How the 2025 Aerospace Fastener Shortage Affects Your Supply Chain
A major fire at SPS Technologies aerospace fastener manufacturing facility this past February raised concern across the aerospace industry’s already stressed supply chain. Major aerospace firms, including Boeing, GE Aerospace, and Safran had to assess their supply chains and the impact of lost production capacity at SPS Technologies. Companies looked for alternative sources and backup suppliers to minimize production disruptions. Aerospace fasteners also typically have a long lead time of 6 to 12 months in addition to the limited number of manufacturers that provide aerospace fasteners.
While updated news reports show planemakers reporting sufficient inventory for now, industry analysts believe future supply challenges lie in store if alternative sources are not secured. Shortages like this create a trickle down effect to subcontractors, parts suppliers and even maintenance, repair and operations facilities.
Why This Matters Beyond Aerospace
Although this particular fire affected the aerospace industry hardest, the lesson extends far beyond Boeing. Any industry that relies on fasteners is at risk when a single event shakes up the supply chain.
For instance, in the construction industry when the right bolts or anchors aren’t available, entire crews can be put on hold, delaying multimillion-dollar projects. OEMs face the same risk - a missing fastener SKU can stall an assembly line, resulting in costly downtime and missed delivery deadlines.
Tariffs: Icing on the cake
Add fluctuating tariffs to the mix of unpredictability and you have a perfect storm of worry over supply chain shortages with every industry. With tariffs ranging from 15% to 50%, it’s frustrating for customers to wait months for the product to be manufactured and then be told one of these tariffs will be added on.
Specifically, U.S. tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, including screws, bolts and nails, bumped up fastener prices. The aerospace industry fire on its own (a main fastener source for Boeing and Airbus) knocked out about 15% of U.S. aerospace fastener supply.
How we’re helping
The aerospace fastener shortage is a stark reminder of how fragile supply chains can be.
It’s why we’ve taken a proactive approach at Melfast to act as a buffer amidst the chaos. We’ve stayed ahead of shortages with advanced ordering to lock in prices and ensure availability. We don’t just sell fasteners, we manage our inventory strategically. We look ahead and forecast customer demand and pre-order our stock. In short, we act like an extension of the manufacturer’s supply chain department. This creates a ‘buffer zone of sorts, which enables us to keep production running smoothly even when the wider industry faces shortages.
In addition, we’ve stocked up on high-demand SKUs to avoid delays. Long-term contracts lock in price and supply, which helps keep prices competitive.
We've invested in keeping our inventory stocked - so you can order with confidence, even when others are scrambling.
