Dave
When did you last go into your grocery store and order something that you'd like to have delivered in 3 years time?
Well, economically it's even worse with such a lead time! You need to come up for material and labour way before you get some compensation.
It only works with a rolling chain and a flat order/output curve. Otherwise it's a nightmare for a business.
That is exactly what the AB beancounter is bringing up and why a shutdown is considered.
But you knew that.