By Mary Shacklett May 21, 2014, 10:05 PM PST

Digital-biotech signatures on electrical parts for identification and authentication purposes are a way big data is being used to reduce counterfeiting risks. 

News surfaced in late 2012 that the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) wanted to reduce the risk of counterfeit parts in its supply chain and issued an authentication-marking requirement for electronic microcircuits. "Implementation of this new requirement will reduce the risk of counterfeit parts entering the DLA's supply chain," said Chris Metz, chief of the Technical and Quality Policy division for DLA Logistics Operations.

The goal was to brand electrical components with a unique, botanical SigNature DNA mark that combines both structured and unstructured data and that would identify parts to a specific supplier or manufacturer. This month, the DLA came out with more specific procurement guidelines for parts identification and authentication.  Read More - CLICK HERE