Lead time

The time between placing an order and receiving the material.

The time between placing an order and receiving the material or product.

Specialist materials meet particular performance requirements and may need to be sourced to order. They can be the right choice when a readily available alternative cannot do the required job, but the designer must check the supplier’s lead time—the time between ordering and receiving the material.

Do not assume that every specialist metal is unavailable or every stock metal is immediately available. Check the supplier, grade, size, quantity and lead time.

Link an availability factor to a design consequence: a longer lead time may delay production, so the designer may choose a suitable stocked grade.

Link availability to a specific consequence: a long lead time may delay cutting and sewing, while a large minimum order may make a fabric unsuitable for a small batch.

The time between placing an order and receiving the material or component.

The time between ordering a component or material and receiving it.

A long lead time can delay production, while dependence on a single supplier makes shortages harder to manage. Suitable alternatives help reduce this risk.

Definition

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Edexcel GCSE Design and Technology · 1DT0

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Eduqas GCSE Design and Technology · C600