The exchanges between the different entities that constitute a supply chain can provide numerous openings for substandard or counterfeit goods to enter the legitimate stream of commerce. These substandard components can compromise the quality of the manufacturer's goods, diminish the manufacturer's brand equity, impose huge expenditures for investigations, testing and product recall, and create the potential for debilitating lawsuits, especially if consumers have suffered bodily harm. Even end-users, such as bulk purchasers of spare parts, components and finished goods, will not be spared these perils.