lead time

or lead-time

[ leed ]
/ lid /

noun

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.

Origin of lead time

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

British Dictionary definitions for lead time

lead time
/ (liːd) /

noun

manufacturing the time between the design of a product and its production
commerce the time from the placing of an order to the delivery of the goods