March 2015

"A rose by any other name would stink." – Kenneth Adamson

We have all seen advertising copy for test equipment manufacturers’ “EMC receivers” and “EMC test services” provided by commercial EMI test facilities. While we know what the aforementioned receiver does, and what sort of services the test facility supplies, the nomenclature is wrong and is symptomatic of a deeper problem.

To many people, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is only experienced as a shock when touching a metal doorknob after walking across a carpeted floor or after sliding across a car seat. However, static electricity and ESD has been a serious industrial problem for centuries. As early as the 1400s, European and Caribbean military forts were using static control procedures and devices trying to prevent inadvertent electrostatic discharge ignition of gunpowder stores.

“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you.
If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you”. – Author Unknown

In today’s fast-paced product development cycles, the pressure to compress testing and certification schedules is constantly increasing, with global competitors all rushing to get their new technology to market first. Mistakes made in compliance testing and certification processes can have huge financial impacts if product releases are delayed, or lead to later stop-ships or recalls. Utilizing project management techniques can provide great benefits by improving the efficiency and quality of compliance projects.