Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) costs companies more than $5 Billion a year.
Provide consistent training across your organization with IPC’s online course: ESD Control for Electronics Assembly. Ensure that your workforce understands basic ESD principles and provide training that complies with ANSI/ESD S20.20 as well as meeting training requirements for MIL-Spec.-1686 and IEC61340-5-1.
ESD Control for Electronics Assembly introduces the causes of ESD and the steps to take to mitigate its effects when handling, storing, or transporting ESD sensitive components in a manufacturing facility. These preventive measures and their application are based on ANSI/ESD S20.20, MIL-Spec.-1686, IEC61340-5-1 and other relevant standards. The course was created in collaboration with the EOS/ESD Association.
Course Availability
ESD Control for Electronics Assembly is an online, self-paced course with open enrollment throughout the year.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn the physical principles of ESD
- Learn what materials are most susceptible to ESD
- Learn how to assess ESD damage
- Learn strategies to control ESD
Score a 70% or above on the 50-question Course Completion Exam to earn a Certificate of Completion. IPC’s EDGE platform provides post-course quizzes to help students retain their knowledge. There are no prerequisites.
Course is self-paced and can be completed in two to four hours.
Course Units and Objectives
1. Introduction
- List the topics covered in the course
- Describe two reasons why spaced, interleaved, and varied practice helps people learn
- Explain at least three consequences of ESD damage in a manufacturing facility
- Explain at least two benefits of controlling ESD
2. What is ESD?
- Define electrostatic discharge
- Explain the causes of electrostatic discharge
- Describe the triboelectric effect
- Identify at least three positive and three negative materials in the triboelectric series
- Explain the difference between a conductive and insulative
- Identify at least three conductive and three insulative workplace items
- Define electrical grounding
3. Measuring the Effects of ESD
- Define and distinguish the Human Body Model (HBM) and Charged Device Model (CDM) used to characterize and determine the ESD sensitivity of a device
- Explain how ESD damages a component
- Define latent damage
- List at least two reasons why latent damage is worse than immediate component failure
4. How to Control ESD for Seated Operations
- Explain the use of grounding in controlling ESD in the workplace
- Identify two ESD control devices used for seated operations
- Use a wrist strap to control the effects of ESD
- Test a wrist strap to ensure it is working properly
5. How to Control ESD for Standing Operations
- Identify two ESD control devices used for standing operations
- List two benefits of using foot grounders
- Identify at least two types of foot grounders
- Use foot grounders to control the effects of ESD
- Test foot grounders to ensure they are working properly
6. Continuous Monitoring
- List two benefits of using a constant monitoring device
- Use of a constant monitoring device with a wrist strap
7. Static Control Clothing
- List at least three ESD safe and three ESD hazardous clothing materials
- List two benefits of using a static control smock
- Use a static control smock
8. Controlling Static Charges in Your Work Area
- Use ANSI/ESD S20.20 to determine the proper application of an ESD control guideline
- Explain how ESD Protect Areas (EPAs) mitigate the effects of ESD
- Distinguish between non-essential and process-essential insulators in the work area
- Explain how a non-essential insulator can damage an ESD sensitive component
- Use an air ionizer to neutralize charged objects
- Explain the purpose and function of a static control work surface
9. Handling, Packaging, and Transporting ESD-Sensitive Devices
- Safely handle ESD sensitive components
- Explain the purpose and function of low charging and static shielding packaging
- Determine when to use low charging and static shielding packaging
- Safely transport ESD-sensitive components
