Lead time
Concept
The total time from the start of an order or part until it is finished, including all waiting. In most plants, waiting makes up far more of it than actual work.
Description
Lead time, in German Durchlaufzeit, is the full time a part or order needs to move through a process, from start to finish. It includes processing, but also queues, transport, inspection and every other wait. Seen from the customer, lead time can also mean the time from order to delivery.
In many plants, most of the lead time is waiting, not work. That is why lead time is a key figure on a value stream map, shown next to the processing time of each step. Shortening it usually means reducing queues and work in progress, smaller batches and a steadier flow. Little's law, a rule from queueing theory, links the three: work in progress equals throughput times lead time.
| Type | Concept |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Durchlaufzeit, Production lead time, Throughput time, Lieferzeit |
Articles about Lead time (8)
- Почему даты производства в ERP — иллюзия: разрыв между планированием и реальностью цеха
· Mirko Peters
Разберитесь, почему традиционные даты производства в ERP создают ложную уверенность, и узнайте, как планирование с конечной мощностью (APS) закрывает этот разрыв в производстве. - Почему дашборды производственных процессов в реальном времени не показывают ход производства
· Mirko Peters
Узнайте, почему дашборды производственных процессов в реальном времени не объясняют узкие места производства и как переход к модели живой цепочки создания ценности даёт настоящую о - За пределами зелёной панели: почему традиционные KPI DevOps терпят неудачу в эпоху ИИ
· Mirko Peters
Добро пожаловать обратно в блог-продолжение нашей серии подкастов. Если вы откроете любую управленческую панель в технологической индустрии сегодня, почти наверняка увидите море зе - Lead Time vs Cycle Time vs Takt Time: What Is the Difference?
· Mirko Peters
Lead time vs cycle time vs takt time: three numbers that answer three different questions. Learn which one shows waiting, which shows pace and how to use them. - Batch Size in Manufacturing: How Smaller Batches Cut Lead Time
· Mirko Peters
Batch size in manufacturing decides how long parts wait. See why smaller batches cut lead time, what they cost and when short changeovers make them pay off. - Why ERP Production Dates Are Fake: The Gap Between Planning and Shop Floor Reality
· Mirko Peters
Discover why traditional ERP production dates create false certainty and learn how finite-capacity APS scheduling bridges the gap in manufacturing. - Why Real-Time Manufacturing Dashboards Fail to Show Production Flow
· Mirko Peters
Discover why real-time manufacturing dashboards fail to explain production bottlenecks and how shifting to a live value stream model delivers true operational intelligence. - Beyond the Green Dashboard: Why Traditional DevOps KPIs Are Failing in the Age of AI
· Mirko Peters
Welcome back to the blog extension of our ongoing podcast series. If you open up any executive dashboard in the tech industry today, you are almost guaranteed to se…
Related to
- iFAKT GmbH · Organization
- Cycle time · Concept
- Work in progress (WIP) · Concept
- Value stream mapping · Concept
- 8 wastes of lean · Concept
- Polaris VSM · Product
- Batch size · Concept
Community wiki
Short info above, community knowledge below: add practical tips, examples or corrections. New contributions are reviewed first; trusted members publish directly.
Experts and companies for this topic
- Mirko Peters · Microsoft MVP
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- Articles on this topic: 8
Maintained by Mirko Peters (Microsoft MVP) · Last updated: