Desco Asia - Questions And Answers

Is there any conflict between Mil-STD-1686 and ANSI/ESD S20.20? If a customer requires of a sub-contractor an ESD control plan be per Mil-STD-1686, does the sub-contractor need to make changes to their ESD Control Plan if it already meets the ANSI/ESD S20.20 requirements?

There is no conflict between the two documents. ANSI/ESD S20.20 is clearer and more up to date. Mil-STD-1686 includes some information that the ESD Association has elsewhere, such as Classifications and withstand voltage limits for model. “ANSI/ESD S20.20 is the culmination of the ESD Association's response to the request of the US Department of Defense to write a commercial version of MIL-STD-1686, Electrostatic Discharge Control Program for Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts, Assemblies and Equipment (Excluding Electrically Initiated Explosive Devices).” [ESD Handbook ESD TR20.20-2008 section 1.1 Overview] See http://www.esda.org/documents/FundamentalsPart6.pdf “Military Standards, Traditionally, the U.S. military spearheaded the development of specific standards and specifications with regard to ESD control in the U.S. Today, however, U.S. military agencies are taking a less proactive approach, relying on commercially developed standards rather than developing standards themselves. For example, the ESD Association completed the assignment from the Department of Defense to convert MIL-STD-1686 into a commercial standard called ANSI/ESD S20.20.” “U.S. Military/Department of Defense MIL-STD-1686C: Electrostatic Discharge Control Program for Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts, Assemblies and Equipment (Excluding Electrically Initiated Explosive Devices) This military standard establishes requirements for ESD Control Programs. It applies to U.S. military agencies, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and vendors. It requires the establishment, implementation and documentation of ESD control programs for static sensitive devices, but does NOT mandate or preclude the use of any specific ESD control materials, products, or procedures. It is being updated and converted to a commercial standard by the ESD Association. Although DOD has accepted the new ANSI/ESD S20.20 document as a successor, it has not yet taken action to cancel STD-1686.” I would think that adding that suppliers must meet ANSI/ESD S20.20 and Mil-STD1686 as a Quality Control clause on all purchase orders would be the typical way to covey that requirement. Most companies would audit the suppliers or have a self-assessment form required to be provided by all suppliers.

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