The need for an Air Force electrostatic discharge control program: a strategic planning approach

The need for an effective US Air Force electrostatic discharge (ESD) control program is pointed out. As technology decreases the size of electronic components, it simultaneously increases the susceptibility of those components to ESD. These discharges of electrical energy between two bodies occur continuously in any work environment and can cause problems when working on electronic equipment. Studies on ESD phenomena, both within and outside the US Air Force, are examined. The author concludes that these studies show that the US Air Force does have an ESD problem and that the return on investment for implementing a control program can be very high. A proposal for a strategic planning approach for dealing with the US Air Force ESD problem is included