Sourcing parts has always been a long process because of the time it takes to get the parts. This forces me to put projects on hold and could stop it from being completed. When I order parts, if I can afford it, I would buy more then what I need. This allows me to have parts for a different project in the future.
Buy parts locally or making them my self would be the best solution but it could just be cheaper to get it shipped in from overseas. Sometime I would have no choice to but it from overseas because there are no distributors locally.