From Compliance to Control

The Right Way to Manage ESD Risk

In many manufacturing environments, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) control is treated as a compliance exercise. If the audit is passed, the assumption is that the risk is under control.

In reality, compliance does not equal protection.

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At Zaksberg, we work with customers who have already "passed" ESD audits — yet still experience unexplained failures, yield loss, or latent defects. The root cause is almost always the same:

ESD was managed for compliance, not for control.

Compliance Is the Starting Point — Not the Goal

Standards alone do not guarantee real-world protection

Standards such as IEC 61340 and EN 1149 are essential. They define minimum requirements and provide a framework for ESD programs. But standards alone do not guarantee real-world protection.

Compliance-focused ESD programs typically:

Rely on one-time test reports
Focus on documentation over performance
Treat garments, flooring, and grounding as isolated items
Assume ESD performance does not degrade over time

This approach may satisfy auditors — but ESD damage rarely announces itself during an audit.

What "Control" Really Means in ESD Management

An engineering discipline, not a paperwork exercise

True ESD control is an engineering discipline, not a paperwork exercise.

It means:

Understanding how charge is generated, transferred, and dissipated
Designing grounding paths that work consistently

Verifying electrical performance under actual production conditions
Monitoring degradation caused by wear, washing, and environment

Control focuses on what actually happens on the production floor, not what looks acceptable on paper.

Why ESD Garments Are Central to Control

One of the most misunderstood elements of ESD programs

Control Perspective Requirements

Maintain stable dissipative performance
Provide continuous conductive paths across panels and seams
Perform reliably after repeated industrial laundering
Integrate correctly with personnel grounding systems

Common Compliance Mistakes

Accepting fabric-level test reports instead of garment-level testing
Using "antistatic" clothing where dissipative performance is required
Ignoring seam continuity and sleeve-to-sleeve resistance
Assuming garments remain effective after repeated washing

Without this, garments become a false sense of security.

From Products to Systems: The Zaksberg Approach

ESD as a complete system, not a product category

At Zaksberg, we approach ESD as a complete system, not a product category.

This means we look at how:

1 ESD garments interact with the human body

2 Grounding paths are created and maintained

3 Flooring and footwear influence charge dissipation

4 Environmental factors like humidity affect performance

                        Our role is not only to supply ESD-safe workwear, but to advise customers on how to specify, test, use, and maintain it correctly.
                    

Measurement Is the Foundation of Control

"If it cannot be measured and verified, it cannot be trusted."

That is why effective ESD control requires:

Garment-level electrical testing
Post-wash performance verification
Defined acceptance limits
Periodic in-use checks on the factory floor
Control is achieved through continuous validation, not one-time certification.

The Cost of Staying at "Compliance Level"

The financial impact can be severe

Organizations that stop at compliance often face:

Latent device failures

Customer returns and warranty claims

Unexplained yield loss

Costly root-cause investigations

The financial impact of one ESD-related failure can exceed the cost of a properly designed ESD control program many times over.

Moving Forward: From Compliance to Control

A shift in mindset is required

Managing ESD risk the right way requires a shift in mindset:

From documents to data

From products to systems

From assumptions to verification

                    Because ESD control is not about passing audits.

                    It is about protecting devices, processes, and reputations.

Ready to Move from Compliance to Control?

At Zaksberg, we combine technically engineered ESD garments with expert technical advice to help you build a complete ESD control strategy.