Antistatic Standards and ESD Systems
Like other technologies, since the concept of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection was introduced in the electronics industry, its research and application initially developed in various enterprises and specialized industries such as the military, leading to the formation of numerous schools of thought. Furthermore, the focus and solutions to ESD problems were largely fragmented. The standards that subsequently developed and formed in various countries and technical industry organizations absorbed technologies from different categories, lacking integration and unification. Therefore, their content is both complementary and conflicting. Sometimes, even the solutions and technical requirements for the same problem can differ significantly. Currently, standards from ESDA, IEC, EN, ANSI, ASTM, BSI, IEEE, JESD/EIA, IPC, and JISC all have their own users. In my country, there are no fewer than 200 ESD-related standards in national standards, military standards, aerospace standards, and electronic industry standards. While these standards share the basic principles of ESD phenomena and protection, they differ significantly in their standard system architecture and technical specifications. Outside of these standards organizations, there are numerous enterprise standards and specifications, whose differences and conflicts are even more pronounced.
With the increasing specialization of international industrial division of labor, the collaboration between different regions and manufacturers in product manufacturing has become a characteristic of the electronics industry. However, these differences and conflicts in standards have brought numerous inconveniences to ESD (Environmental Safety Technology) work in this international division of labor. Currently, many domestic EMS (Environmental Management System) manufacturers frequently encounter the problem that customers, during ESD audits, always report ESD issues. Moreover, different customers present different problems, and even have different approaches and requirements for solving the same problem, leaving manufacturers often at a loss. Furthermore, many ESD protection product manufacturers also have to cope with different standards, adding complex adjustments and selection functions to their products. Therefore, the ESD field urgently needs a comprehensive and authoritative standard to change this situation, and a certification system based on this authoritative standard is the best solution to these contradictions. In this regard, quality management systems, environmental protection, and safety standards, as well as the corresponding ISO 9001, ISO 14000, and OHSAS 18001 certification systems and promotion methods, should be learned from by the ESD field. It is precisely for these reasons that the ESD system has emerged.