lead time

American  

[leed] / lid /

Or lead-time

noun

1. the period of time between the initial phase of a process and the emergence of results, as between the planning and completed manufacture of a product.

---

lead time British  

/ liːd /

noun

1. manufacturing the time between the design of a product and its production

2. commerce the time from the placing of an order to the delivery of the goods

---

Etymology

Origin of lead time

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Example Sentences

And then this, and then that, whatever—I think, at the time, we had a 14-week lead time on artworks.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Our tracking shows continued shortening in lead time in all models and markets, with only a few exceptions,” he wrote on Monday.

From MarketWatch

Saraiya said Koerner has helped identify roadblocks to progress — such as the typical lead time in lining up utility services — and the county is working to streamline the entire rebuilding process for everyone.

From Los Angeles Times

At Southwest Airlines, lead time can be eight to 10 months.

From Los Angeles Times

Keely Hodgkinson makes a triumphant return from a hamstring injury with a new world lead time of 1.54.74 to win the women's 800m race at the Diamond League event in Silesia, Poland.

From BBC

Related Words

• arrangement
• construction
• education
• establishment
• formation
• groundwork
• measure
• plan
• precaution
• preparedness
• qualification
• rehearsal
• study
• training