Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (collectively, “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We have no interests in any unconsolidated entity. Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements are based on known information available as of the balance sheet date. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Concentration of Credit Risk. We limit our credit risk on accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations and, when necessary, require letters of credit, guarantees or cash collateral. During 2019, we had one customer which accounted for approximately 27% of our total net sales and 9% of our total accounts receivable balance, and a second customer which accounted for approximately 11% of our total net sales and 17% of our total accounts receivable. During 2018, we had one customer which accounted for approximately 18% of our total net sales and 6% of our total accounts receivable balance. During 2017, we had one customer that accounted for approximately 17% of our total net sales and 3% of our total accounts receivable balance. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Accounts receivable are presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts on our consolidated balance sheets. We market our products to a diverse customer base, primarily throughout the United States. International sales approximated 7% of 2019 total net sales, 8% of 2018 total net sales, and 9% of 2017 total net sales. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers that are deemed potentially not collectible. Receivables are charged-off to the allowance when they are deemed to be uncollectible. There was no bad debt expense recorded for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. Bad debt expense, net of recoveries, was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost principally determined by the weighted average cost method. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead within the guidelines of normal plant capacity. We reserve for slow-moving inventory and inventory that is being evaluated under our quality control process. The reserves are based upon management’s expected method of disposition. The net change in inventory reserves for the year ended December 31, 2019 was an increase of $0.2 million. The net change for the year ended December 31, 2018 was an increase of $0.4 million, and the net change for the year ended December 31, 2017 was an increase of $0.7 million. Included in inventory are operating materials consisting of forge dies and production molds and rolls that are consumed over their useful lives. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, we amortized these operating materials in the amount of $2.3 million, $2.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively. This expense is recorded as a component of cost of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations and included as a part of our total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows. Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost or its fair value at acquisition date. No depreciation is recognized on assets until they are placed in service. Assets which have been retired or disposed of are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss generally reflected in cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations. Major equipment maintenance costs are capitalized as incurred and included in other current assets. These costs are amortized to cost of products sold within a 12 to 36 month period. Other maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Costs of improvements and renewals are capitalized. Our maintenance expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $19.7 million, $18.3 million and $18.8 million, respectively, which is included as a component of cost of products sold. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of buildings and land improvements are between 10 and 39 years, and the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment are between five and 20 years. Our total depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $16.7 million, $16.4 million and $16.5 million, respectively, of which $16.1 million, $15.9 million and $16.2 million, respectively, was included as a component of cost of products sold while the remainder was included in selling, general and administrative expense. Long-Lived Asset Impairment. Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. Adjustments are made if the sum of expected future cash flows is less than the book value. Based on management’s assessment of the carrying values of long-lived assets, no impairment reserve was necessary as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. Deferred Financing Costs. Deferred financing costs are amortized up to the maturity date of the related financial instrument using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. Deferred financing cost amortization for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and is included as a component of interest expense and other financing costs on the consolidated statements of operations and included as part of total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows. During 2018, the Company recorded $0.7 million of additional deferred financing costs related to the New Markets Tax Credits financing effective March 9, 2018, and $0.4 million of additional deferred financing costs related to the First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) effective August 3, 2018. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $1.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of unamortized deferred financing costs included on our consolidated balance sheets as a reduction of debt. Revenue Recognition. The Company’s revenues are primarily composed of sales of products. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligations under a contract by transferring control of the promised product to its customer (“point-in-time”). Sales of certain specified product grades and shapes, and sales from conversion services, are recognized over-time. These sales qualify for over-time revenue recognition as the Company does not produce an asset with alternative use when completing its performance obligations with regard to these items, and maintains an enforceable right to payment in the event of contract termination. Over-time recognition is a change from prior accounting, which was point-in-time for the specified products and service completion for conversion services. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims, which are not material, are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached. Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for net operating losses, unused tax credits earned and the tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. We use the liability method to account for income taxes, which requires deferred taxes to be recorded at the statutory rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid. Valuation allowances are provided for a deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realized. Income tax penalties and interest are included in the provision for income tax expense. We evaluate the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in our tax returns. A tax position should only be recognized in the financial statements if we determine that it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities, based upon the technical merits of the position. For those tax positions that should be recognized, the measurement of a tax position is determined as being the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We believe there are no material uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. We recognize excess tax benefits as a result of the exercise of employee stock options within the consolidated statements of operations. Share-based Compensation Plans. We recognize compensation expense based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The fair value of the stock option grants is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award. The fair value of time-based restricted stock grants and restricted stock units is calculated using the market value of the stock on the date of issuance, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award. Net Income per Common Share. Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive impacts of shares issuable under our outstanding notes issued in connection with the acquisition of the North Jackson facility (collectively, the “Notes”) were excluded from the calculations in 2017 as their inclusion would have been antidilutive. The conversion option expired in 2017 and is not applicable in 2018 or 2019. Treasury Stock. We account for treasury stock under the cost method and include such shares as a reduction of total stockholders’ equity. Financial Instruments. Financial instruments held by us include cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and current and long-term debt. The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable is considered to be representative of fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Refer to Note 8 for fair value disclosures of our financial instruments. Segment Reporting. Our operating facilities are integrated, and therefore our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) views the Company as one business unit. Our CODM sets performance goals, assesses performance and makes decisions about resource allocations on a consolidated basis. As a result of these factors, as well as the nature of the financial information available which is reviewed by our CODM, we maintain one reportable segment. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842),” which amends existing accounting standards for leases. The ASU requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet as a lease liability with a corresponding right-of-use asset. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. The criteria for evaluating are similar to those applied in current lease accounting. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2019. The adoption resulted in the recognition of current and noncurrent lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income,” that permits companies the option to reclassify stranded tax effects caused by the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2019 and recorded the reclassification to retained earnings as of the effective date of the adoption. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. Recently issued ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework–Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which will modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, including the removal of certain disclosure requirements. The amendments in the ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of the ASU. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of the ASU and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until the effective date. We will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2020, and we do not believe adoption of the guidance will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (collectively, “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We have no interests in any unconsolidated entity.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements are based on known information available as of the balance sheet date. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk. We limit our credit risk on accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations and, when necessary, require letters of credit, guarantees or cash collateral. During 2019, we had one customer which accounted for approximately 27% of our total net sales and 9% of our total accounts receivable balance, and a second customer which accounted for approximately 11% of our total net sales and 17% of our total accounts receivable. During 2018, we had one customer which accounted for approximately 18% of our total net sales and 6% of our total accounts receivable balance. During 2017, we had one customer that accounted for approximately 17% of our total net sales and 3% of our total accounts receivable balance.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Accounts receivable are presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts on our consolidated balance sheets. We market our products to a diverse customer base, primarily throughout the United States. International sales approximated 7% of 2019 total net sales, 8% of 2018 total net sales, and 9% of 2017 total net sales. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers that are deemed potentially not collectible. Receivables are charged-off to the allowance when they are deemed to be uncollectible. There was no bad debt expense recorded for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. Bad debt expense, net of recoveries, was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost principally determined by the weighted average cost method. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead within the guidelines of normal plant capacity. We reserve for slow-moving inventory and inventory that is being evaluated under our quality control process. The reserves are based upon management’s expected method of disposition. The net change in inventory reserves for the year ended December 31, 2019 was an increase of $0.2 million. The net change for the year ended December 31, 2018 was an increase of $0.4 million, and the net change for the year ended December 31, 2017 was an increase of $0.7 million.

Included in inventory are operating materials consisting of forge dies and production molds and rolls that are consumed over their useful lives. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, we amortized these operating materials in the amount of $2.3 million, $2.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively. This expense is recorded as a component of cost of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations and included as a part of our total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost or its fair value at acquisition date. No depreciation is recognized on assets until they are placed in service. Assets which have been retired or disposed of are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss generally reflected in cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations.

Major equipment maintenance costs are capitalized as incurred and included in other current assets. These costs are amortized to cost of products sold within a 12 to 36 month period. Other maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Costs of improvements and renewals are capitalized. Our maintenance expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $19.7 million, $18.3 million and $18.8 million, respectively, which is included as a component of cost of products sold.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of buildings and land improvements are between 10 and 39 years, and the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment are between five and 20 years. Our total depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $16.7 million, $16.4 million and $16.5 million, respectively, of which $16.1 million, $15.9 million and $16.2 million, respectively, was included as a component of cost of products sold while the remainder was included in selling, general and administrative expense.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment. Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. Adjustments are made if the sum of expected future cash flows is less than the book value. Based on management’s assessment of the carrying values of long-lived assets, no impairment reserve was necessary as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Deferred Financing Costs. Deferred financing costs are amortized up to the maturity date of the related financial instrument using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. Deferred financing cost amortization for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and is included as a component of interest expense and other financing costs on the consolidated statements of operations and included as part of total depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of cash flows. During 2018, the Company recorded $0.7 million of additional deferred financing costs related to the New Markets Tax Credits financing effective March 9, 2018, and $0.4 million of additional deferred financing costs related to the First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) effective August 3, 2018. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had $1.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of unamortized deferred financing costs included on our consolidated balance sheets as a reduction of debt.

Revenue Recognition. The Company’s revenues are primarily composed of sales of products. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligations under a contract by transferring control of the promised product to its customer (“point-in-time”). Sales of certain specified product grades and shapes, and sales from conversion services, are recognized over-time. These sales qualify for over-time revenue recognition as the Company does not produce an asset with alternative use when completing its performance obligations with regard to these items, and maintains an enforceable right to payment in the event of contract termination. Over-time recognition is a change from prior accounting, which was point-in-time for the specified products and service completion for conversion services.

Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims, which are not material, are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached.

Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for net operating losses, unused tax credits earned and the tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. We use the liability method to account for income taxes, which requires deferred taxes to be recorded at the statutory rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid. Valuation allowances are provided for a deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realized. Income tax penalties and interest are included in the provision for income tax expense.

We evaluate the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in our tax returns. A tax position should only be recognized in the financial statements if we determine that it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities, based upon the technical merits of the position. For those tax positions that should be recognized, the measurement of a tax position is determined as being the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We believe there are no material uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

We recognize excess tax benefits as a result of the exercise of employee stock options within the consolidated statements of operations.

Share-based Compensation Plans. We recognize compensation expense based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The fair value of the stock option grants is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award. The fair value of time-based restricted stock grants and restricted stock units is calculated using the market value of the stock on the date of issuance, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award.

Net Income per Common Share. Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive impacts of shares issuable under our outstanding notes issued in connection with the acquisition of the North Jackson facility (collectively, the “Notes”) were excluded from the calculations in 2017 as their inclusion would have been antidilutive. The conversion option expired in 2017 and is not applicable in 2018 or 2019.

Treasury Stock. We account for treasury stock under the cost method and include such shares as a reduction of total stockholders’ equity.

Financial Instruments. Financial instruments held by us include cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and current and long-term debt. The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable is considered to be representative of fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Refer to Note 8 for fair value disclosures of our financial instruments.

Segment Reporting. Our operating facilities are integrated, and therefore our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) views the Company as one business unit. Our CODM sets performance goals, assesses performance and makes decisions about resource allocations on a consolidated basis. As a result of these factors, as well as the nature of the financial information available which is reviewed by our CODM, we maintain one reportable segment.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842),” which amends existing accounting standards for leases. The ASU requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet as a lease liability with a corresponding right-of-use asset. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. The criteria for evaluating are similar to those applied in current lease accounting. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2019. The adoption resulted in the recognition of current and noncurrent lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income,” that permits companies the option to reclassify stranded tax effects caused by the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2019 and recorded the reclassification to retained earnings as of the effective date of the adoption. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. Recently issued ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework–Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which will modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, including the removal of certain disclosure requirements. The amendments in the ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of the ASU. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of the ASU and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until the effective date. We will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2020, and we do not believe adoption of the guidance will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.