The type of forensic techniques that detectives have long deployed to solve crimes can now be used to identify the origin of manufactured goods in the supply chain.

Automotive supply chains depend on tight coordination between a manufacturer and its many suppliers. But some of the basic technology to optimize those connections has been lacking until now.

Consumers are more conscientious about their purchases than ever before. They expect organizations to meet a certain set of ethical standards, and supply chains aren’t exempt from scrutiny.