Determining　a　rational　planned　lead　time　(PLT)　is　a　critical　and　difficult　problem　in　production　planning,　especially　for　a　remanufacturing　system.　This　paper　considers　an　optimisation　problem　of　the　PLT　in　a　make-to-order　remanufacturing　system　to　coordinate　disassembly–remanufacturing–reassembly　and　to　improve　performance.　This　optimisation　model　is　designed　to　determine　the　PLT　that　minimises　the　inventory　holding　and　shortage　costs.　Given　the　unknown　distribution　of　remanufacturing　time　but　with　known　first　and　second　moments,　this　model　is　solved　by　a　min–max　approach,　which　can　capture　distributions　with　the　same　first　and　second　moments.　How　the　PLT　and　total　cost　are　affected　by　yield　rate　with　different　first　and　second　moments,　unit　holding　cost,　unit　shortage　cost　and　purchasing　lead　time　are　also　investigated　through　numerical　examples　in　this　paper.　The　results　of　this　study　are　shown　to　be　consistent　with　practice　and　can　be　a　support　to　decision-making　in　production　planning　and　scheduling　for　remanufacturing.　©　2017　The　Authors.　International　Transactions　in　Operational　Research　©　2017　International　Federation　of　Operational　Research　Societies