Combating ESD: The Silent Assassin in Electronics Manufacturing

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Electrostatic discharge (or ESD) is a major contributor to device failure within electronics manufacturing facilities with industry experts estimating that the average product losses due to static discharge could range anywhere from 8–33%. ESD occurs whenever the electrons on the surface of one object pass onto the surface of another object and cause it to become positively charged.

When those additional electrons come into contact with a differently charged object that allows the passing of electricity, then the result is what is called an ESD event. And ESD events are occurring around us all the time, whether it’s the static sensation we get when removing laundry from a tumble dryer, the sharp shock of touching a metal doorknob after having walked over carpet, or the spectacle of a lightning storm in full force.

In an electronics manufacturing context, however, ESD is a less obvious but far more serious threat, and the level of charge is often so low that manufacturers won’t even realize there is a problem until it is too late. Without proper static control safeguards, these silent electrostatic impulses have the power to zap digital equipment, fry networks, and make short work of circuit boards and microprocessors.

Counting the Cost of ESD

Damage from ESD can affect electronic components in a variety of ways. Sometimes, the damage will be instantaneous and catastrophic, such as in the case of an oxide failure or a metal melt; the device will stop functioning completely. In other cases, though, the effects of ESD can be less obvious, or what’s called a latent defect. When this type of damage occurs, the harm has already been done, but the fault may not be flagged as a problem during a general inspection.

But the device is now destined to malfunction or  fail completely at some point over its lifespan. The cost of damage to devices can be anything from a few pennies for a simple diode to hundreds or even thousands of pounds in the case of a more complex electronic circuit. And when you also take into account the associated costs of repair and rework, labor, overheads, and shipping, it’s clear to see why it’s so important to have static control programs in place to mitigate the effects of ESD.

Combating ESD in Electronics Manufacturing

According to the ESD Association, there are six principles to bear in mind when developing an ESD control program.

1. Designing in protection by making your products and assemblies as robust as possible in resisting the effects of ESD.
2. Identifying the level of control that your environment needs, according to the different classes of sensitivity for the human body model (HBM) and the charged device model (CDM).
3. Defining the electrostatic protected areas (EPAs) where you’re most likely to be handling ESD-sensitive parts; typical areas include receiving, inspection, assembly, warehouses, R&D, packing, repairs, laboratories, and cleanrooms.
4. Reducing electrostatic charge generation by eliminating or reducing the processes that generate static and by providing suitable ground paths to reduce the generation and accumulation of static charge.
5. Implementing grounding, ionization, and conductive/dissipative static control materials from the provision of ESD wrist and heel straps for staff to investing in anti-static mats and flooring, tooling, and ESD-resistant packaging solutions.
6. Protecting electronic products from ESD through the use of proper grounding, shunting, and static control material handling products.

Conclusion

ESD is a constant but invisible force within electronics manufacturing that can have a powerfully detrimental impact on production yield, product and product reliability, and company profitability. And as the circuitry within electronic devices continues to get faster, smaller, and more sophisticated, their sensitivity to the effects of ESD is only likely to increase. For electronics manufacturers, the solution lies in the continual development of targeted ESD control programs to identify, define, and mitigate the most sensitive areas—and the most vulnerable processes—within their facilities.

Neil Sharp is the director of marketing for JJS Manufacturing.