Business process guide
Cycle Time, Lead Time and Touch Time
Time metrics become confusing when teams use one word for several clocks.
Practical note: process design depends on organization, data, controls, laws, contracts and technology. Treat examples and calculators as educational planning aids, then validate changes against your own requirements.
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Lead time
Lead time usually measures elapsed time from a customer or process trigger until completion, including waiting.
Cycle time
Cycle time may refer to elapsed time for a defined process segment or the rate at which work completes, depending on organizational convention. Define it explicitly.
Touch time
Touch time is the period when someone or a system is actively working on the item. A process can have minutes of touch time and days of elapsed time.