Evaluating your facility for ESD risks
Step 1. Review your facility against your ESD Programme
If you haven't reviewed your facility recently, then that's proabably a good place to start. Review it against the up-to-date standard 61340-5-1, or your in-house ESD Programme. Check specifically for;
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Realistic, well specified and documented ESD Programme
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Regular and effective ESD Training programme
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Regular programme of checks on the ESD status of the facility and procedures
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Correct packaging of sensitive devices outside ESD Protected Areas (EPAs)
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Clear definition of EPAs and their boundaries
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Insulating materials which should not be present in the EPA
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Non-compliant equipment in EPAs
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Failed or out-of-spec equipment or facilities
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New facilities in which ESD may not have been adequately considered
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Use of new sensitive components, which may not be adequately protected by exisiting measures
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Step 2. Review your ESD Programme
Review of your facility may have brought to light inadequacies in your ESD Programme. If this is an in-house document, is this according to the latest standard, appropriate to your facilities and processes, and the sensitivity of the devices you handle?
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Step 3. Take remedial action
Make a realistic plan for implementing remedial actions. Prioritise for high risk and high importance actions - make sure these happen first!
As a top priority, make sure that;
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