SCCM can use MIF files to determine the success or failure of an installation. After a program has finished executing, SCCM will look in the %windir% and %temp% directories for new MIF files (created after the time of the program execution start) and then match them on any or all of the following criteria:
Name of the MIF [...]
SCCM can collect MIF files to extend hardware inventory collected for a computer. Generally, MIF files are generated by some other process and are then collected during the hardware inventory cycle. MIFs are generally used when the data to be collected must be processed into a readable form prior to collection or requires API calls [...]