SNARF for: New Standard: Specification for Counterfeit Prevention for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain
Task Force (TF) in which work is to be carried out: Single Device Traceability Task Force
There is no room for uncertainty in the genealogy of electronic parts that are part of just about everything we use. There are security, health and safety and brand value issues at stake. It should always be possible for stakeholders to query the genealogy of a part to verify its authenticity. This requirement is often addressed in specific supply chains by custom solutions driven by the final part manufacturer. It would be less expensive and more robust to have an industry wide solution which would also address the counterfeit risk downstream from the part manufacturer through a distributor and reseller network.
Sector or Company Information: Any member of the supply chain including foundries, assembly and test, and printed circuit board assembly.
The standard will define the immutable and secure recording and authentication of “assets” as they flow between members of an electronics manufacturing supply chain. An asset is any item of value shipped between one business entity in the supply chain and another. The term “assets” includes, but is not limited to, wafers, raw die, strips, trays, MCM and single die packages and PCBs.
It is expected, but not required, that the standard will be based on the Blockchain and HyperLedger open source technologies to record the chain of custody between business entities in the supply chain.
The standard will not define how the assets are processed within a business entity in the supply chain, or what materials and other assets they contain. This standard will, however, be aligned with other standards that do address these topics.