Beyond the Shipping Room Doors.

You breathe a sigh of relief. The product's finally on its way to the customer. Your ESD concerns are over. Or, are they?

Before coming to a conclusion about the success of your electrostatic discharge (ESD) control efforts, you might want to spend a few minutes mulling over what happens to the product at the other end of the process. If your customer is assembling your static-sensitive device or assembly into a finished cell phone, does his or her process incorporate appropriate ESD control procedures to protect your product? Does the distributor use wrist straps and ESD packaging materials when handling, repackaging and shipping your product? What about an end user, someone like me, who opens his computer to add more memory?

Why Worry?

In these scenarios, ESD is out of your control, right? No longer your problem, right? When the phone starts ringing with complaints and receiving starts seeing customer returns, you start to realize that static control doesn't necessarily end at your shipping room door. The questions become: "What can you do about it, if anything, and why should you do it?"

Let's tackle why first. The obvious reasons are (1) to reduce potential complaints and returns--the customer or end user may cause the ESD damage, but it's your product and you'll get the complaint; (2) to enhance your image with your customers--you take the steps necessary to ensure that your product is properly used and demonstrate a willingness to work with your customers; and (3) to gain competitive advantage--you offer something that your competitors do not.

ESD Outside the Manufacturing Facility

What are some steps you can take to help protect your products from ESD once they leave your facility? First, implement proper identification, labeling and packaging. Identify the parts, assemblies or products as being static sensitive. If possible, place the notification right on the part, as well as on all packaging materials. Use the commonly accepted ESD sensitivity symbols and procedures (contact the ESD Association for the current symbols standard). If the sensitive parts are assembled into a finished product such as a computer, you might want to consider a notification on the case to alert people before they remove the case to work on it.

Second, develop and communicate appropriate ESD handling procedures at the customer or end user level. These procedures could be a separate product insert sheet contained in the user manual or included as part of the purchasing/sales documents. Be sure the information is communicated before the customer or end user actually handles the static-sensitive device, assembly or product.

For example, I recently purchased additional memory for my computer. The exterior packaging (box and shielding bag) was labeled as containing a static sensitive device. However, the insert sheet that outlined the proper handling procedure and suggested I wear a wrist strap before handling the module was packaged inside the shielding bag. The procedures were delivered too late in the process. Fortunately, I had already put my wrist strap on before opening the bag.

Third, partner with your customers. Help them develop and implement the appropriate handling procedures to protect their purchases from ESD. Serve as a technical resource for them in matters of ESD. You can't define the specific procedures for your customers, but you can provide them with the appropriate input.

Conclusion

You may have other ideas that may be better suited to your company. The specific program and procedures that you develop and implement should be tailored to your customers and to your products and objectives. If you think about ESD control beyond the four walls of your facility, you, your customers and end users can benefit.

Michael T. Brandt is is publicity consultant to the ESD Association and president of Marketing Resources Ltd., Rockford, IL; e-mail: [e-mail]. This column is a regular contribution of the ESD Association, Rome, NY