Semiconductor Provenance & Counterfeit-Risk Decision Support
Counterfeit risk is not solved by asking whether a supplier is simply “good” or “bad.” A defensible decision combines source pedigree, chain of custody, documentation, lot history, observable anomalies, supplier history, handling evidence, and—when required—technical inspection or laboratory test results.
Source-confidence evidence stack
| Evidence class | Examples | Decision use |
|---|---|---|
| Pedigree | Manufacturer / authorized distributor path, trace documents | Establish claimed origin and custody |
| Lot consistency | Date codes, lot identifiers, packaging records | Detect inconsistencies requiring deeper review |
| Supplier history | Prior anomalies, corrective actions, channel type | Adjust inspection and evidence burden |
| Physical evidence | Marking, packaging, dimensions, condition, receiving anomalies | Trigger quarantine, inspection, or escalation |
| Technical evidence | Electrical/functional, material, imaging or other qualified tests | Support technical disposition when applicable |
Why provenance matters beyond counterfeits
Strong provenance also supports traceability, obsolescence management, quality escape investigation, warranty/root-cause analysis, secure replenishment, and long-life sustainment. For defense and critical infrastructure, the important question is not only “is this part genuine?” but also “is the evidence sufficient for the mission consequence of being wrong?”
Risk-based disposition
A practical workflow can separate cases into actions such as accept, accept with conditions, inspect/test, quarantine, escalate, or reject. The decision record should identify the evidence used, gaps, uncertainty, and approval authority. That produces an auditable trail instead of a black-box risk score.
Connection to lower-tier supply-chain risk
Provenance is strongest when connected to the broader dependency graph. A part may have acceptable paperwork yet still come through a fragile or opaque replenishment path; conversely, a nonstandard sourcing event may be manageable if the technical and chain-of-custody evidence is strengthened. SALAR links source confidence with multi-tier dependency and qualification context.
Reference context: NDIA — Assured and Preferred Supply of Microelectronics through Provenance, Traceability, and Market Preferences.