Case Study: Avoiding a 26-Week Delay with Stocked DFARS Screws

Posted: December 16, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: DFARS, Domestic Fasteners, keensert, key-locking inserts, Mil-Spec Fasteners, Socket Head Cap Screw, Socket Products | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Buyer’s Case Study on Compliance + Speed

If you sell into the defense or aerospace industry, “finding a screw” is never just finding a screw. The part has to be dimensionally and chemically correct and compliant, with the documentation to prove it. 

This is where many procurement teams get stuck: the hardware exists, but the paper trail doesn’t… or the lead time blows up the schedule. 

The MF Supply Value Proposition

If you have a commercial part on a BOM that now needs DFARS / Buy American + documentation, MF Supply helps you do one of two things: 

  1. Convert the requirement into the correct Mil-Spec / spec-controlled equivalent (form/fit/function + compliance + paperwork). 
  1. Source or produce a DFARS-compliant version of a commercial catalog part with shorter lead times and with the right cert package. 

You get the part you need, on time, with the compliance paperwork you need without playing supplier roulette.

What DFARS/Buy American Actually Means for Fasteners 

For fasteners made from specialty metals (including many stainless and high-alloy steels), DFARS requires qualifying melt/manufacture origin. But the “gotcha” is simple:  If you can’t document it, it doesn’t count. 

Typical documentation packages include: 

  • Manufacturer Certificate of Conformance (COC) 
  • Country-of-origin / DFARs specialty metal compliance statements 
  • Material Test Reports (MTRs)

Visit the DPC website, section 252.225, to keep up to date with DFARs requirements, which were updated January 2023. Click here and scroll to 7009 for more information: 252.225-7000 Buy American Act – Balance of Payments Program Certificate.

The Challenge: Compliant Part, Short Lead Time, Complete Documentation

Many “available” fasteners on the market are: 

  • Not DFARS compliant
  • Not available with COC/MTR 
  • Not stocked (or stocked without the right chain-of-custody), leading to long lead times  

The Situation: “We Need It Now… and It Needs To Pass Audit.”

A manufacturer supporting a defense aerospace assembly needed a 10-32 x 3/4 socket head cap screw in 300-series stainless. The Bill of Materials (BOM) required: 

  • DFARS-compliant specialty metal
  • Manufacturer COC  
  • MTRs / test reports 
  • Documented material origin 

Their incumbent supplier quoted 26–30 weeks. That was a hard no. 

The Solution: Cross-Reference to an In-Stock Mil-Spec Option (With Paperwork)

The buyer searched for DFARS-compliant 10-32 x 3/4 socket head cap screws in stainless steel and landed on MF Supply’s product page for: NAS1351C3-12 (10-32 x 3/4) Mil-Spec socket head cap screw, stainless, DFARS 

MF Supply worked with the buyer to: 

  • Confirm the correct spec-controlled requirement  
  • Pull active inventory from a qualified supply chain 
  • Provide COC + MTR documentation 
  • Confirm DFARS specialty metal origin with documentation

The result 

  • 26+ week production delay avoided 
  • Compliance risk eliminated 
  • Audit-ready paperwork shipped with the order 

When Cross-Referencing Helps (And When It Doesn’t)

Cross-referencing can reduce lead times and risk when it’s validated upfront: 

  • Form/fit/function confirmed 
  • Spec requirements verified (AN/MS/NAS/NASM, etc.) 
  • Documentation requirements confirmed (COC, MTR, COO/DFARS statements) 

Substitution only works when the part and the paperwork both match the requirement. 

Buyer Takeaway: In-Stock + Paperwork=Shorter Lead Times, No Surprises

If your customer needs DFARS / Buy American compliance, always ask: 

  • Can you provide a COC?
  • Can you provide DFARS specialty metal documentation?  
  • Is material origin documented? 
  • Is it in stock, or are you quoting a 20–30 week lead time? 

At MF Supply, inventory is backed by documentation, so you don’t have to choose between speed and compliance. 

Need DFARS-compliant screws fast and with paperwork? 

Send your part number, drawing, or BOM requirements. We’ll confirm the right spec, validate compliance, and quote the fastest safe path. 

And yes, “finding the right screw for you” isn’t just our tagline. It’s our favorite sport. 

Related:  

Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.

MF Supply Work With Us

Your Purchasing Department’s Secret Weapon!
Here are 5 reasons to buy from MF Supply

  • We Source and Deliver What Others Can’t, Faster Than You Imagined – With speedy solutions for elusive parts and lengthy delivery times – We’ve got you covered with both custom-made specials (send us your prints!) and hard-to-source options, quickly and at a fair price.
  • Cost-Effective Functional Equivalents to OEM Brand Fasteners-Why Pay More? – Reduce lead times and costs with the same quality and same performance.  Try us for alternatives to brands like McMaster-Carr, MSC, Misumi, PEM, and RAF and experience unmatched savings! Same form, fit and function for less.  
  • Huge Selection of Certified and Commercial Hardware with Same-day Shipping Available for Countless Items – We source and stock standards, specials, commercial, Mil-Spec & OEM brands in inch and metric sizes. Standards include AN, NAS, MS, IFI, ASTM, ASME, DIN, ISO, JIS. We are sourcing experts for inserts, certified Mil-Spec parts and anything in stainless steel. Many parts are available with manufacturers’ certifications, including DFAR, ROHS and CoC. Trust us to ship on-time from our national distribution centers. 
  • A User-Friendly, 24/7 Online Shopping Experience – Enjoy a 24/7 online shopping experience with easy-to-use filters, detailed product information, and a constantly updated technical directory. Sign up now for a seamless experience! 
  • WBE/WOSB Certified Woman-Owned Small Business – As a certified Woman-Owned Small Business, we support your diversity goals. Trust us to meet your fastener and sourcing needs with expertise and efficiency [Cage Code 58QG4].  

MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government.  We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies.  For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services.  Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply. 

Domestic Socket Products at www.mfsupply.com!

Posted: January 11, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: American Sockets, Blue Devil, Brand equivalents, dowel pin, Fasteners, Inch, Metric, Metric Dowel Pins, PRECISION DOWEL PIN, Socket Head Cap Screw, Socket Products, Socket Set Screws, Socket Set Screws Cone Point, Socket Set Screws Cup Point, Socket Set Screws Flat Point, Socket Set Screws Half-Dog Point, Socket Set Screws Knurled Cup Point, Socket Set Screws Nylon Tip, Socket Set Screws Oval Point | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Greetings to our precision manufacturing community!

We are reaching out with an important announcement regarding our domestic sockets product lines. As we continuously strive to bring you the best in quality and service, we want to inform you of a significant change in our offerings.

Did You Know That Blue Devil® Is Now American Sockets?

Firstly, we want to address a key change: the Blue Devil® brand, a name many of you have come to trust and rely on for your domestic socket products needs, will no longer be produced. This marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

We are thrilled to introduce American Sockets – a new brand of domestic socket products! This transition is more than just a change in name; it’s a reaffirmation of our continued commitment to quality and excellence.

What This Means for You

  • Continuity in Quality and Manufacturing: While the brand name changes, what remains constant is the quality of the products. American Sockets are manufactured by the same esteemed US manufacturers that produced the majority of the Blue Devil products. This ensures that the products you’ve trusted for years will continue to be of the same high standards.
  • Seamless Transition: We understand the importance of consistency in your operations. Rest assured, that this transition from Blue Devil to American Sockets will be seamless, with no compromise in the product quality or variety that you have come to expect.

Domestic Socket Products at MF Supply

MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB woman owned business, and leading supplier of Domestic Socket Products including major OEM brands, such as American Sockets, and brand equivalents, in various sizes and materials. We offer options when it comes to made in the USA, DFAR compliant Socket Products. Many of our products are available with Certificate of Conformance and full certifications available upon request.

Here are links to the American Socket brand of Inch Domestic Socket Product Lines:

Here are links to the American Socket brand Metric Domestic Socket Product Lines:

In addition to American Sockets brand Socket Products, we offer a vast choice of socket products, including Mil-Spec, OEM branded, standards and custom made specials. To search for what you need, use our Search bar, then filter by size, material, specification, or other qualities you are seeking. Alternatively, you can check out these handy links to view by category:

Do you still have questions or would like to speak with a representative? Reach out to us, and our MF Supply team of sourcing experts will help you find what you’re looking for. “Finding the right screw for you” is our tag line after all!

Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.

MF Supply Work With Us

Six Reasons To Buy From MF Supply

  • Full eCommerce Enabled Website With Technical Manual Available 24/7 – Visit our website and Create a New Account, track online orders, browse our product catalog, check technical specs, subscribe to our blog, or buy online.  We are adding items and improving functionality daily!
  • Same Day Shipping From The USA – Our hardware products are in stock and ship to you directly from our USA based distribution centers. 
  • Functional Equivalents To Expensive Brand Names- We stock and source alternatives to brand name fasteners, reducing long lead times and saving you money.
  • Creatively Solve Problems – We are sourcing experts and specialize in hard to find parts. We offer custom manufacturing and reworking solutions at competitive pricing, reducing long deliveries.
  • One-Stop Shopping On Certified Hardware – We stock and source a full line of fasteners including Mil-Spec, DFARS compliant and other industrial products.
  • WBE/WOSB Woman Owned Certified Small Business – To meet your diversity & set-aside needs.

MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government.  We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies.  For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services.  Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply. 

Newsletter – January / February 2016

Posted: February 11, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: DFARS, MS16995, MS16996, NAS1351, NJMEP, SBA Emerging Leaders, Socket Head Cap Screw, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

 

Newsletter
Volume 18
February 12, 2016
January / February News
Greetings and Happy February!  We started 2016 fast out of the gate and are ramping up for a strong Q1, despite a PMI index of 48.2%, reports of contraction in the manufacturing sector and the volatility that sometimes occurs during election years.  I hope you are experiencing growth!
Today, I am continuing our discussion on thought leadership within the American Manufacturing community. Additionally, I am glad to get back to our “What the Heck Is that” roots and put the spotlight on one of our best-selling products, the Socket Head Cap Screw.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1.    SBA EMERGING LEADERS
2.    WHAT THE HECK IS A SOCKET HEAD CAP SCREW?
3.    MANUFACTURING ROUNDTABLE AND THE NJMEP
4.    MF SUPPLY JOINS DPA
5.    GOING LEAN?
Since graduating on October 27, I have been introduced to many amazing resources.  One exciting development I wanted to share with you is that MF Supply was selected as a case study class for Rutgers Business School. What does that mean, you ask?  Well, between now and April 20th, a group of smart and creative Rutgers MBA candidates are analyzing MF Supply and our marketplace. They will use BIG DATA and other tools, and present recommendations including an ROI on where we should focus our energies to grow. One of their initial thoughts was that MF Supply should be targeting companies with Set-Aside needs or Diverse buying initiatives.  If you hadn’t heard, MF Supply is a WBE and WOSB certified business, which means if your customer has Set Aside needs, we should be talking!  I am so excited for this project and am thankful to the SBA for connecting me to Rutgers and other resources.
If you are curious to know more about the SBA-EL program (in NJ or your state), or think you or someone you know might benefit from participating, please check out these two articles about the program inNJBIZ and American Entrepreneurship Today to find out more. To apply, please email Dominick.Belfiore@sba.gov and tell him I sent you!

 
Socket Head Cap Screws or socket caps, which are sometimes referred to by their trademarked name “Allen” screws, have become the standard among high strength fasteners needed to withstand the faster speeds and higher pressure of today’s machines, instruments and assemblies.  They are externally threaded, with a cylindrical head with a flat chamfered top, and a hexagonal recess for internal wrenching.
Who uses Socket Head Cap Screws?
Because of their cylindrical shaped heads and internal wrenching installation method, socket cap screws need less space than alternative fasteners.  This makes socket caps ideal for precision assembly work with close tolerances and applications that need a well tooled appearance.
Common uses include machine parts, die fixtures and assemblies.
Why use a Socket Cap vs a Hex Head Cap Screw?  
We don’t want to play favorites, but here are a few advantages of using socket caps:
Size matters– The smaller socket head enables driving where there is not sufficient space for wrenches or sockets. In addition, Socket caps are available off the shelf starting as small as 0-80 diameter and are commonly available to diameter 1-1/2-6.  Hex Head Cap screws start at 1/4-20 diameter.
Strength – Alloy Steel Socket Caps, though not measured in grades, provide greater tensile strength than equivalent size Grade 5 or Grade 8 steel Hex Head Cap screws.  i.e. 1/4-20 Socket cap=180k psi min, 1/4-20 Hex Head Grade 5 =120k psi min,  1/4-20 Hex Head Grade 8 =150k psi min.
Torque  – The 6 flat surfaces within the recess allow for high torquing without damaging the head,  and with no side clearance restrictions or additional wrench space.
Thread fit- Socket products generally have a 3A thread fit.  3A threads have restrictive tolerances often used where safety is a critical design consideration. Hex Head Cap Screws are generally class 2A.  2A threads offer a combination of performance, economy, and convenience. Nearly 90% of all commercial and industrial fasteners have a 2A fit.
Economy –  Socket Cap heads are smaller, hence, the size of the component parts can be reduced, reducing material costs.  Smaller parts cost less to drill and tap, take less energy to drive, and weigh less than alternatives.
What options are available?
The most common variables are the head style, diameter and thread, length, material and plating or finish.  Socket caps can also be captivated, vented, patched or pelleted.  Below are some of the most common options:
 
HEAD STYLES
There are 4 main available head styles, and each serves a slightly different purpose. All commercial Socket Caps conform to ASME B18.3.
 
Standard Head  – the standard in Socket Head Cap Screws (ASTM A574, F835, DIN912)
Low Head – Use in parts too thin for standard height heads and where clearance is limited (DIN7984)
Flat Head  – Countersunk heads at 82 degrees provide maximum flushness and side wall contact  (ASTM F835, F879, DIN7991)
Button Head – For use in materials too thin to countersink (ASTM F835, F879, DIN7380)
DRIVES
The most common and readily available drive style is a hexagonal socket drive, however, Socket Caps may also be available in security pin-in-hex, pin-in-torx, or six-lobe torx versions in certain sizes and materials.
Are there other factors to consider?
Of course!  “Steel” Socket Caps off the shelf are alloy steel black oxide through heat treatment and come oiled. If you need greater corrosion resistance or a different look than black, consider stainless steel or zinc plating.
If you are considering zinc plated Socket Caps, proceed with caution! Because of their tight tolerances and 3A fit, zinc plating a Socket Cap will often change the thread fit to a commercial nut fit.  If you need a 3A fit, you must specify that on your purchase order so the factory can meet your thread fit needs when creating and plating your screws.
Beyond color and plating, there are always other factors to consider, such as: domestic or import, commercial or mil-spec, with or without sprinkles :). And remember, Socket Head Cap Screws can also show up under their most popular domestic brand names (Holo-krome) and mil-spec number (MS16995, MS16996, NAS1351 and NAS1352).    If you have any questions, please reach out and ask!
Socket Head Cap Screws available at MF Supply
Here at MF Supply, we offer:
  • The full range of commercial and mil-spec parts, including parts that are DFARS and ROHS compliant.
  • Brand names (Holo-krome), generic equivalents, domestic and import.
  • Custom made parts per print in non-standard and exotic materials and finishes.
  • Inch and Metric sizes.
  • Stainless steel in 18-8, 316, A286, A2 and A4 (ASTM F837, F879).
For more detailed information on Socket Head Cap Screws, visit us at http://www.mfsupply.com/category_s/1869.htm
MANUFACTURERS ROUNDTABLE – NJMEP
Did you ever get an invitation that piqued your interest, and show up at an event wondering if it would be worth your time?  On January 27, I said yes to an NJMEP invitation to a Manufacturers Roundtable, hosted by Bergen Community College. I am so glad I went!
Assemblyman Gary Schaer, along with 30 manufacturers, educators and other advocates discussed ways we can support manufacturing in NJ.  Many connections were made, and last week, a group of 10 of the students from Bergen’s current CNC training class visited MF Supply to learn more about the Supply chain. They were a bright, motivated and very impressive group of students.  If you are hiring, great!  I’d love to connect you to the team at Bergen Community College.
And get yourself on the NJMEP (or if you are outside of NJ, contact your state’s MEP) email list to find out about relevant events and programs that just might be a difference maker for your business.
On November 1, 2015  we were officially welcomed into the DPA Industrial family.  What does this mean for our customers?  We can now help you with more product categories and pass along fabulous savings on many more items including:
  • Industrial
  • Safety Equipment & Clothing
  • Packaging
  • Janitorial/Sanitorial
Please contact me to set up a meeting to see if we can help save you time and money by becoming a single source for more of your industrial needs.
GOING LEAN
Since our core values include striving for achievement, self improvement and growth, we are exploring Lean certification. Is being Lean one of your initiatives? Check out this inspirational video about how Lean processes lead to immediate improvements in a NYC foodbank.   Enjoy the video by clicking here!
Regards,
Robin Lieberman
President
P.S. We are closed on February 15 in observance of President’s Day. Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy long weekend and Valentine’s Day from the entire team here at MF Supply.