Leo,
    The most value smocks have is marketing.  With respect to image - smocks 
are cool.  With respect to ESD, their value is a good topic for discussion. 
  I would never want to base an ESD system on them.
     For actual ESD protection you need real static conducting paths that 
shunts the static voltage away from your components.  As an enhancement to 
your ESD foundation, you can add items or procedures that reduce the 
generation of static.
     Other than image, I see no reason why smocks could be a manditory 
component of the shunt path.

 ----------
From: TechNet-request
To: TechNet
Subject: ASSY: Smocks, are they necessary?
Date: Friday, March 22, 1996 12:33PM

All,

We have a concern that I think is common to every electronic assembly
operation.  Basically, the question is, "Is it necessary to have
veryone/anyone in the assembly area wearing smocks to protect static
sensitive devices?".

As a contract manufacturer, we have only one (potential) customer
requiring that we have all associaties wear smocks on the production
floor.  Also, as a contract manufacturer, it is obviously a marketing
advantage to have the more professional look that smocks provide, but
we want to be sure we're dealing with good science as well as good
marketing.

The new interactive video from IPC on ESD covers the use of smocks as
something that may be used but is not required.  Also, some of our
people have been in some very hi-test, Malcom Baldridge award winning
electronic assembly plants lately where they do not use smocks.

Thank you in advance for your comments.

Leo Reynolds