The total time it takes for a unit to flow through an entire system from entry to exit. It encompasses all processing, waiting, and transfer times within the system boundaries.
From 'through' (Old English 'thurh') and 'put' (Middle English 'putten'), with 'time' added. The term emerged in operations research in the 1940s to measure system-wide performance.
Throughput time is like measuring how long it takes a passenger to get through an entire airport - from check-in to boarding, including security lines and gate waiting. Amazon's obsession with throughput time is why they can deliver packages in hours, not days!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.