitting means for minimizing or eliminating them
* Emphasizes working with modern ESD control program standards IEC 61340-5-1 and ESD S20:20

The ESD Control Program Handbook is an invaluable reference for anyone tasked with setting up, evaluating, or maintaining an effective ESD control program, training personnel, or making ESD control related measurements. It would form an excellent basis for a University course on the subject as well as a guide and resource for industry professionals.