# How to account for production and delivery lead times

Source: https://archiboard.design/help/how-to/production-lead-time

Custom furniture can take 10 weeks to make, and delivery from abroad another month. If you don't plan for this, the product won't arrive in time for installation. In ArchiBoard every item has a lead time, and the latest order date is calculated from it.

1. **Open the item card.** In «Estimates», open the item, for example a kitchen or a made-to-order sofa.
2. **Enter the lead time.** In «Vendor lead time», enter the minimum and maximum in weeks. If the supplier's page states a lead time, for example «Delivery 4–6 weeks», it is filled in automatically.
3. **Describe the terms.** In «Production terms» and «Delivery terms», note the details, for example «made to order, 10 weeks» or «delivery 6–8 weeks». In «Buffer (days)», add a margin for the unexpected.
4. **Check the order date.** Open «Phases & schedule». The latest order date is the start of the installation stage minus production and delivery time, in working days. The «Upcoming purchases» block shows what is due to be ordered.

- The installation stage depends on the product category. You can link an item to a stage manually; the manual link takes priority.
- Delivery time is counted from the supplier's country, so check it in the card.
- If a delivery won't make it in time for its stage, the item is highlighted as a schedule risk.