business-english question

[Atahualpa]

We are making a deal with a manufacturer from Hong Kong and we are about to finalize the deal. The manufacturer speaks of a "delivery lead-time" of 60 days. I never encountered the term lead-time, what does this mean exactly?
I assume that we get the product in 60 days, but I want to be sure.

[Dinner]

It means you order 1000 widgets from them and they'll deliver the 1000 widgets in 60 days. Lead time is the difference between you making the order and them delivering the order.

[BlackCat]

Maybe this helps :

http://www.indiainfoline.com/bisc/jmscm.html

[Sir Og]

What Oerdin said.
And the lead time for most of the Chinese companies that we work with is >90 days which creates huge problems for planning.

[reds4ever]

I've always thought the word 'lead' is pretty redundant in this phrase!

[Flubber]

Originally posted by reds4ever
I've always thought the word 'lead' is pretty redundant in this phrase!

Probably-- "delivery in 60 days" is quite clear in this context . . . But more generally, the phrase captures the concepts of preparation and planning in a way the word "time" does not.

[Japher]

gnrly I hear it used if it is to begin a order with delivery over a time

i.e. 1,000 widgets every 2 weeks for a year

[Atahualpa]

[Q=Oerdin]It means you order 1000 widgets from them and they'll deliver the 1000 widgets in 60 days. Lead time is the difference between you making the order and them delivering the order.[/Q]

So, shipping time is included and I have the widgets in my house 60 days from them receiving the order (a 30% deposit of the order)?

TIA

[Japher]

Yes. You should receive the widgets at your house within 60 days. Shipping time is included.

[Atahualpa]

Thx!

[alva]

Originally posted by reds4ever
I've always thought the word 'lead' is pretty redundant in this phrase!

But..but then noone would be confused!!

You most certainly are not manager material, no sir.

[Atahualpa]

I have some new questions. The company wants to know from us:

Shipping Mark
China Form A information (I think she means GSP Form A)
HK forwarder information

I don't have much of a clue on what to do with this. I am going to call our finance advisor after lunch break...

[Urban Ranger]

These have more to do with shipping than with English.

[DaShi]

The words are spelled with letters.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Atahualpa
I have some new questions. The company wants to know from us:

Shipping Mark
China Form A information (I think she means GSP Form A)
HK forwarder information

I don't have much of a clue on what to do with this. I am going to call our finance advisor after lunch break...

Those are most likely customs related documents. I've shipped a decent amount internationally in my job, and I know that China and HK have some insane restrictions and form requirements. The second one is probably the basic customs form for China (it's possible that the Chinese one is more complex...), and the first one might be the equivalent of the "Commercial Invoice" required on pretty much any int'l shipment anywhere (well, your part of that form anyway; ultimately the shipper must create said invoice, but it contains some recipient information) ...

The third part sounds to me like it has to do with chinese regulations and HK regulations being different, perhaps they're using a HK loophole?