Factory scheme requires time (5)
I believe the answer is:
plant
'factory' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'scheme requires time' is the wordplay.
'scheme' becomes 'plan' (I've seen this before).
'requires' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'plan'+'t'='PLANT'
(Other definitions for plant that I've seen before include "Living organism, such as a shrub" , "Factory equipment" , "Factory; establish" , "Industrial machinery or large vehicles" , "One placed in a group as an informer" .)