A method for generating a digital object identifier (100, 110, 120) of a component (c) comprising: - obtaining digital image data of the component (c), wherein the component (c) is produced by an additive manufacturing process; - identifying individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) within the component (c) in the digital image data of the component (c); - determining respective coordinates of the identified individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n), each coordinate comprising x, y and z, wherein determining the respective coordinates comprises analyzing positions of the individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) in the digital image data; and - generating the digital object identifier of the component (c) by indicating the respective coordinates (x, y and z) of the identified individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n); wherein the individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) are caused during the additive manufacturing process of the component (c), and selected from: i) a microstructure selected from: a void, a pore, a crack, a density inhomogeneity, an inclusion, a region with a density different from the main phase of the component, and ii) a crystallographic structure selected from: a grain comprising a crystallographic symmetry form such as cubic, tetragonal, trigonal, hexagonal or orthorhombic; an intermetallic phase; and a monocrystalline region; and wherein the individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) are component-inherent microfeatures which are randomly distributed in the component (c). - obtaining digital image data of the component (c), wherein the component (c) is produced by an additive manufacturing process; - identifying individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) within the component (c) in the digital image data of the component (c); - determining respective coordinates of the identified individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n), each coordinate comprising x, y and z, wherein determining the respective coordinates comprises analyzing positions of the individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) in the digital image data; and - generating the digital object identifier of the component (c) by indicating the respective coordinates (x, y and z) of the identified individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n); wherein the individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) are caused during the additive manufacturing process of the component (c), and selected from: i) a microstructure selected from: a void, a pore, a crack, a density inhomogeneity, an inclusion, a region with a density different from the main phase of the component, and ii) a crystallographic structure selected from: a grain comprising a crystallographic symmetry form such as cubic, tetragonal, trigonal, hexagonal or orthorhombic; an intermetallic phase; and a monocrystalline region; and i) a microstructure selected from: a void, a pore, a crack, a density inhomogeneity, an inclusion, a region with a density different from the main phase of the component, and ii) a crystallographic structure selected from: a grain comprising a crystallographic symmetry form such as cubic, tetragonal, trigonal, hexagonal or orthorhombic; an intermetallic phase; and a monocrystalline region; and wherein the individual internal structural microfeatures (f 1 -f n) are component-inherent microfeatures which are randomly distributed in the component (c).