Lead Time

Definition and Scope

Lead time is the period required from receiving an order to preparing the product and shipping or delivering it. In fabric transactions, it may refer to the preparation period for shipping stock items, or to the production period for made-to-order items, including weaving or knitting, dyeing, and finishing.

Even with the same “delivery date,” lead time generally indicates the number of days or period itself, while the delivery date indicates the specific date by which delivery must be made. When quoting or placing an order, clarify from which point to which point the time is counted.

Situations Where It Is Used in Fabric Transactions

In fabric, it is checked when securing greige fabric for mass production, dyeing custom colors, printing patterns, or adding processing. The period changes depending on stock status, order quantity, number of colors, processing details, and factory operating conditions.

For made-to-order products, meeting the minimum lot size may be a condition for production to begin. Even in catalogs, there are cases where made-to-order items above a certain quantity are announced with a lead time of one month or more, or 90 days or more, and they must be planned separately from immediate-delivery items.

Points to Check

When confirming, distinguish whether it means “from order date to shipping date” or “from order date to receipt at your company.” If overseas production or logistics are involved, separately confirm the time required for transportation, customs clearance, and domestic delivery to avoid discrepancies with the sewing start date.

Check whether the stated period is in calendar days or business days, whether it includes approval time for color swatches or lab dips, and whether inspection, repair, or partial delivery is possible. If approval before mass production is delayed, shipping may be pushed back beyond the stated period.

• Stock quantity and whether allocation is possible
• Order quantity, number of colors, roll count, and minimum lot
• Production from greige fabric, or dyeing and processing only
• Planned shipping date, planned delivery date, and whether partial delivery is possible
• Whether additional processing, pattern matching, or inspection is required

Points to Note When Ordering

Lead time is not a fixed guaranteed number of days; it may be treated as an estimate based on conditions at the time of ordering. Because it changes due to busy seasons, sourcing of raw materials or greige fabric, congestion in dyeing and processing, and approval revisions, allow enough margin before the sales start date or sewing input date.

On the purchase order, state the product number, color number, quantity, desired delivery date, and whether partial delivery is acceptable, and keep a record of the other party’s response. If the quantity or specifications differ between samples and mass production, it is important to confirm the lead time for each and not rely on verbal confirmation alone.

Frequently Asked Questions