Lead times

Customer Lead Time

• Definition: The number of days between sales order confirmation and the shipping date.
• Purpose: Ensures realistic delivery commitments to customers.
• Example: If a product has a customer lead time of 14 days and the order is confirmed on July 11th, the expected delivery date would be July 25th.

Sales Security Lead Time

• Definition: A buffer (in days) added before the scheduled delivery date.
• Purpose: Prepares the team to ship earlier, minimizing delays.
• Example: Setting a 1-day sales security lead time for a delivery originally scheduled for April 6th moves it to April 5th.

Purchase Lead Times

Vendor Lead Time

• Definition: Days needed for a vendor to deliver goods after purchase order confirmation.
• Setup: Defined per vendor in the product’s Purchase tab.
• Tip: Multiple vendors can be added with different lead times.

Purchase Security Lead Time

• Definition: A global buffer to account for supplier delays.
• Example: If a product’s vendor lead time is 4 days and purchase security lead time is 1 day, Odoo plans the receipt date one day earlier than the vendor lead time.

Days to Purchase

• Definition: Days required for a vendor to review and confirm a request for quotation (RFQ).
• Purpose: Ensures timely communication and avoids bottlenecks in ordering.

Manufacturing Lead Times

Manufacturing Lead Time

• Definition: Days required to complete manufacturing from MO confirmation to finished product.
• Setup: Configured in the Bill of Materials (BoM).
• Note: Includes weekends and holidays.

Days to Prepare Manufacturing Order

• Definition: Time needed to gather all components for manufacturing.
• Setup: Found in the BoM’s Miscellaneous tab.
  Clicking Compute automatically calculates the maximum lead time among all components.

Manufacturing Security Lead Time

• Definition: A global buffer to anticipate possible production delays.
• Example: A 3-day manufacturing security lead time ensures MOs start earlier than strictly necessary.

How Lead Times Work Together: A Global Example

Imagine the following setup:

• Sales Security Lead Time: 1 day
• Manufacturing Security Lead Time: 2 days
• Manufacturing Lead Time: 3 days
• Purchase Security Lead Time: 1 day
• Vendor Lead Time: 4 days

Scenario:

Customer order placed on September 1 for delivery on September 20.

Odoo’s calculated timeline:

1. Sept 1 – Sales order confirmed.
2. Sept 9 – Deadline to order components (based on vendor lead time).
3. Sept 13 – Components scheduled to arrive (moved earlier by purchase security lead time).
4. Sept 14 – Start manufacturing (calculated from manufacturing lead times).
5. Sept 19 – Delivery date moved earlier by sales security lead time.

By combining these lead times, Odoo ensures:

• Procurement happens on time.
• Manufacturing starts with all materials ready.
• Shipments go out without delay.

Why Lead Times Matter

• Customer satisfaction: Accurate delivery dates build trust.
• Operational efficiency: Minimizes last-minute rushes.
• Delay mitigation: Buffers absorb unexpected disruptions.

With Odoo’s lead time features, businesses can transform their planning accuracy, prevent bottlenecks, and meet commitments consistently