Preparing the published article.
Order Backlogs and Delivery Lead Times
Lead time is a demand thermometer.
Reading it
| Observation | Likely meaning |
|---|---|
| Lead times lengthening | Strong demand or constrained capacity |
| Lead times shortening quickly | Weakening demand or added capacity |
| Standard and custom diverging | Demand concentrating in specials |
Buyer response
Long lead times argue for locking capacity and price earlier. Short lead times justify taking more time to compare options, and sometimes waiting for the next model generation.