I have a question regarding Product Qualification. Section 7.3 of S20.20-2021 states, “Product qualification shall occur during the initial selection of the ESD control item and before initial use.”
Suppose we review a manufacturer datasheet while selecting an ESD control item and the specs meet qualification requirements. What exactly do we need to do additionally before initial use? Is it merely verifying that the manufacturer hasn’t changed the specs in between the two stages?
Hafridi,
Immediately after the quote you list, section 7.3 says "It may use any of the following qualification methods:
(1) product specification review,
(2) independent laboratory evaluation, or
(3) internal laboratory evaluation.
So yes, if you are okay that the supplier’s product specification sheet is acceptable and it meets the ANSI/ESD S20.20 requirements in tables 2, 3, or 4, you can use that as the qualification record.
I would recommend that you do some type of verification yourself whether that be internal or through an independent lab, but that is not required per the standard
Hello,
Greetings of the day to all from India.
I would just like to elaborate a bit more what Mr. Andy has mentioned already.
Yes.Section 7.3 of S20.20-2021 states, “Product qualification shall occur during the initial selection of the ESD control item and before initial use.” and says that "It may use any of the following qualification methods:
(1) product specification review,
(2) independent laboratory evaluation, or
(3) internal laboratory evaluation.
and also, further it states that, Independent of the organization’s qualification method, Qualification records shall include the details of test method used-test results-and the test limits for reference - environmental testing conditions per the defined test methods, location and date of the test.
Normally, the suppliers just provide a data sheet with specifications per the standard but do not supply a detailed test report as required above. If they furnish a detailed test report also ( with all details mentioned above) with the supplies then that is acceptable otherwise just a data sheet is unacceptable . In such cases either you need to get it done by an Independent source or need to do it yourselves at your facilities and record all the details.
I would suggest you to refer to DESCO Industries Inc or their group website wherein you can find sample PQ test reports for almost all items which you can follow. Most of the suppliers do not offer the PQ test as they are only traders and do not have either the testing facility or Qualified & trained professionals.
Good day
Thank you All.
GN is correct. Sorry, I forgot to mention the requirement that the supplier data sheet needs to include “the test method used, the test results obtained from that method, and the test limits. Also, the qualification data shall include the environmental conditioning used during the testing as defined within the test method.” per ANSI/ESD S20.20.
Thanks for correcting me GN
Andy Sir,
Greetings of the day from India .
Sir, no need to say sorry. After all as age passes ( I am also at 70 now) everyone will face the memory problem and it happens . Per the famous proverb " to Ere is human and to forgive is divine" . After all we all are human beings . Your good selves / Mr. JK / Mr. Matt your all are senior ESDA experts and we all in the group have been learning quite a lot through you all experts and indeed it is a great opportunity to all of us interacting on this forum with you experts.
Once again with thanks and regards
G N Vijayakumar
Assuming it’s a reputable manufacturer and we are satisfied with the product specification review, do we need to have a formal process of doing the review both during selection and before use? So essentially doing the same thing twice.
Hafridi,
I believe you are referring to the quote “Product qualification shall occur during the initial selection of the ESD control item and before initial use.” I don’t believe the intent of this statement is that you do two separate qualifications. It was meant that the product qualification should be completed both at initial selection as well as before you initially use it.