lead time
LEED-time
/liːd taɪm/
The time between the initiation and completion of a production process.
Usually refers to the time a customer must wait after placing an order before receiving the goods.
The story behind the word. A relatively modern industrial term. It refers to the time that 'leads' up to the final result.
Word relationships
- turnaround time: Turnaround time is often used for services (like a dry cleaner); lead time is more common in manufacturing and supply chains.
- instantaneity: The quality of happening immediately without any delay.
Commonly confused with
- cycle time: Cycle time is how long it takes to make one unit; lead time is the total time from order to delivery.
Collocations
- shorten lead time
- delivery lead time
- manufacturing lead time
Example sentences
- "Due to the global chip shortage, the lead time for new cars has increased to six months." Supply Chain
- "We need to account for the lead time of the raw materials when planning the launch date." Project Management
Memory hook
The time that 'leads' to the product arriving at your door. The wait from order to arrival.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'deadline', which is the point in time when something must be finished.
Fun facts
- Reducing lead time is a core goal of 'Lean' manufacturing to improve customer satisfaction.
Related words
Explore more words
workflow, production, interval, hiatus, latency, supply chain
Also appears in
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