In most cases the paperwork has been taking place all along. Also, because the orders for inch are so substantial, overseas manufacturers are willing to undergo the expense of lab accreditation and providing documentation because they want to keep the business. Although some overseas suppliers have large metric orders going to the U.S., typically the orders are small and therefore are an inconsequential part of their business. Because of this, he and others agree, it is unlikely that overseas sources will subject their products to certified testing and documentation through accredited labs. As a result, U.S. metric distributors, as well as end users, face a real threat of product shortages.
Distributors have several alternatives, none entirely satisfactory.
Some companies, notes Stillman, are positioning themselves to do offshore testing in accredited labs, and are also looking for more domestic sources for metrics. However, he says, although U.S.-based sources are expected to increase, this is not an immediate solution. According to Krueger, one stumbling block to a widespread domestic transition to manufacturing metric fasteners is the size of the orders. U.S. labs are accredited but lack the proper gauges. Overseas labs have the proper gauges, but are not accredited.